Most Selective Colleges in North Carolina
Ranked by acceptance rate (50 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC · Private nonprofit | 6% | $29,612 | $97,800 |
| 2 | Davidson College Davidson, NC · Private nonprofit | 13% | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public | 15% | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit | 22% | $28,719 | $78,158 |
| 5 | Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Concord, NC · Private nonprofit | 23% | $17,618 | $58,708 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem, NC · Public | 30% | $14,906 | $38,357 |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC · Public | 42% | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| 8 | Brevard College Brevard, NC · Private nonprofit | 42% | $23,509 | $43,545 |
| 9 | Johnson C Smith University Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | 45% | $20,894 | $42,680 |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC · Public | 50% | $10,846 | $44,440 |
| 11 | Livingstone College Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit | 59% | $13,479 | $32,600 |
| 12 | Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte, NC · Public | 60% | — | $64,624 |
| 13 | Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | 62% | $30,857 | $57,673 |
| 14 | Elizabeth City State University Elizabeth City, NC · Public | 64% | $6,364 | $40,026 |
| 15 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC · Public | 64% | $20,109 | $54,967 |
| 16 | Elon University Elon, NC · Private nonprofit | 66% | $41,555 | $74,545 |
| 17 | Mars Hill University Mars Hill, NC · Private nonprofit | 68% | $19,910 | $44,781 |
| 18 | Chowan University Murfreesboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 69% | $14,086 | $38,412 |
| 19 | Montreat College Montreat, NC · Private nonprofit | 69% | $27,061 | $45,151 |
| 20 | Greensboro College Greensboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 70% | $17,882 | $46,566 |
| 21 | Warren Wilson College Swannanoa, NC · Private nonprofit | 71% | $21,249 | $36,260 |
| 22 | Meredith College Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit | 74% | $22,488 | $51,539 |
| 23 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $13,090 | — |
| 24 | Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| 25 | Methodist University Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $24,704 | $48,050 |
| 26 | Catawba College Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $17,879 | $48,793 |
| 27 | High Point University High Point, NC · Private nonprofit | 75% | $38,707 | $61,389 |
| 28 | University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit | 76% | $18,853 | $47,139 |
| 29 | Lees-McRae College Banner Elk, NC · Private nonprofit | 77% | $28,340 | $43,415 |
| 30 | Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit | 77% | $17,674 | $48,039 |
| 31 | Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC · Public | 78% | $13,479 | $45,344 |
| 32 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Public | 80% | $15,435 | $57,289 |
| 33 | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $27,426 | $43,418 |
| 34 | Guilford College Greensboro, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $22,270 | $47,590 |
| 35 | Shaw University Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $16,512 | $34,409 |
| 36 | North Carolina Wesleyan University Rocky Mount, NC · Private nonprofit | 80% | $17,432 | $45,873 |
| 37 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC · Public | 82% | $13,315 | $49,458 |
| 38 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC · Public | 82% | $7,892 | $40,144 |
| 39 | Lenoir-Rhyne University Hickory, NC · Private nonprofit | 85% | $20,689 | $45,543 |
| 40 | North Carolina Central University Durham, NC · Public | 87% | $15,359 | $42,968 |
| 41 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit | 87% | $24,516 | $54,886 |
| 42 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC · Public | 89% | $10,965 | $48,160 |
| 43 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC · Public | 89% | $15,739 | $55,146 |
| 44 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC · Public | 90% | $16,836 | $51,836 |
| 45 | Wingate University Wingate, NC · Private nonprofit | 91% | $20,748 | $52,649 |
| 46 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC · Public | 92% | $12,250 | $44,030 |
| 47 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC · Public | 93% | $10,260 | $43,407 |
| 48 | Barton College Wilson, NC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| 49 | William Peace University Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit | 94% | $21,649 | $46,643 |
| 50 | Pfeiffer University Misenheimer, NC · Private nonprofit | 96% | $19,076 | $51,562 |