Best colleges in Raleigh

Carolina College Town

More than just the "Most Educated City in America"

Although widely known as an integral part of the "Research Triad," Raleigh will surprise you with its vibrant art culture, foodie and craft beer scene, and music festival mecca. Home to 10 traditional universities and colleges, your options are rich in Raleigh. Ranking number 2 on America's 15 Best Cities for Young Professionals by Forbes and in the top 5 of happiest metropolitan areas in America, Raleigh offers the best of both worlds pre and post graduation. The City of Oaks' unemployment rate of 5.7%, below the national average, compliments its average hourly wage of $22.65, above the national average.

North Carolina's state capitol, with its picturesque landscape of wooded tracts, nickname of "City of Oaks," and 150 major parks, is one place you'll be inspired to get outside and enjoy southern hospitality at its finest. But it's not all about the great outdoors. Raleigh is home to 3 major state museums, captivating historic sites, and sports enthusiast-worthy teams to cheer for including the NHL Hurricanes, MLS RailHawks, and college athletics – need we say more? With an annual average temperatures of 71◦, there's plenty to do 365 days a year. Be assured, Raleigh is the full college experience you're looking for.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Bureau of Labor Statistics *visitraleigh.com *Wikipedia, "Raleigh"

Best Four Year Universities in Raleigh

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.

Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College offers 72 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 528 students graduated with students earning 360 Bachelor's degrees, 91 Certificates, and 77 Master's degrees.

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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary offers 65 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 566 students graduated with students earning 423 Master's degrees, 70 Bachelor's degrees, 69 Doctoral degrees, and 4 Associate's degrees.

Saint Augustine's University offers 28 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 67 students graduated with students earning 67 Bachelor's degrees.

William Peace University offers 38 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 157 students graduated with students earning 157 Bachelor's degrees.

Shaw University
Raleigh, NC

Shaw University offers 23 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 192 students graduated with students earning 160 Bachelor's degrees, and 32 Master's degrees.

Strayer University-North Carolina offers 66 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 704 students graduated with students earning 376 Bachelor's degrees, 192 Master's degrees, 127 Associate's degrees, and 9 Certificates.

Shepherds Theological Seminary offers 1 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 34 students graduated with students earning 34 Master's degrees.

Living Arts College
Raleigh, NC

Living Arts College offers 16 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 64 students graduated with students earning 39 Certificates, and 25 Bachelor's degrees.

Best Community Colleges in Raleigh

Louisburg College
Louisburg, NC

Louisburg College offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a outlying town. In 2022, 117 students graduated with students earning 117 Associate's degrees.

Miller-Motte College-Raleigh offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 80 students graduated with students earning 63 Certificates, and 17 Associate's degrees.

Wake Technical Community College offers 147 degree programs. It's a very large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,928 students graduated with students earning 2,760 Associate's degrees, and 168 Certificates.

Johnston Community College offers 74 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 682 students graduated with students earning 595 Associate's degrees, and 87 Certificates.

List of all colleges in Raleigh

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Logo North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC
3/5
20 : 1 36,700
Meredith College Logo Meredith College Raleigh, NC
5/5
13 : 1 1,587
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Logo Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC
3/5
55 : 1 2,764
MyComputerCareer at Raleigh Logo MyComputerCareer at Raleigh Raleigh, NC   37 : 1 1,251
Louisburg College Logo Louisburg College Louisburg, NC
4/5
33 : 1 434