Universities in North Carolina

North Carolina has 159 degree-granting institutions reporting to the U.S. Department of Education – 75 public, 49 private nonprofit, 35 for-profit, 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.

Institutions in North Carolina, by undergraduate enrollment.
#	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 · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	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	Universal Technical Institute-MooresvilleMooresville · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	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: Arts, Music & Design	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: Other Health Professions	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: Other Health Professions	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 · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	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 · Four-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	253
118	Southeastern College-CharlotteCharlotte · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	252
119	Chamberlain University-North CarolinaCharlotte · Special Focus: Other Health Professions	Private for-profit	202
120	Aveda Institute-Chapel HillChapel Hill · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	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 · Special Focus: Faith-Related	Private	159
127	Paul Mitchell the School-FayettevilleFayetteville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	149
128	Gwinnett CollegeRaleigh · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	146
129	College of WilmingtonWilmington · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	132
130	Mid-Atlantic Christian UniversityElizabeth City · Baccalaureate: Diverse Fields	Private	132
131	Paul Mitchell the School-RaleighRaleigh · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	130
132	Watts College of NursingDurham · Four-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private	124
133	Empire Beauty School-ConcordConcord · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	110
134	Leons Beauty School IncGreensboro · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	102
135	Empire Beauty School-West GreensboroGreensboro · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	99
136	Paul Mitchell the School-CharlotteCharlotte · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	97
137	Empire Beauty School-CharlotteCharlotte · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	90
138	Empire Beauty School-Winston-SalemWinston-Salem · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	80
139	Empire Beauty School-PinevilleCharlotte · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	75
140	South University-High PointHigh Point · Special Focus: Other Health Professions	Private for-profit	67
141	Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible CollegeWendell · Special Focus: Faith-Related	Private	64
142	Alexander Paul Institute of Hair DesignGreenville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	55
143	Carolina Christian CollegeWinston Salem · Special Focus: Faith-Related	Private	52
144	Center for MassageAsheville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	51
145	Carolina College of Hair Design IncAsheville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	46
146	Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber CollegeDurham · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	41
147	Beyond Measure Barbering InstituteMebane · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	38
148	One Stop AcademyFayetteville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	31
149	Winston Salem Barber SchoolWinston-Salem · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	29
150	No Grease Barber SchoolCharlotte · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	28
151	Charlotte Christian College and Theological SeminaryCharlotte · Special Focus: Faith-Related	Private	24
152	Heritage Bible CollegeDunn · Special Focus: Faith-Related	Private	22
153	Pinnacle Institute of CosmetologyMooresville · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	18
154	Circle of Love AcademyDudley · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	–
155	Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical ArtsAsheville · Special Focus: Other Health Professions	Private for-profit	–
156	Dooby Shop School of CosmetologyCharlotte · Less-than-two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	–
157	Hood Theological SeminarySalisbury · Special Focus: Faith-Related	Private	–
158	Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese MedicineSugar Grove · Special Focus: Other Health Professions	Private	–
159	Shepherds Theological SeminaryCary · Special Focus: Faith-Related	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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Frequently asked

How many colleges and universities are in North Carolina?

159 degree-granting institutions in North Carolina report to the U.S. Department of Education: 75 public, 49 private nonprofit, 35 for-profit. Together they enroll about 421,744 undergraduates (2024-25 data).

Which North Carolina college enrolls the most undergraduates?

North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, with about 27,371 undergraduates (2024-25 data). It is the largest of the 159 institutions listed on this page by undergraduate enrollment.

Are there historically Black colleges or universities in North Carolina?

Yes: North Carolina A & T State University, North Carolina Central University, Fayetteville State University, Winston-Salem State University, Elizabeth City State University, Johnson C Smith University and others. North Carolina has 10 HBCUs in this directory.

Where does this North Carolina college data come from?

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS collections, most recent release (2024-25). Every figure is federal, published and free to check; nothing on this page is estimated or AI-generated.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.