Notable Four-Year Colleges and Universities in North Carolina

This directory-style guide highlights 50 four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina. Each institution is identified by its full profile name and location so similarly named organizations are easier to distinguish. “Notable” is a directory label, not an evaluation of quality or an endorsement.

Entries were selected and ordered using enrollment values available in COSMIQ profiles. Enrollment figures are intentionally omitted. The order is an estimate of institution size, not a ranking of academic quality, outcomes, or fit.

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Institutions in this guide

North Carolina State University at Raleigh — Raleigh, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Charlotte, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
East Carolina University — Greenville, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Appalachian State University — Boone, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Duke University — Durham, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro — Greensboro, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
University of North Carolina Wilmington — Wilmington, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
North Carolina A & T State University — Greensboro, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Western Carolina University — Cullowhee, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Wake Forest University — Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke — Pembroke, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
North Carolina Central University — Durham, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Elon University — Elon, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Fayetteville State University — Fayetteville, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
High Point University — High Point, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Campbell University — Buies Creek, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Winston-Salem State University — Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Wingate University — Wingate, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Gardner-Webb University — Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
University of North Carolina at Asheville — Asheville, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary — Wake Forest, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Lenoir-Rhyne University — Hickory, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
University of Mount Olive — Mount Olive, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Elizabeth City State University — Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Davidson College — Davidson, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Queens University of Charlotte — Charlotte, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Methodist University — Fayetteville, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Meredith College — Raleigh, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Belmont Abbey College — Belmont, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
North Carolina Wesleyan University — Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Barton College — Wilson, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Catawba College — Salisbury, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Guilford College — Greensboro, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte — Charlotte, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Saint Augustine's University — Raleigh, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Winston Salem, North Carolina. Public four-year institution.
Johnson C Smith University — Charlotte, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Pfeiffer University — Misenheimer, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Shaw University — Raleigh, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Mars Hill University — Mars Hill, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Montreat College — Montreat, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Chowan University — Murfreesboro, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Lees-McRae College — Banner Elk, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Livingstone College — Salisbury, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Carolina University — Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Greensboro College — Greensboro, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
St. Andrews University — Laurinburg, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Warren Wilson College — Swannanoa, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Brevard College — Brevard, North Carolina. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

Selection and source notes

Where enough eligible profiles were available, this guide includes the top 50, 25, or 10 by available enrollment; smaller groups include all eligible profiles. Profile source year: 2022. Check each institution directly for current information.

Sources: NCES IPEDS. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by COSMIQ, and it does not mean that any listed institution endorses COSMIQ.