Universities in North Carolina
North Carolina has 157 degree-granting institutions reporting to the U.S. Department of Education – 75 public, 49 private nonprofit, together enrolling about 421,744 undergraduates (2024-25 data). Each links to a full financial-health and student-outcomes profile. 10 are historically Black colleges or universities.
| # | Institution | Sector | Undergrads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh · R1: Doctoral, Very High Research | Public | 27,371 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 24,453 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill · R1: Doctoral, Very High Research | Public | 20,752 |
| 4 | East Carolina UniversityGreenville · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 19,896 |
| 5 | Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh · Associate's: High Transfer-High Traditional | Public | 19,675 |
| 6 | Appalachian State UniversityBoone · Master's, Larger Programs | Public | 19,444 |
| 7 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 15,067 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 14,922 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 14,062 |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Public | 12,182 |
| 11 | Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee · Doctoral/Professional University | Public | 10,024 |
| 12 | Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington · Associate's: High Transfer-High Traditional | Public | 9,764 |
| 13 | Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 9,471 |
| 14 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 9,260 |
| 15 | Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 7,113 |
| 16 | Elon UniversityElon · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 6,452 |
| 17 | Duke UniversityDurham · R1: Doctoral, Very High Research | Private | 6,442 |
| 18 | North Carolina Central UniversityDurham · Master's, Larger Programs | Public | 6,081 |
| 19 | Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville · Master's, Medium Programs | Public | 5,762 |
| 20 | Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem · R2: Doctoral, High Research | Private | 5,485 |
| 21 | University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke · Master's, Larger Programs | Public | 5,330 |
| 22 | Pitt Community CollegeWinterville · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 5,317 |
| 23 | High Point UniversityHigh Point · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 5,129 |
| 24 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 5,110 |
| 25 | Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem · Doctoral/Professional University | Public | 4,170 |
| 26 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 4,164 |
| 27 | Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 3,890 |
| 28 | Gaston CollegeDallas · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 3,518 |
| 29 | Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 3,453 |
| 30 | Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 3,237 |
| 31 | Alamance Community CollegeGraham · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 3,080 |
| 32 | University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Public | 2,910 |
| 33 | Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 2,741 |
| 34 | Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 2,739 |
| 35 | Coastal Carolina Community CollegeJacksonville · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 2,724 |
| 36 | Campbell UniversityBuies Creek · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 2,680 |
| 37 | Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro · Master's, Larger Programs | Private for-profit | 2,671 |
| 38 | Wingate UniversityWingate · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 2,668 |
| 39 | Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 2,633 |
| 40 | Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 2,539 |
| 41 | Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 2,393 |
| 42 | College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City · Associate's: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Public | 2,001 |
| 43 | Craven Community CollegeNew Bern · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 1,989 |
| 44 | Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Public | 1,975 |
| 45 | Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville · Associate's: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,948 |
| 46 | Davidson CollegeDavidson · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,867 |
| 47 | Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 1,856 |
| 48 | South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton · Associate's: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,833 |
| 49 | University of Mount OliveMount Olive · Master's, Small Programs | Private | 1,796 |
| 50 | Blue Ridge Community CollegeFlat Rock · Associate's: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,758 |
| 51 | Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,689 |
| 52 | Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,665 |
| 53 | Robeson Community CollegeLumberton · Associate's: High Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 1,551 |
| 54 | Surry Community CollegeDobson · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,475 |
| 55 | Lenoir Community CollegeKinston · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,469 |
| 56 | MyComputerCareer at RaleighRaleigh · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 1,466 |
| 57 | Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,465 |
| 58 | Methodist UniversityFayetteville · Master's, Small Programs | Private | 1,448 |
| 59 | Randolph Community CollegeAsheboro · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 1,417 |
| 60 | Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro · Associate's: High Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 1,397 |
| 61 | Wilson Community CollegeWilson · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,373 |
| 62 | Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory · Master's, Larger Programs | Private | 1,359 |
| 63 | Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 1,355 |
| 64 | Richmond Community CollegeHamlet · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 1,352 |
| 65 | NASCAR Technical InstituteMooresville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 1,345 |
| 66 | Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,339 |
| 67 | Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 1,276 |
| 68 | Southwestern Community CollegeSylva · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 1,249 |
| 69 | Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,244 |
| 70 | Catawba CollegeSalisbury · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 1,235 |
| 71 | North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 1,214 |
| 72 | Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 1,211 |
| 73 | Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte · Master's, Larger Programs | Private | 1,211 |
| 74 | Meredith CollegeRaleigh · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,188 |
| 75 | Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 1,184 |
| 76 | Carteret Community CollegeMorehead City · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Traditional | Public | 1,172 |
| 77 | Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 1,169 |
| 78 | Cleveland Community CollegeShelby · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 1,097 |
| 79 | Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 1,074 |
| 80 | Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 1,065 |
| 81 | Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 1,044 |
| 82 | Bladen Community CollegeDublin · Associate's: High Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 1,030 |
| 83 | Guilford CollegeGreensboro · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 1,001 |
| 84 | Barton CollegeWilson · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 982 |
| 85 | University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem · Special Focus: Technology-Related | Public | 945 |
| 86 | Livingstone CollegeSalisbury · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 924 |
| 87 | Shaw UniversityRaleigh · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 875 |
| 88 | Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 873 |
| 89 | Montgomery Community CollegeTroy · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 852 |
| 90 | Haywood Community CollegeClyde · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 849 |
| 91 | Sampson Community CollegeClinton · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 846 |
| 92 | Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-Mixed | Public | 820 |
| 93 | Brevard CollegeBrevard · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 815 |
| 94 | James Sprunt Community CollegeKenansville · Associate's: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional | Public | 799 |
| 95 | Montreat CollegeMontreat · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 762 |
| 96 | Halifax Community CollegeWeldon · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 723 |
| 97 | Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private | 712 |
| 98 | Greensboro CollegeGreensboro · Master's, Small Programs | Private | 708 |
| 99 | Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 707 |
| 100 | William Peace UniversityRaleigh · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 666 |
| 101 | Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer · Master's, Medium Programs | Private | 655 |
| 102 | McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 608 |
| 103 | Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 603 |
| 104 | Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest · Doctoral/Professional University | Private | 585 |
| 105 | Carolinas College of Health SciencesCharlotte · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Public | 533 |
| 106 | Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy · Associate's: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Public | 472 |
| 107 | Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem · Master's, Small Programs | Private | 460 |
| 108 | Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 457 |
| 109 | Salem CollegeWinston-Salem · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 423 |
| 110 | Miller-Motte College-RaleighRaleigh · Special Focus Two-Year: Health Professions | Private for-profit | 409 |
| 111 | Louisburg CollegeLouisburg · Associate's: High Transfer-High Traditional | Private | 402 |
| 112 | Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 362 |
| 113 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-CharlotteCharlotte · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 344 |
| 114 | Miller-Motte College-FayettevilleFayetteville · Special Focus Two-Year: Health Professions | Private for-profit | 336 |
| 115 | Martin Community CollegeWilliamston · Associate's: High Transfer-High Nontraditional | Public | 313 |
| 116 | Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeAhoskie · Associate's: High Transfer-High Traditional | Public | 309 |
| 117 | Galen Health Institutes-AshevilleAsheville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 253 |
| 118 | Southeastern College-CharlotteCharlotte · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 252 |
| 119 | Chamberlain University-North CarolinaCharlotte · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private for-profit | 202 |
| 120 | Aveda Institute-Chapel HillChapel Hill · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 198 |
| 121 | Miller-Motte College-JacksonvilleJacksonville · Special Focus Two-Year: Other Fields | Private for-profit | 195 |
| 122 | Manna UniversityFayetteville · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 183 |
| 123 | Bennett CollegeGreensboro · Baccalaureate: Arts & Sciences | Private | 178 |
| 124 | Saint Augustine's UniversityRaleigh · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 172 |
| 125 | Pamlico Community CollegeGrantsboro · Associate's: Mixed Transfer/Career-Technical-High Nontraditional | Public | 165 |
| 126 | Carolina College of Biblical StudiesFayetteville · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | 159 |
| 127 | Paul Mitchell the School-FayettevilleFayetteville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 149 |
| 128 | Gwinnett CollegeRaleigh · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 146 |
| 129 | College of WilmingtonWilmington · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 132 |
| 130 | Mid-Atlantic Christian UniversityElizabeth City · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields | Private | 132 |
| 131 | Paul Mitchell the School-RaleighRaleigh · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 130 |
| 132 | Watts College of NursingDurham · Other / Unclassified | Private | 124 |
| 133 | Empire Beauty School-ConcordConcord · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 110 |
| 134 | Leons Beauty School IncGreensboro · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 102 |
| 135 | Empire Beauty School-West GreensboroGreensboro · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 99 |
| 136 | Paul Mitchell the School-CharlotteCharlotte · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 97 |
| 137 | Empire Beauty School-CharlotteCharlotte · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 90 |
| 138 | Empire Beauty School-Winston-SalemWinston-Salem · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 80 |
| 139 | Empire Beauty School-PinevilleCharlotte · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 75 |
| 140 | South University-High PointHigh Point · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private for-profit | 67 |
| 141 | Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible CollegeWendell · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | 64 |
| 142 | Alexander Paul Institute of Hair DesignGreenville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 55 |
| 143 | Carolina Christian CollegeWinston Salem · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | 52 |
| 144 | Center for MassageAsheville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 51 |
| 145 | Carolina College of Hair Design IncAsheville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 46 |
| 146 | Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber CollegeDurham · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 41 |
| 147 | Beyond Measure Barbering InstituteMebane · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 38 |
| 148 | One Stop AcademyFayetteville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 31 |
| 149 | Winston Salem Barber SchoolWinston-Salem · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 29 |
| 150 | No Grease Barber SchoolCharlotte · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 28 |
| 151 | Charlotte Christian College and Theological SeminaryCharlotte · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | 24 |
| 152 | Heritage Bible CollegeDunn · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | 22 |
| 153 | Pinnacle Institute of CosmetologyMooresville · Other / Unclassified | Private for-profit | 18 |
| 154 | Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical ArtsAsheville · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private for-profit | – |
| 155 | Hood Theological SeminarySalisbury · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | – |
| 156 | Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese MedicineSugar Grove · Special Focus: Medical Schools/Centers | Private | – |
| 157 | Shepherds Theological SeminaryCary · Baccalaureate/Associate's: Assoc. Dominant | Private | – |
A directory, not a ranking, listed by undergraduate enrollment. Counts and figures come from the most recent College Scorecard & IPEDS release (2024-25), which lags the current academic year by 2–3 years. Open each institution’s profile for financial health, outcomes and peer benchmarks.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.