Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in North Carolina
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division III athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in North Carolina10 schools
10 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 III (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
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 70% graduate
- 2
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC · Private nonprofit#23 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 42% graduate
- 3
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit#24 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 57% graduate
- 4
Brevard College
Brevard, NC · Private nonprofit#25 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 49% graduate
- 5
William Peace University
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 45% graduate
- 6
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit#33 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 44% graduate
- 7
Greensboro College
Greensboro, NC · Private nonprofit#39 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 46% graduate
- 8
Guilford College
Greensboro, NC · Private nonprofit#41 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 46% graduate
- 9
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC · Private nonprofit#48 in North Carolina
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 35% graduate
- 10
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Rocky Mount, NC · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 42% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meredith College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| Warren Wilson College | About $21,000 | $25,000 | $36,260 | 42% |
| Salem College | About $18,000 | $26,649 | $44,640 | 57% |
| Brevard College | About $24,000 | $25,000 | $43,545 | 49% |
| William Peace University | About $22,000 | $22,250 | $46,643 | 45% |
| Methodist University | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $48,050 | 44% |
| Greensboro College | About $18,000 | $25,607 | $46,566 | 46% |
| Guilford College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $47,590 | 46% |
| Pfeiffer University | About $19,000 | $26,163 | $51,562 | 35% |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | About $17,000 | $25,000 | $45,873 | 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
- Arkansas 3
- California 13
- Connecticut 10
- District of Columbia 3
- Georgia 8
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 10
- Iowa 10
- Kentucky 5
- Maine 11
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 7
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 3
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 14
- New York 60
- Ohio 21
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 4
- Tennessee 3
- Texas 15
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 19
- Washington 4
- Wisconsin 24