by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 150 colleges that stand out for their student bodies in North Carolina, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 150 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal mix depends on what matters most to you. Drill down by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Carolina University earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in North Carolina. Carolina University scores 77.3 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 77.3, with a gender-diversity score of 96.5.
Duke University came in at #2 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in North Carolina. The school's ethnic diversity score is 76.1 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 76.1, and gender diversity 98.9.
You'll find a welcoming community at St. Andrews University, which ranked #3 this year. It scores 74.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 74.0, with a gender-diversity score of 99.8.
Out of the 150 colleges in North Carolina in this year's ranking, Durham Technical Community College landed the #4 spot. It scores 73.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 73.9, alongside a 94.8 gender-diversity score.
Manna University earned the #5 place in North Carolina. The school's ethnic diversity score is 73.6 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 73.6, with a gender-diversity score of 99.3.
Salem College placed #6 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in North Carolina. On ethnic diversity, it scores 72.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 72.7, with a gender-diversity score of 15.9.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke landed the #7 spot in North Carolina this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 72.3 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 72.3, with a gender-diversity score of 92.2.
Methodist University earned the #8 position in North Carolina. It scores 72.3 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 72.3, and gender diversity 100.0.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #9 spot in North Carolina this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 71.8 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.8, and gender diversity 97.7.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte placed #10 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in North Carolina. On ethnic diversity, it scores 71.4 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 71.4, with a gender-diversity score of 99.9.
North Carolina Wesleyan University placed #11 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in North Carolina. North Carolina Wesleyan University scores 71.2 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 71.2, and gender diversity 99.1.
Wingate University landed the #12 spot in North Carolina this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 70.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 70.9, alongside a 96.5 gender-diversity score.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #13 position in North Carolina. On ethnic diversity, it scores 70.2 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 70.2, and gender diversity 99.2.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #14 spot in North Carolina this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 69.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.8, and gender diversity 91.4.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 69.1 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 69.1, alongside a 96.5 gender-diversity score.
Greensboro College earned the #16 position in North Carolina. The school's ethnic diversity score is 68.8 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 68.8, and gender diversity 99.9.
Guilford Technical Community College landed the #17 spot in North Carolina this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 68.3 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 68.3, and gender diversity 97.4.
Bladen Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 68.1 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 68.1, alongside a 88.1 gender-diversity score.
Forsyth Technical Community College earned the #19 position in North Carolina. The school's ethnic diversity score is 67.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 67.9, with a gender-diversity score of 93.8.
Catawba College earned the #20 position in North Carolina. The school's ethnic diversity score is 67.9 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 67.9, with a gender-diversity score of 99.9.
Guilford College placed #21 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in North Carolina. On ethnic diversity, it scores 67.8 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 67.8, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earned the #22 position in North Carolina. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 67.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 67.0, with a gender-diversity score of 96.9.
Richmond Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Richmond Community College scores 67.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 67.0, and gender diversity 90.4.
Robeson Community College placed #24 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in North Carolina. Robeson Community College scores 66.2 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 66.2, alongside a 85.4 gender-diversity score.
South Piedmont Community College landed the #25 spot in North Carolina this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 65.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 65.9, alongside a 95.4 gender-diversity score.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
