North Carolina’s Schools
North Carolina, the ninth most populous state in the country, is a place full of history and tradition that has developed since the states admission to the union in 1789. Not much after the foundation of the state, a strong educational system began to develop. The University of North Carolina System over time, took place as the system of 17 public universities in the state, including 6 research/doctoral universities. Six years after the state was formed, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill began admitting students in 1795. The oldest university in the nation (along with 2 others), UNC Chapel hill sets the bar for the UNC system. Offering more doctoral than bachelor’s degrees (74 to 71) and listed as 5th among top public colleges in the nation, the university is one of the most well regarded public universities in the country. Admitting 29,282 students, some of UNC Chapel Hill’s most popular majors are biology, psychology, and media and journalism.
The school of Public Health at the university was ranked 2nd overall in the nation in 2011. Other schools using the UNC moniker are UNC Charlotte and UNC Greensboro, with UNC Greensboro hosting one of the nation’s largest Modern American Art collections.
NC State is a university in the UNC system with offering strong assets for a potential engineer, being listed as a land, sea, and space-grant institution, holding the most of such grants in the state. NC State offers 106 bachelors, 104 masters and 61 doctoral degrees. Another land-grant university in the state is East Carolina University in Greenville, which is listed as a sea-grant institution. North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University in Greensboro is another prominent public university in the state, being the largest historically black university in the nation. Focuses of research at the institute include Biomedical Research, Aerospace and Transportation, and Biotechnology and Bioscience.
The field for private institutions in the State is very rich, with many schools being critically acclaimed nationally and worldwide. Duke University in Durham is a perfect example of such acclaim and praise. Being one of the best research universities in the nation, both private and public, Duke registered 993 million dollars in research expenditures for the year 2014 alone. The university has more post graduate students than undergraduate, with post grad enrollment at 8,379 students while undergrad is at 6,471. Duke is listed as the 3rd best college in the nation by USA Today. The university has produced a plethora of awarding winning graduates and associates including multiple Rhodes Scholar, Churchill Scholar, and Nobel Prize recipients. Notables include 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recipient Paul Modrich. Along with Duke. Elon University is another recognizable private university in the state. Consistently ranked in polls as one of the best values and most underrated colleges in the nation, Elon was listed as the 4th hottest school of the decade in 2009. U.S. News and World Report listed the university as #1 among southern regional universities.
The system of Community Colleges in the state is a very strong system that provides a solid education for any looking for one. The system is the third largest community college system in the nation with over 50 campuses located throughout the state. The system contains over 800,000 students state-wide.
Traditional Colleges In North Carolina
Appalachian State University
- Site- www.appstate.edu
- Phone- 828-262-2120
- Admissions – bingerkn@appstate.edu
- Financial Aid – financialaid@appstate.edu
Barton College
- Site – www.barton.edu
- Phone – 800-345-4973
- Admissions – enroll@barton.edu
- Financial Aid – aid@barton.edu
Brevard College
- Site – www.brevard.edu
- Phone – 800-527-9090
- Admissions – admissions@brevard.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@brevard.edu
Campbell University
- Site – www.campbell.edu
- Phone – 800-334-4111
- Admissions – shella@mailcenter.campbell.edu
- Financial Aid – shella@mailcenter.campbell.edu
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
- Site – www.carolinashealthcare.org
- Phone – 704-355-4305
- Admissions – kwagner@carolinas.org
- Financial Aid – dvanwie@carolinas
Catawba College
- Site – www.catawba.edu
- Phone – 800-228-2922
- Admissions – admission@catawba.edu
- Financial Aid – mcmccull@catawba.edu
Chowan College
- Site – www.chowan.edu
- Phone – 800-488-4101
- Admissions – admissions@chowan.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@chowan.edu
Davidson College
- Site – www.davidson.edu
- Phone – 800-768-0380
- Admissions – admissions@davidson.edu
- Financial Aid – admissions@davidson.edu
Duke University
- Site – www.duke.edu
- Phone – 919-684-3214
- Admissions – askduke@admiss.duke.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@finaid.duke.edu
Elon University
- Site – www.elon.edu
- Phone – 800-334-8448
- Admissions – admissns@numen.elon.edu
- Financial Aid – admissions@elon.edu
Gardner-Webb University
- Site – www.gardner-webb.edu
- Phone – 704-406-4000
- Admissions – admissions@gardner-webb.edu
- Financial Aid – cwallace@gardner-webb.edu
Greensboro College
- Site – www.gborocollege.edu
- Phone – 800-346-8226
- Admissions – admissions@admin.gborocollege.edu
- Financial Aid – finplan@gborocollege.edu
Guilford College
- Site – www.guilford.edu
- Phone – 800-992-7759
- Admissions – admission@guilford.edu
- Financial Aid – dharriso@guilford.edu
High Point University
- Site – www.highpoint.edu
- Phone – 800-345-6993
- Admissions – admiss@acme.highpoint.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@highpoint.edu
Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte, NC
- Site – www.jwu.edu
- Phone – 866-JWU-CHARLOTTE
- Admissions – clt@admissions.jwu.edu
- Financial Aid – sfs.clt@jwu.edu
Lees-McRae College
- Site – www.lmc.edu
- Phone – 828-898-5241
- Admissions – Admissions@lmc.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@lmc.edu
Lenoir-Rhyne College
- Site – www.lr.edu
- Phone – 800-277-5721
- Admissions – admissions@lmc.edu
- Financial Aid – Shell@lmc.edu
Mars Hill College
- Site – www.mhc.edu
- Phone – 866 MHC 4 YOU
- Admissions – admissions@mhc.edu
- Financial Aid – mmartin@mhc.edu
Meredith College
- Site – www.meredith.edu
- Phone – 800-MEREDITH
- Admissions – admissions@meredith.edu
- Financial Aid – admissions@meredith.edu
Methodist College
- Site – www.methodist.edu
- Phone – 800-488-7110
- Admissions – rlowe@methodist.edu
- Financial Aid – adamson@methodist.edu
Montreat College
- Site – www.montreat.edu
- Phone – 800-622-6968
- Admissions – admissions@montreat.edu
- Financial Aid – financialaid@montreat.edu
Mount Olive College
- Site – www.mountolivecollege.edu
- Phone – 800-653-0854
- Admissions – admissions@exchange.moc.edu
- Financial Aid – kstatler@moc.edu
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Site – www.ncat.edu
- Phone – 800-443-8964
- Admissions – uadmit@ncat.edu
- Financial Aid – avent@ncat.edu
North Carolina Central University
- Site – www.nccu.edu
- Phone – 919-560-6298
- Admissions – ebridges@wpo.nccu.edu
- Financial Aid – soliver@wpo.nccu.edu
North Carolina State University
- Site – www.ncsu.edu
- Phone – 919-515-2434
- Admissions – undergrad_admissions@ncsu.edu
- Financial Aid – Nell_Summerlin@ncsu.edu
North Carolina Wesleyan College
- Site – www.ncwc.edu
- Phone – 800-488-6292
- Admissions – adm@ncwc.edu
- Financial Aid – adm@ncwc.edu
Peace College
- Site – www.peace.edu
- Phone – 800-PEACE-47
- Admissions – CHill@peace.edu
- Financial Aid – akirkley@peace.edu
Queens College
- Site – www.queens.edu
- Phone – 800-849-0202
- Admissions – cas@queens.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@queens.edu
Roanoke Bible College
- Site – www.roanokebible.edu
- Phone – 800-722-8980
- Admissions – admissions@roanokebible.edu
- Financial Aid – admissions@roanokebible.edu
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
- Site – www.sapc.edu
- Phone – 800-763-0198
- Admissions – admissions@sapc.edu
- Financial Aid – info@sapc.edu
Salem College
- Site – www.salem.edu
- Phone – 800-32SALEM
- Admissions – admissions@salem.edu
- Financial Aid – setzer@salem.edu
Shaw University
- Site – www.shawu.edu
- Phone – 800-214-6683
- Admissions – admissions@shawu.edu
- Financial Aid – admissions@shawu.edu
University of North Carolina at Asheville
- Site – www.unca.edu
- Phone – 828-251-6481
- Admissions – admissions@unca.edu
- Financial Aid – mpresha@unca.edu
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Site – www.unc.edu
- Phone – 919-962-3621
- Admissions – uadm@email.unc.edu
- Financial Aid – AidInfo@unc.edu
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Site – www.uncg.edu
- Phone – 336-334-5243
- Admissions – admissions@uncg.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@uncg.edu
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Site – www.uncp.edu
- Phone – 800-949-UNCP
- Admissions – admissions@uncp.edu
- Financial Aid – fa@uncp.edu
Wake Forest University
- Site – www.wfu.edu
- Phone – 336-758-5201
- Admissions – admissions@wfu.edu
- Financial Aid – financial-aid@wfu.edu
Warren Wilson College
- Site – www.warren-wilson.edu
- Phone – 800-934-3536
- Admissions – admit@warren-wilson.edu
- Financial Aid – financialaid@warren-wilson.edu
Western Carolina University
- Site – www.wcu.edu
- Phone – 877-WCU 4 YOU
- Admissions – admiss@wcuvax1.wcu.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@wcu.edu
Wingate College
- Site – www.wingate.edu
- Phone – 800-755-5550
- Admissions – admit@wingate.edu
- Financial Aid – admit@wingate.edu
Winston-Salem State University
- Site – www.wssu.edu
- Phone – 800-257-4052 and 336-750-2070
- Admissions – admissions@wssu.edu
- Financial Aid – finaid@wssu.edu
North Carolina – Community Colleges
Alamance Community College
- Site – www.alamancecc.edu
- Address – 1247 Jimmie Kerr Rd, Graham, NC 27253
- Phone – (336) 578-2002
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
- Site – www.abtech.edu
- Address – 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801
- Phone – (828) 398-7900
Beaufort County Community College
- Site – www.beaufortccc.edu
- Address – 5337 US-264, Washington, NC 27889
- Phone – (252) 946-6194
Bladen Community College
- Site – www.bladencc.edu
- Address – 7418 NC Hwy 41W, Dublin, NC 28332
- Phone – (910) 879-5500
Blue Ridge Community College
- Site – www.blueridge.edu
- Address – 180 W Campus Dr, Flat Rock, NC 28731
- Phone – (828) 694-1700
Brunswick Community College
- Site – www.brunswickcc.edu
- Address – 2050 Enterprise Dr NE, Leland, NC 28451
- Phone – (910) 371-2400
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute
- Site – www.cccti.edu
- Address – 2855 Hickory Blvd, Hudson, NC 28638
- Phone – (828) 726-2200
Cape Fear Community College
- Site – www.cfcc.edu
- Address – 411 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
- Phone – (910) 362-7000
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
- Site – www.carolinashealthcare.org/carolinas-college-of-health-sciences
- Address – 1200 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
- Phone – (704) 355-5043
Carteret Community College
- Site – www.carteret.edu
- Address – 3505 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557
- Phone – (252) 222-6000
Catawba Valley Community College
- Site – www.cvcc.edu
- Address – 2550 US-70, Hickory, NC 28602
- Phone – (828) 327-7000
Central Carolina Community College
- Site – www.cccc.edu
- Address – 1105 Kelly Dr, Sanford, NC 27330
- Phone – (919) 775-5401
Central Piedmont Community College
- Site – www.cpcc.edu
- Address – 1141 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
- Phone – (704) 330-2722
Cleveland Community College
- Site – www.clevelandcc.edu
- Address – 137 South Post Road, Shelby, NC 28152
- Phone – (704) 669-6000
Coastal Carolina Community College
- Site – www.coastalcarolina.edu
- Address – 444 Western Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28546
- Phone – (910) 455-1221
College of the Albemarle
- Site – www.albemarle.edu
- Address – 1208 N. Road StPO Box 2327 Elizabeth City, NC 27909
- Phone – (252) 335-0821
Craven Community College
- Site – www.cravencc.edu
- Address – 800 College Ct, New Bern, NC 28562
- Phone – (252) 638-7200
Davidson County Community College
- Site – www.davidsonccc.edu
- Address – 297 Davidson Community College Rd, Thomasville, NC 27360
- Phone – (336) 249-8186
Durham Technical Community College
- Site – www.durhamtech.edu
- Address – 1637 E Lawson St, Durham, NC 27703
- Phone – (919) 536-7200
Edgecombe Community College
- Site – www.edgecombe.edu
- Address – 225 Tarboro St, Rocky Mount, NC 27801
- Phone – (252) 823-5166
Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Site – www.faytechcc.edu
- Address – 2201 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
- Phone – (910) 678-8400
Forsyth Technical Community College
- Site – www.forsythtech.edu
- Address – 2100 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
- Phone – (336) 723-0371
Gaston College
- Site – www.gaston.edu
- Address – 201 Highway U.S. 321 S, Dallas, NC 28034
- Phone – (704) 922-6200
Guilford Technical Community College
- Site – home.gtcc.edu
- Address – 601 E Main St, Jamestown, NC 27282
- Phone – (336) 334-4822
Halifax Community College
- Site – www.halifaxcc.edu
- Address – 100 College Dr, Weldon, NC 27890
- Phone – (252) 536-4221
Haywood Community College
- Site – www.haywood.edu
- Address – 185 Freedlander Dr, Clyde, NC 28721
- Phone – (828) 627-2821
Isothermal Community College
- Site – www.isothermal.edu
- Address – 286 I C C Loop Rd, Spindale, NC 28160
- Phone – (828) 286-3636
James Sprunt Community College
- Site – www.jamessprunt.edu
- Address – 133 James Sprunt Dr, Kenansville, NC 28349
- Phone – (910) 296-2400
Johnston Community College
- Site – www.johnstoncc.edu
- Address – 245 College Rd, Smithfield, NC 27577
- Phone – (919) 934-3051
Lenoir Community College
- Site – www.lenoircc.edu
- Address – 231 NC-58, Kinston, NC 28504
- Phone – (252) 522-3964
Louisburg College
- Site – www.louisburg.edu
- Address – 501 N Main St, Louisburg, NC 27549
- Phone – (919) 496-2521
Martin Community College
- Site – www.martincc.edu
- Address – 1161 Kehukee Park Rd. Williamston, NC 27892
- Phone – 252-792-1521
Mayland Community College
- Site – www.mayland.edu
- Address – 200 Mayland Drive Spruce Pine, NC 28777
- Phone – (828) 766-1200
McDowell Technical Community College
- Site – www.mcdowelltech.edu
- Address – 54 College Dr, Marion, NC 28752
- Phone – (828) 652-6021
Mitchell Community College
- Site – www.mitchellcc.edu
- Address – 500 W Broad St, Statesville, NC 28677
- Phone – (704) 878-3200
Nash Community College
- Site – www.nashcc.edu
- Address – 522 N Old Carriage Rd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
- Phone – (252) 443-4011
Pamlico Community College
- Site – www.pamlicocc.edu
- Address – 5049 NC-306, Grantsboro, NC 28529
- Phone – (252) 249-1851
Piedmont Community College
- Site – www.piedmontcc.edu
- Address – 1715 College Dr, Roxboro, NC 27573
- Phone – (336) 599-1181
Pitt Community College
- Site – www.pittcc.edu
- Address – 1986 Pitt Tech Rd, Winterville, NC 28590
- Phone – (252) 493-7200
Randolph Community College
- Site – www.randolph.edu
- Address – 629 Industrial Park Ave, Asheboro, NC 27205
- Phone – (336) 633-0200
Richmond Community College
- Site – www.richmondcc.edu
- Address – 1042 West Hamlet Avenue, Hamlet, NC 28345
- Phone – (910) 410-1700
Roanoke-Chowan Community College
- Site – www.roanokechowan.edu
- Address – 109 Community College Rd, Ahoskie, NC 27910
- Phone – (252) 862-1200
Robeson Community College
- Site – www.robeson.edu
- Address – 5160 Fayetteville Rd, Lumberton, NC 28360
- Phone – (910) 272-3700
Rockingham Community College
- Site – www.rockinghamcc.edu
- Address – 215 Wrenn Memorial Rd, Wentworth, NC 27375
- Phone – (336) 342-4261
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Site – www.rccc.edu
- Address – 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd S, Salisbury, NC 28146
- Phone – (704) 216-7222
Sampson Community College
- Site – www.sampsoncc.edu
- Address – 1801 Sunset Ave, Clinton, NC 28328
- Phone – (910) 592-8081
Sandhills Community College
- Site – www.sandhills.edu
- Address – 3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374
- Phone – (910) 692-6185
South Piedmont Community College
- Site – www.spcc.edu
- Address – 4209 Old Charlotte Hwy, Monroe, NC 28110
- Phone – (704) 290-5100
Southeastern Community College
- Site – www.sccnc.edu
- Address – 4564 Chadbourn Hwy, Whiteville, NC 28472
- Phone – (910) 642-7141
Southwestern Community College
- Site – www.southwesterncc.edu
- Address – 447 College Drive, Sylva, NC 28779
- Phone – (828) 339-4000
Stanly Community College
- Site – www.stanly.edu
- Address – 141 College Dr, Albemarle, NC 28001
- Phone – (704) 982-0121
Surry Community College
- Site – surry.edu
- Address – 630 S Main St, Dobson, NC 27017
- Phone – (336) 386-8121
Tri-County Community College
- Site – www.tricountycc.edu
- Address – 21 Campus Circle, Murphy, NC 28906
- Phone – (828) 837-6810
Vance-Granville Community College
- Site – www.vgcc.edu
- Address – 200 Community College Rd, Henderson, NC 27536
- Phone – (252) 492-2061
Wake Technical Community College
- Site – www.waketech.edu
- Address – 9101 Fayetteville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
- Phone – (919) 866-5000
Wayne Community College
- Site – www.waynecc.edu
- Address – 3000 Wayne Memorial Dr, Goldsboro, NC 27534
- Phone – (919) 735-5151
Western Piedmont Community College
- Site – www.wpcc.edu
- Address – 1001 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, NC 28655
- Phone – (828) 438-6000
Wilkes Community College
- Site – www.wilkescc.edu
- Address – PO Box 120 1328 S. Collegiate Drive, Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697
- Phone – (336) 838-6100
Wilson Community College
- Site – www.wilsoncc.edu
- Address – 902 Herring Ave E, Wilson, NC 27893
- Phone – (252) 291-1195
Trade, Vocational, Career Colleges – North Carolina
Asheville
South College
Cary
Miller Motte Technical College
Strayer University
University of Phoenix
Fayetteville
Brookstone College
ECPI College of Technology
Medical Careers Institute
Strayer University
TechSkills
Greensboro
Huntersville
Strayer University
DeVry University
Keller Graduate School of Management
NASCAR Technical Institute
Strayer University
Morrisville
DeVry University
ECPI College of Technology
Keller Graduate School of Management
Medical Careers Institute
Miller-Motte College
School of Communication Arts
Strayer University
University of Phoenix
Raleigh
Aveda Institute
Chapel Hill
Art Institute of Charlotte
Brookstone College
ECPI College of Technology
DeVry University
Keller Graduate School of Management
Medical Careers Institute
Southeastern Institute
Strayer University
TechSkills
Universal Technical Institute
University of Phoenix
Charlotte
ECPI College of Technology
Medical Careers Institute
Concord
Durham
DeVry University
Keller Graduate School of Management
Pfeiffer UniversityStrayer University
Wilmington
Miller Motte Technical College
Living Arts Institute
North Carolina Online Colleges
Despite having a large number of colleges and universities in the state that provide online degree programs, most of the students in North Carolina typically opt for a more traditional educational experience. According to a 2012 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, only 6.1% of students enrolled in Title IV schools were taking fully-online degree programs. These numbers may well have risen in the last few years, but it is unlikely that they have changed dramatically since that time. Regardless, there are over 60 colleges and universities in the state that do provide undergraduate and graduate level degree programs, as well as certificates and Associate degrees.
Prospective students will find that the majority of the programs in the state require full enrollment into the institution in order to take programs. Most of the colleges do not offer classes on a per-credit basis. However, the most affordable programs in the state are fairly low cost in comparison to many other parts of the country. The most affordable of these consist of Fayetteville State University (annual tuition: $2,534), Winston-Salem State University (annual tuition: $2,652), North Carolina A&T State University (annual tuition: $2,842), University of North Carolina at Pembroke (annual tuition: $2,906) and North Carolina Central University (annual tuition: $3,201). Many of these institutions are ranked well regionally and nationally. Fayetteville State University ranks well on the U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings, as #89 among regional universities. Winston-Salem State University ranks similarly at #84 among regional universities. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke ranks at #93 among regional universities. Among the top five most affordable online programs in the state, North Carolina Central University has the best ranking, at #65 among regional universities.
The most highly ranked online degree programs in North Carolina can be found at Fayetteville State University, Mid-Atlantic Christian University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, East Carolina University and Campbell University. Fayetteville State University has eight programs available: Bachelor’s degree programs in Criminal Justice, Fire & Emergency State Administration, Psychology and Sociology, as well as undergraduate degrees in Nursing and General Business Management. The university offers two graduate degrees fully online: Criminal Justice (Master’s) and Business (MBA). The University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers many different degree programs online, most of which are undergraduate degrees. Nine Bachelor’s degrees are available, including those in Criminal Justice and Business Administration. One graduate degree is available in Public Administration.
The University of North Carolina public university system offers many other degrees online through their integrated online system. Through UNC Online, prospective students are offered a choice of over 300 online degree and certificate programs. All of these are available through the many, well-ranked schools in the state’s public university system. A wide range of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are available, as well as four different Doctoral degrees in Nursing Practice, Physical Therapy, Kinesiology and Public Health Executive Leadership. Most of these programs are relatively inexpensive. However, prospective students interested in online degree programs at UNC-Chapel Hill should expect to pay significantly more due to the university’s popularity and extremely high national ranking (#30 nationally).