Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in North Carolina
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division II athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in North Carolina17 schools
17 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 II (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
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit#26 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 47% graduate
- 2
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC · PublicTop 7% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 44% graduate
- 3Tie
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 47% graduate
- 3Tie
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 52% graduate
- 3Tie
Wingate University
Wingate, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 46% graduate
- 6
Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#34 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 34% graduate
- 7
Saint Augustine's University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#35 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 25% graduate
- 8
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC · Private nonprofit#38 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 48% graduate
- 9
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, NC · Private nonprofit#40 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 45% graduate
- 10
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, NC · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 44% graduate
- 11
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC · Public#43 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 47% graduate
- 12
Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, NC · Private nonprofitTop 25% for low debt
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 42% graduate
- 13
Livingstone College
Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit#49 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 28% graduate
- 14
Barton College
Wilson, NC · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 46% graduate
- 15
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC · PublicTop 10% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 38% graduate
- 16
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, NC · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 30% graduate
- 17
Shaw University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#55 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 22% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba College | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $48,793 | 47% |
| Elizabeth City State University | About $6,000 | $21,463 | $40,026 | 44% |
| Belmont Abbey College | About $25,000 | $26,000 | $47,937 | 47% |
| University of Mount Olive | About $19,000 | $27,209 | $47,139 | 52% |
| Wingate University | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $52,649 | 46% |
| Johnson C Smith University | About $21,000 | $30,000 | $42,680 | 34% |
| Saint Augustine's University | About $24,000 | $29,669 | $35,730 | 25% |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | About $21,000 | $26,000 | $45,543 | 48% |
| Mars Hill University | About $20,000 | $26,000 | $44,781 | 45% |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | About $10,000 | $25,000 | $43,407 | 44% |
| Winston-Salem State University | About $13,000 | $25,000 | $45,344 | 47% |
| Lees-McRae College | About $28,000 | $17,375 | $43,415 | 42% |
| Livingstone College | About $13,000 | $31,125 | $32,600 | 28% |
| Barton College | About $24,000 | $25,877 | $47,913 | 46% |
| Fayetteville State University | About $8,000 | $22,987 | $40,144 | 38% |
| Chowan University | About $14,000 | $29,491 | $38,412 | 30% |
| Shaw University | About $17,000 | $32,500 | $34,409 | 22% |
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 7
- Arkansas 7
- California 23
- Colorado 10
- Connecticut 4
- Florida 13
- Georgia 16
- Hawaii 3
- Illinois 5
- Kansas 5
- Kentucky 3
- Massachusetts 3
- Michigan 10
- Minnesota 9
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 3
- New Hampshire 3
- New Jersey 4
- New Mexico 3
- New York 11
- Ohio 10
- Oklahoma 11
- Pennsylvania 17
- South Carolina 14
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 12
- Virginia 4
- Washington 4
- West Virginia 12