Best colleges in North Carolina
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Be prepared to choose your favorite shade of blue when you move down south and all the top colleges are all blue. North Carolina is a progressive state with a public university system of 16 colleges and a school for the arts. The Old North State also plays host to some pretty prestigious private liberal arts colleges with intimate learning opportunities. The average student-faculty ratio at a private school in North Carolina is 11:1. Their community college system is massive, providing plenty of options at its 58 campuses for those who are still figuring out their career path. North Carolina graduates go on to work at businesses like JD Motorsports, Red Storm Entertainment, and Rocky Mount Instruments.
Race car driving is huge in North Carolina, and you'll see plenty of racing companies all over the state. If you're interested in engineering or mechanics, a North Carolina education will serve you well. On your off hours, visit one of the multiple aquariums throughout the state, or hang out at one of the notable pubs and restaurants. Check out the Raleigh Times Bar or the North Banks Restaurant. The nightlife is sweet in this Southern state filled to the brim with sweet tea, friends, and higher learning. Wikipedia, "List of colleges and universities in North Carolina" , "North Carolina Community College System", "Companies based in North Carolina" www.visitraleigh.com
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Wikipedia, “List of colleges and universities in North Carolina”, “North Carolina Community College System”, “Companies based in North Carolina” *www.visitraleigh.comBest Four Year Universities in North Carolina
Duke University is a private university founded in 1892 in Durham, North Carolina by Quaker and Methodist groups in the region. Duke gets its name from the tobacco and electrical magnate Washington Duke, who worked with Julian S. Carr in the late 1890s to build the school’s first campus, known locally as East Campus. The university's West Campus was later constructed in the early 1930s in a gothic and Georgian style. Duke has 12 schools and undergraduate programs including the Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Kunshan, and the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.
Duke has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 15,000 students that take classes according to a semester-based academic calendar. Prospective students should note that tuition is well over $50,000 with an acceptance rate of just under 10%, making it one of the hardest, most costly schools in the U.S.
Duke has a history of academic research and has annual budgets that exceed $1 billion, with strong biomedical funding from groups like the NIH. The graduation rate at Duke is an impressive 94.5%, thanks in part to the student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 as well as strong financial aid packages. The Duke Blue Devils are known globally for their success in NCAA men’s basketball, with their coach, known as Coach K, winning 5 national championships during his tenure at the school. Notable alumni include retired Representative Ron Paul, news anchor Judy Woodruff, and billionaire Melinda French.
Davidson College offers 28 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 482 students graduated with students earning 482 Bachelor's degrees.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers 253 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 8,489 students graduated with students earning 4,828 Bachelor's degrees, 2,409 Master's degrees, 1,242 Doctoral degrees, and 10 Certificates.
North Carolina State University, or NC State, is a public university founded in 1887, with the flagship campus located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Undergraduate enrollment at NC State is 35,000, and students take classes at the Main, Centennial, and NC Research Campuses. NC State is located in the Research Triangle in the Raleigh-Durham area along with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Raleigh has a bustling downtown, a historic theme park, and a wide range of hiking trails just outside the city.
The university offers over 100 bachelor’s programs and over 60 doctoral degree options through competitive schools like the Polle College of Management and the Wilson College of Textiles. Prospective applicants should note that in-state tuition is roughly a quarter of out-of-state tuition, totaling just below $10,000. Students at NC State take classes on a semester-based academic calendar in a typical large undergraduate lecture format.
NC State has an annual budget that exceeds $1.5 billion, one of the largest annual budgets in the country, with funding going towards nationally-ranked research institutes, a competitive athletic program, and robust merit and need-based scholarships. Notable research institutes at NC State include the FREEDM Systems Center for smart-grid technology, the ASSIST Center for health-monitoring devices, and the Laboratory for Analytic Sciences. Notable alumni include quarterback Russell Wilson, actor Zach Galifianakis, and former Senator John Edwards.
Wake Forest University offers 92 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 2,479 students graduated with students earning 1,226 Bachelor's degrees, 953 Master's degrees, 299 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts offers 11 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 281 students graduated with students earning 223 Bachelor's degrees, 52 Master's degrees, and 6 Certificates.
Elon University offers 93 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2020, 1,731 students graduated with students earning 1,433 Bachelor's degrees, 155 Doctoral degrees, and 143 Master's degrees.
Meredith College offers 67 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 571 students graduated with students earning 384 Bachelor's degrees, 100 Certificates, and 87 Master's degrees.
University of North Carolina Wilmington offers 152 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 4,748 students graduated with students earning 3,773 Bachelor's degrees, 882 Master's degrees, 55 Certificates, and 38 Doctoral degrees.
North Carolina A & T State University offers 122 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 2,406 students graduated with students earning 1,939 Bachelor's degrees, 387 Master's degrees, 66 Doctoral degrees, and 14 Certificates.
Best Community Colleges in North Carolina
Carolinas College of Health Sciences offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 167 students graduated with students earning 128 Associate's degrees, 29 Certificates, and 10 Bachelor's degrees.
Wayne Community College offers 97 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2020, 696 students graduated with students earning 510 Associate's degrees, and 186 Certificates.
Sampson Community College offers 49 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2020, 302 students graduated with students earning 273 Associate's degrees, and 29 Certificates.
Southeastern Community College offers 36 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2020, 230 students graduated with students earning 202 Associate's degrees, and 28 Certificates.
Louisburg College offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a outlying town. In 2020, 69 students graduated with students earning 69 Associate's degrees.
Richmond Community College offers 64 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2020, 456 students graduated with students earning 392 Associate's degrees, and 64 Certificates.
Blue Ridge Community College offers 135 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 369 students graduated with students earning 360 Associate's degrees, and 9 Certificates.
Platt College-Miller-Motte-Fayetteville offers 12 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2020, 131 students graduated with students earning 115 Certificates, and 16 Associate's degrees.
Montgomery Community College offers 74 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2020, 153 students graduated with students earning 126 Associate's degrees, and 27 Certificates.
Roanoke-Chowan Community College offers 52 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2020, 91 students graduated with students earning 83 Associate's degrees, and 8 Certificates.
Top schools offering specific degrees in North Carolina
List of all colleges in North Carolina
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Duke University Durham, NC | 11 : 1 | 16,172 | |
|
Davidson College Davidson, NC | 9 : 1 | 1,983 | |
|
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 18 : 1 | 30,092 | |
|
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | 20 : 1 | 36,042 | |
|
Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | 14 : 1 | 8,789 | |