by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in North Carolina, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **43** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 43 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 college in North Carolina. Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,758. Median early-career earnings reach $83,388. Duke University students take on a median of $13,296 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place in North Carolina. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,361. The median student debt is $15,117.
You'll be in good company at Wake Forest University, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,577.
A rank of #4 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top colleges in North Carolina. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113.
Davidson College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in North Carolina. Based in Davidson, NC, Davidson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Davidson College graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,430 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,505. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete a degree here.
Elon University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elon, NC. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,463. Graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
High Point University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in High Point, NC, High Point University is a private not-for-profit institution. High Point University graduates 72% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,312. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $113,352. Typical student debt is $23,785.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Wilmington, NC, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,164. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington students take on a median of $23,013 in debt.
Appalachian State University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Boone, NC, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,340. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,799. The median student debt is $24,673.
East Carolina University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. East Carolina University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,931. The median student debt is $24,747.
Western Carolina University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Cullowhee, NC, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Western Carolina University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,926 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,174 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Winston Salem, NC, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a public institution. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,477, compared with $27,211 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $21,656. Graduates carry a median of $24,434 in student loans.
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Carolinas College Of Health Sciences is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. Students from in state pay about $18,882 in tuition and fees. Carolinas College Of Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,608. Carolinas College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $24,874 in debt.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,595. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro students take on a median of $24,977 in debt.
Chamberlain University North Carolina came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Chamberlain University North Carolina is a private for-profit school based in Charlotte, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $21,520. Chamberlain University North Carolina graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Chamberlain University North Carolina students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
Meredith College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Raleigh, NC, Meredith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Meredith College posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,630. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,537. Students borrow a median of $26,618 to complete a degree here.
Campbell University landed the #18 spot in North Carolina this year. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Buies Creek, NC. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. Median early-career earnings reach $54,629. Graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans.
Queens University Of Charlotte ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charlotte, NC. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,846. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,654. Queens University Of Charlotte students take on a median of $27,245 in debt.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Asheville, NC, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,821 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,108.
Wingate University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wingate, NC. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,576. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,836. The median student debt is $25,556.
Gardner Webb University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boiling Springs, NC. Gardner Webb University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $34,750 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,220 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences placed #23 among the best colleges in North Carolina. Set in Concord, NC, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,550. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,869. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $24,414 in debt.
Lees Mcrae College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Banner Elk, NC, Lees Mcrae College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $33,850. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,268. Typical student debt is $19,821.
Lenoir Rhyne University placed #25 among the best colleges in North Carolina. Based in Hickory, NC, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,985. Typical student debt is $26,900.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.