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2021 Best Colleges for International Students in North Carolina

45 Colleges
$33,885 Avg Tuition & Fees*
54% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

When pursuing a degree in today's world, international students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for International Students in North Carolina ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Our analysis looked at 45 schools in North Carolina to determine which ones were the best for international students in North Carolina. To come up with this ranking, we look at a number of factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include the school's overall quality as determined by our Best Colleges ranking and the percentage of international students on campus.

See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.

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Top Colleges in North Carolina for International Students

See which schools came out on top of our ranking:

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Our 2021 rankings named Duke University the best school for international students in North Carolina working on their bachelor’s degree. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 2,319 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 18.3% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Duke are China, India, and South Korea.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Duke University Report

2

Out of the 45 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #2 spot on the list. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,377 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 9.1% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at NC State are India, China, and South Korea.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on North Carolina State University

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #3 on our 2021 Best Colleges for international students in North Carolina list. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 6,496 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 6.1% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UNC Chapel Hill to study.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

4
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Out of the 45 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Wake Forest University landed the #4 spot on the list. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,472 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 9.1% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Wake Forest University are China, India, and Saudi Arabia.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read full report on Wake Forest University

5
Davidson crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

A rank of #5 on our list means Davidson College is a great place for international students in North Carolina working on their bachelor’s degree. Davidson is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davidson, North Carolina. It awarded 598 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 7.0% are international. Students from as far away as China, South Korea, and Greece come to Davidson to study.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read More…

6

With a ranking of #6, Elon University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Located in Elon, North Carolina, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,638 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.8% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Elon are United Kingdom, China, and Canada.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Elon University Report

7

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina list. UNC Charlotte is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,358 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 5.2% are international. Students studying at UNC Charlotte come from such countries as India, China, and Saudi Arabia.

Full University of North Carolina at Charlotte Report

8

University of North Carolina School of the Arts did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the small public school awarded 179 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 3.1% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UNCSA are China, Japan, and Brazil.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of North Carolina School of the Arts Report

9
High Point crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

High Point University landed the #9 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. High Point is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in High Point, North Carolina. It awarded 928 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.5% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at High Point come from such countries as China, Saudi Arabia, and United Kingdom.

Full High Point University Report

10

With a ranking of #10, University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, the fairly large public school handed out 4,021 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 1.5% are international. Students from as far away as Japan, China, and India come to UNCW to study.

Full University of North Carolina at Wilmington Report

11

East Carolina University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina list. East Carolina University is a large public school located in Greenville, North Carolina that handed out 5,233 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 0.6% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at ECU come from such countries as India, China, and Saudi Arabia.

Read More…

12

Appalachian State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina ranking. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the large public school awarded 4,368 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 0.5% are international. Students studying at Appalachian State come from such countries as China, Australia, and Venezuela.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Appalachian State University Report

13

University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #13 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,694 students in 2020-2021.

Around 2.5% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at UNC Greensboro are China, India, and Saudi Arabia.

Read More…

14
Meredith crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

With a ranking of #14, Meredith College did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 401 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 1.3% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Meredith come from such countries as China, Kenya, and Afghanistan.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read More…

15
Campbell crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #15. Campbell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 883 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 1.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as India, Sweden, and Spain come to Campbell to study.

Full Campbell University Report

16

Western Carolina University landed the #16 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. WCU is a public institution located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,501 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 1.7% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at WCU come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Canada.

Read full report on Western Carolina University

17
Salem crest
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC

Salem College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina list. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 154 students in 2020-2021.

The top three countries sending students to study at Salem are China, Kenya, and Nepal.

Read More…

18
Gardner - Webb crest
Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner - Webb University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 495 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 0.0% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Gardner - Webb are Canada, Norway, and Brazil.

Read More…

19

Wingate University landed the #19 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Wingate, North Carolina, and it awarded 549 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 3.5% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada come to Wingate to study.

Full Wingate University Report

20

North Carolina A & T State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #20. NC A&T is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 2,126 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 2.3% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at NC A&T are Saudi Arabia, India, and Ghana.

Read full report on North Carolina A & T State University

21

University of North Carolina at Asheville landed the #21 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Asheville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 763 students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 0.8% are international. Students studying at UNCA come from such countries as United Kingdom, Ecuador, and Albania.

Read full report on University of North Carolina at Asheville

22
Catawba crest
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College landed the #22 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Located in Salisbury, North Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 278 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 5.0% are international. Students from as far away as United Kingdom, Germany, and Iceland come to Catawba to study.

Full Catawba College Report

23

Lenoir - Rhyne University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina list. Hickory, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 367 students in 2020-2021.

International students make up 3.3% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Lenoir - Rhyne University are United Kingdom, Spain, and Canada.

Read full report on Lenoir - Rhyne University

24
Guilford crest
Guilford College
Greensboro, NC

With a ranking of #24, Guilford College did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina. Guilford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 325 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 1.0% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Japan, China, and Angola come to Guilford to study.

Full Guilford College Report

25

Warren Wilson College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #25. Warren Wilson is a private not-for-profit institution located in Swannanoa, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 112 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 2.6% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Warren Wilson are China, Germany, and India.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Warren Wilson College

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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