Universities in North Carolina

North Carolina has 159 postsecondary 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: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	27,371
2	University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	24,453
3	University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	20,752
4	East Carolina UniversityGreenville · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	19,896
5	Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh · Mixed Associate Large	Public	19,675
6	Appalachian State UniversityBoone · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	19,444
7	Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte · Mixed Associate Large	Public	15,067
8	University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	14,922
9	University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	14,062
10	North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Public	12,182
11	Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium	Public	10,024
12	Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington · Mixed Associate Large	Public	9,764
13	Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville · Professions-focused Associate Large/Medium	Public	9,471
14	Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	9,260
15	Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	7,113
16	Elon UniversityElon · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium	Private	6,452
17	Duke UniversityDurham · R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Private	6,442
18	North Carolina Central UniversityDurham · Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium	Public	6,081
19	Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium	Public	5,762
20	Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem · R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production	Private	5,485
21	University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke · Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Large/Medium	Public	5,330
22	Pitt Community CollegeWinterville · Professions-focused Associate Large/Medium	Public	5,317
23	High Point UniversityHigh Point · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium	Private	5,129
24	Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville · Professions-focused Associate Large/Medium	Public	5,110
25	Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Medium	Public	4,170
26	Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	4,164
27	Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	3,890
28	Gaston CollegeDallas · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	3,518
29	Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	3,453
30	Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	3,237
31	Alamance Community CollegeGraham · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	3,080
32	University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Public	2,910
33	Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	2,741
34	Wayne Community CollegeGoldsboro · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	2,739
35	Coastal Carolina Community CollegeJacksonville · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	2,724
36	Campbell UniversityBuies Creek · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium	Private	2,680
37	Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro · Special Focus: Business	Private for-profit	2,671
38	Wingate UniversityWingate · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small	Private	2,668
39	Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	2,633
40	Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	2,539
41	Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	2,393
42	College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City · Mixed Associate Small	Public	2,001
43	Craven Community CollegeNew Bern · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,989
44	Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Public	1,975
45	Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	1,948
46	Davidson CollegeDavidson · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	1,867
47	Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium	Private	1,856
48	South Piedmont Community CollegePolkton · Mixed Associate Medium	Public	1,833
49	University of Mount OliveMount Olive · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	1,796
50	Blue Ridge Community CollegeFlat Rock · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,758
51	Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,689
52	Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,665
53	Robeson Community CollegeLumberton · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	1,551
54	Surry Community CollegeDobson · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,475
55	Lenoir Community CollegeKinston · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,469
56	MyComputerCareer at RaleighRaleigh · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies	Private for-profit	1,466
57	Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	1,465
58	Methodist UniversityFayetteville · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small	Private	1,448
59	Randolph Community CollegeAsheboro · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,417
60	Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro · Special Focus: Other Health Professions	Public	1,397
61	Wilson Community CollegeWilson · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,373
62	Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small	Private	1,359
63	Wilkes Community CollegeWilkesboro · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,355
64	Richmond Community CollegeHamlet · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,352
65	Universal Technical Institute-MooresvilleMooresville · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies	Private for-profit	1,345
66	Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,339
67	Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	1,276
68	Southwestern Community CollegeSylva · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	1,249
69	Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte · Mixed Baccalaureate	Private	1,244
70	Catawba CollegeSalisbury · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	1,235
71	North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	1,214
72	Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,211
73	Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small	Private	1,211
74	Meredith CollegeRaleigh · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	1,188
75	Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteCharlotte · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies	Private	1,184
76	Carteret Community CollegeMorehead City · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,172
77	Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,169
78	Cleveland Community CollegeShelby · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,097
79	Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,074
80	Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,065
81	Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	1,044
82	Bladen Community CollegeDublin · Mixed Associate Small	Public	1,030
83	Guilford CollegeGreensboro · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	1,001
84	Barton CollegeWilson · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	982
85	University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem · Special Focus: Arts, Music, and Design	Public	945
86	Livingstone CollegeSalisbury · Mixed Baccalaureate	Private	924
87	Shaw UniversityRaleigh · Mixed Baccalaureate	Private	875
88	Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	873
89	Montgomery Community CollegeTroy · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	852
90	Haywood Community CollegeClyde · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	849
91	Sampson Community CollegeClinton · Mixed Associate Small	Public	846
92	Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville · Mixed Associate Small	Public	820
93	Brevard CollegeBrevard · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	815
94	James Sprunt Community CollegeKenansville · Mixed Associate Small	Public	799
95	Montreat CollegeMontreat · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	762
96	Halifax Community CollegeWeldon · Mixed Associate Small	Public	723
97	Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord · Special Focus: Nursing	Private	712
98	Greensboro CollegeGreensboro · Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small	Private	708
99	Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	707
100	William Peace UniversityRaleigh · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	666
101	Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer · Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Master's Small	Private	655
102	McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion · Mixed Associate Small	Public	608
103	Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	603
104	Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest · Special Focus: Theological Studies	Private	585
105	Carolinas College of Health SciencesCharlotte · Special Focus: Nursing	Public	533
106	Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy · Mixed Associate Small	Public	472
107	Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem · Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Small	Private	460
108	Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	457
109	Salem CollegeWinston-Salem · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	423
110	Miller-Motte College-RaleighRaleigh · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies	Private for-profit	409
111	Louisburg CollegeLouisburg · Mixed Associate Small	Private	402
112	Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine · Mixed Associate Small	Public	362
113	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-CharlotteCharlotte · Two-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	344
114	Miller-Motte College-FayettevilleFayetteville · Mixed Associate Small	Private for-profit	336
115	Martin Community CollegeWilliamston · Mixed Associate Small	Public	313
116	Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeAhoskie · Mixed Associate Small	Public	309
117	Galen Health Institutes-AshevilleAsheville · Four-year institution (not classified by Carnegie)	Private for-profit	253
118	Southeastern College-CharlotteCharlotte · Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies	Private for-profit	252
119	Chamberlain University-North CarolinaCharlotte · Special Focus: Nursing	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: Business	Private for-profit	195
122	Manna UniversityFayetteville · Special Focus: Theological Studies	Private	183
123	Bennett CollegeGreensboro · Special Focus: Arts and Sciences	Private	178
124	Saint Augustine's UniversityRaleigh · Professions-focused Baccalaureate Small	Private	172
125	Pamlico Community CollegeGrantsboro · Professions-focused Associate Small	Public	165
126	Carolina College of Biblical StudiesFayetteville · Special Focus: Theological Studies	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 · Special Focus: Theological Studies	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 · Special Focus: Nursing	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: Nursing	Private for-profit	67
141	Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible CollegeWendell · Special Focus: Theological Studies	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: Theological Studies	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: Theological Studies	Private	24
152	Heritage Bible CollegeDunn · Special Focus: Theological Studies	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: Theological Studies	Private	–
158	Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese MedicineSugar Grove · Special Focus: Other Health Professions	Private	–
159	Shepherds Theological SeminaryCary · Special Focus: Theological Studies	Private	–

This is 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 postsecondary 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.