Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in North Carolina
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in North Carolina19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 97% graduate
- 2
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 91% graduate
- 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 91% graduate
- 4
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 89% graduate
- 5
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 85% graduate
- 6
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 84% graduate
- 7
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 71% graduate
- 8
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 75% graduate
- 9
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 74% graduate
- 10
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 69% graduate
- 11
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 61% graduate
- 12
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 63% graduate
- 13
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 60% graduate
- 14
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC · PublicTop 22% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 54% graduate
- 15
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 56% graduate
- 16
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 57% graduate
- 17
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 61% graduate
- 18
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 55% graduate
- 19
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC · Public#47 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 42% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | About $30,000 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| Davidson College | About $17,000 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | About $29,000 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | About $17,000 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Elon University | About $42,000 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Western Carolina University | About $13,000 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $44,030 | 54% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | About $11,000 | $22,858 | $48,160 | 56% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Gardner-Webb University | About $18,000 | $24,222 | $48,039 | 55% |
| North Carolina Central University | About $15,000 | $28,250 | $42,968 | 42% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 5
- California 26
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 6
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 14
- Georgia 6
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 13
- Indiana 11
- Iowa 4
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 8
- Louisiana 12
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 9
- Michigan 7
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 8
- New York 23
- Ohio 13
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 4
- Pennsylvania 15
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 12
- Texas 26
- Utah 7
- Virginia 14
- Washington 5
- Wisconsin 4