2026 Best Colleges for Student Athletes (Division III) in North Carolina

Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 9 schools for Student Athletes (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.

To help you decide, College Factual evaluates each program using a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and aid per athlete from the EADA survey), and overall school quality, drawing on NCAA, U.S. Department of Education EADA, and IPEDS data. Learn more about our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Jump to the options below.

Top 9 Colleges for Student Athletes (Division III)

Explore the leading programs below:

1

Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

74% Academic Quality Percentile

Leading the list is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte, our #1 college for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Charlotte, NC, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution.

2

Guilford College
Greensboro, NC

68% Academic Quality Percentile

Guilford College ranked #2 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Greensboro, NC, Guilford College is a private not-for-profit institution.

3

William Peace University
Raleigh, NC

65% Academic Quality Percentile

William Peace University landed the #3 spot for Student Athletes (Division III). William Peace University is a private not-for-profit school based in Raleigh, NC.

4

Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC

73% Academic Quality Percentile

Pfeiffer University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Misenheimer, NC.

5

Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC

66% Academic Quality Percentile

Warren Wilson College landed the #5 spot for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Swannanoa, NC, Warren Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution.

6

Greensboro College
Greensboro, NC

71% Academic Quality Percentile

Greensboro College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Greensboro, NC, Greensboro College is a private not-for-profit institution.

7

North Carolina Wesleyan University
Rocky Mount, NC

73% Academic Quality Percentile

North Carolina Wesleyan University landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Rocky Mount, NC, North Carolina Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution.

8

Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC

69% Academic Quality Percentile

Methodist University placed #8 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fayetteville, NC.

9

Brevard College
Brevard, NC

68% Academic Quality Percentile

Brevard College ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Brevard, NC.

Explore Other Sports

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.

This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and athletic aid from the federal EADA survey), and overall school quality. The current methodology measures academic-athletic quality and does not include team win/loss performance.

References

• NCAA Academic Progress Rate & Graduation Success Rate — National Collegiate Athletic Association (athlete academic outcomes).
• Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) — U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (team participation, revenue, expenses, and aid).
• Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics (institutional data).

Read more about our data sources and methodologies.