Top 6 Best Colleges in North Carolina | 2017 Ranking | Top NC State Colleges for a Great Degree

Top Colleges in North Carolina	Key Feature	Key Benefit
Appalachian State University	Research focuses on sustainability; excellent financial value	Appalachian is one of the top regional universities in a variety of rankings
Davidson College	A small, incredibly selective liberal arts college	The Davidson Trust was implemented to provide equal opportunity, including financial aid campus-wide
Duke University	Top national university, located in Durham which is a hub of research and innovation in the South	Students have options to plan their own degree program; graduates are sought-after by employers
Elon University	One of the top private colleges in NC for academics; student-centric approach	Low student-to-faculty ratio and an excellent school of journalism and communications
North Carolina State University	Leading research and innovation institution among colleges in NC	Located in Raleigh, which is a hub of technology and employment
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	First public university established in the country	Named as a Public Ivy

What Should You Know about Out-of-State Tuition?

Many students of the colleges in North Carolina are in-state, which means they get in-state tuition because their family is a resident of the state. In-state tuition can make the cost of North Carolina colleges that are public significantly less expensive than it would be for out-of-state students, but what about those students who want to attend one of the NC colleges from another state?

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There are some important things to know.

First, in-state tuition at North Carolina state colleges isn’t just a little lower than out-of-state. It’s often a lot lower. For example, the tuition for in-state students at one of the public colleges in North Carolina may be less than $10,000 per academic year, while out-of-state tuition can be tens of thousands per year.

Also, residency requirements can vary from state to state, but also from college to college, so make sure you’re clear on these before applying to North Carolina colleges.

There is also something called the Academic Common Market. This is a network of colleges in North Carolina and colleges from other regions in the area that come together to provide tuition exchange programs for students in specific parts of the country.

The Academic Common Market includes North Carolina as well as quite a few other states including Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia. As part of the network, students who are residents of a state that participates may be able to receive discounted tuition for certain programs.

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Detailed Review: Top-Ranking Best Colleges in North Carolina

Below, please find the detailed review of each of the top colleges in North Carolina. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these colleges in North Carolina to score so well in our selection ranking.

Appalachian State University Review

Appalachian State University is located in Boone, North Carolina, which is the mountains. ASU is ranked as one of the top public colleges in North Carolina, and it’s also one of the top regional schools in the South.

Among good colleges in North Carolina, including both large and small colleges in North Carolina, the following highlights reasons ASU is part of this ranking.

Rankings

ASU is lesser known than some of the other North Carolina colleges on this review, but it still ranks well. Outlets like U.S. News and Report frequently recognize ASU as one of the top colleges in North Carolina and also nationally and regionally. For example, it’s ranked as the #9 Regional University in the South by U.S. News and World Report. It’s also ranked as the #3 Top Public School regionally in the South.

Other Recognition

It’s not just U.S. News and World Report that highlights the benefits of ASU among the best colleges in North Carolina. Other recognition received by this pick for one of the leading North Carolina colleges include:

• Kiplinger’s “Best College Value” for 2016
• Princeton Review’s 2016 “Guide to Green Colleges”
• Victory Media’s Military Friendly Schools
• SIERRA magazine’s “Coolest Schools for 2016”
• Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck”
• Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges 2016”
• Princeton Reviews “The Best Value Colleges”

Sustainability Leadership

Appalachian is considered a leader in sustainability and is frequently nationally recognized as such. They feature a three-branched approach to sustainability including economics, the environment, and equity. The school is committed to innovation and research in sustainability, so this is an excellent choice among North Carolina colleges for students interested in this field of study.

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Davidson College Review

Located in Davidson, North Carolina, Davidson College is one of the small colleges in North Carolina included in this ranking. It has less than 2,000 undergraduates and is a highly selective and respected college.

Image Source: Davidson

Some of the reasons Davidson College is included on this list of the top colleges in North Carolina and leading small colleges in North Carolina are below.

Financial Aid

Davidson leads the way among private colleges in NC and small colleges in NC in many ways including financial aid. While the price tag to attend this leader among private colleges in NC is high, they put a lot of focus on the provision of financial aid to students.

In 2007, Davidson became the first liberal arts college that replaced loans with grants in all financial aid packages. This was part of an initiative called the Davidson Trust, which works to give all students the opportunity to graduate without debt.

The overarching concepts of the Davidson Trust are to support access and equal opportunity campus-wide.

Options Abroad

As one of the best private colleges in NC, Davidson offers excellent opportunities for students. It’s one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the U.S., and the reach of this school extends far beyond North Carolina.

For example, while the campus is located within 20 miles of the booming Charlotte metro, 80 percent of the student body opts to study, travel, work or perform service in another country.

Also, 85 percent of students participate in some kind of community work during the academic year.

Academics

The goal at Davidson, one of the leading private colleges in NC and the country, is to provide a strong, robust liberal arts education that prepares students to think critically and communicate well.

The curriculum is designed to ensure students get experience across many disciplines as well as the in-depth study of their major.

There are abundant academic resources and technology including the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Davidson is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Duke University Review

Duke University is one of the top private colleges in NC and in the country. Duke, one of the best colleges in North Carolina, is located in Durham, which is part of the Research Triangle Park.

Among North Carolina colleges, the following are some reasons Duke is ranked as one of the best.

Forbes Rankings

According to Forbes, Duke University is a rare school that brings together academic excellence with college sports excellence.

With only 11% of applicants admitted, it’s also highly competitive.

Forbes ranks Duke as #26 on their list of top colleges and #24 in terms of private colleges. It’s also ranked as #2 by Forbes in the South, and as #31 on the list of America’s Best Value Colleges.

A New York Times corporate study also showed Duke graduates are among the most sought-after and valued in the world.

FOCUS

Duke isn’t one of the small colleges in North Carolina, but still strives to gives students a small school experience. One way they do this is through the FOCUS program, which about a quarter of Duke first-year students participate in. This is a living and learning program that’s based on academics.

It’s meant to give students access to faculty mentoring and create a smaller community of students so they can get to know on a more in-depth basis.

Academics

The focus at Duke, one of the best colleges in North Carolina, is on academics. It’s the fifth largest research university in the nation based on funding, and the educational philosophy is based on self-defined pursuits.

Students have choices and flexibility in their learning process, and there is a wide variety of interdisciplinary majors, minors, and concentrations.

Students have the ability to plan their own degree program and work across disciplines for an individualized experience.

Image Source: Duke

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Elon University Review

Located between Greensboro and Raleigh, Elon University is a liberal arts university is Elon, North Carolina. Among NC colleges, it’s relatively small, although it does have five schools across its main campus, and a satellite campus in Greensboro.

Elon is one of the best small colleges in North Carolina and also one of the leading private colleges in NC. The following details some of the reasons it’s included in this list of leading North Carolina colleges.

School of Communications

The Elon School of Communications is one of only 18 accredited communications programs at private universities in the US by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Elon, one of the top private colleges in NC, is known for its journalism and mass communication program, which includes 20% of the school’s students.

There are six main concentrations including journalism, strategic communications, cinema and television arts, communication design, media analytics, and sport and event management.

Students also complete at least one internship, and some of the workplaces have included NBC, 60 Minutes, National Geographic, MTV, Vogue, and more.

Student-Centric

Elon, one of the leading private colleges in NC and one of the top small colleges in North Carolina, prides itself on being student-centric.

U.S. News & World Report recognizes this leader among small colleges in NC as being focused on student success more than any other university in the nation. Some of the factors that led to this ranking include their study abroad programs, internships, undergraduate research, first-year experiences, learning communities, and more.

Academics

As compared to other small colleges in North Carolina and private colleges in NC, Elon is also excellent regarding academics. Classes are small with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Through the Elon Center for Engaged Learning, faculty members are part of an international conversation regarding the best learning and teaching strategies.

Students are challenged to see the world through a global perspective, and Elon also sends more students to study abroad than any other university in the nation.

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North Carolina State University Review

North Carolina State University is frequently named as one of the many good colleges in North Carolina and one of the top North Carolina state colleges. Among colleges in NC, NCSU is excellent for many reasons including its emphasis on the sciences and engineering.

When comparing colleges in North Carolina, the following are key reasons NCSU is frequently named as one of the best NC colleges.

Research

NCSU is undoubtedly one of the top NC colleges for research. This isn’t one of the small colleges in North Carolina, and in fact, it’s one of the largest North Carolina colleges, but with that comes a great deal of funding and excellent resources.

Some of the areas where this leader among NC state colleges is focusing current research and development include reducing nuclear proliferation, developing a smart electric grid, self-powered health monitor development, issues related to farming and climate change, and the creation of a new American manufacturing sector.

Location

Another big reason NCSU is included on this list of the premier colleges in NC and a leader among North Carolina state colleges is because of the location. NCSU is located in Raleigh, which is nationally recognized as one of the best cities in the country for jobs, and for professionals in the technology sector.

For example, Forbes named it number two on their list of the best places to find a tech job in 2016, and it was also named as the number three best city for young professionals by Forbes. Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle as well, where companies including IBM, Cisco Systems, and the SAS Institute are top employers.

Image Source: NCSU

Special Programs

NCSU, one of the top NC state colleges, is a good value among the top colleges in North Carolina, and also offers many special programs. Some of these special programs include the Entrepreneurship Initiative, which was formed as a way to develop an educated, entrepreneurial workforce.

There’s also the Master of Global Innovation Management Program at the Poole College of Management at NCSU and the Young and Teen Writers’ Workshops directed by Bill Lawrence.

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Review

The flagship campus of the NC state colleges system, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the premier colleges in NC regarding academics and athletics. Located in the town of Chapel Hill, UNC is not just one of the good colleges in North Carolina but is one of the top public universities in the country.

Among good colleges in North Carolina and North Carolina state colleges, the following are reasons UNC is named as one of the top colleges in North Carolina.

A Best Public University

UNC, along with being one of the top colleges in NC, was established in 1795 as the first public university in the nation. It has since grown to become recognized as one of the best universities in the world, and it’s a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It’s also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

UNC is also the only public school among colleges in NC that’s named as a Public Ivy.

Rankings

UNC ranks incredibly well not just among good colleges in North Carolina, but throughout the country. US News & World Repot ranks it as the number 30 school in the entire country, and it’s number 12 among best value schools.

It’s also the #5 best public school in the country, and the school’s business programs rank incredibly well at the national level.

Cost

UNC is known the world over as one of the top North Carolina state colleges because of academics and competitiveness, but this comes at a relatively low cost, particularly for in-state students. Because of North Carolina regulations for NC colleges, the school is required to have at least 82% of students come from in-state, and for these students, tuition and fees are less than $10,000.

For out-of-state students, the tuition and fees are higher, but 43% of full-time undergraduates receive some type of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is more than $17,000.

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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Colleges in North Carolina

North Carolina is known for having some of the best colleges in the country. The NC state colleges system boasts the nation’s first public university, UNC, and it is one of the most diverse, least expensive and most academically rigorous systems in the U.S.

This ranking of the top colleges in North Carolina includes small colleges in NC, private colleges in NC, and of course, NC state colleges. Each of the North Carolina colleges included in this ranking excels regarding program offerings, reputation, research, and more.

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