Colleges with the highest graduation rates in North Carolina
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in North Carolina55 schools
55 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 410 undergraduates
- 2
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- 97% graduate
- 6,488 undergraduates
- 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 91% graduate
- 20,681 undergraduates
- 4
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 91% graduate
- 1,904 undergraduates
- 5
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 89% graduate
- 5,471 undergraduates
- 6
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 85% graduate
- 27,323 undergraduates
- 7
- 8
Manna University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 80% graduate
- 172 undergraduates
- 9
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · PublicExceptional: Compass grade A
- 78% graduate
- 902 undergraduates
- 10
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- 75% graduate
- 19,405 undergraduates
- 11
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- 74% graduate
- 5,006 undergraduates
- 12
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- 71% graduate
- 661 undergraduates
- 13
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 71% graduate
- 14,494 undergraduates
- 14
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- 70% graduate
- 1,309 undergraduates
- 15
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- 69% graduate
- 23,981 undergraduates
- 16
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- 63% graduate
- 21,328 undergraduates
- 17
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- 61% graduate
- 1,373 undergraduates
- 18
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- 61% graduate
- 2,813 undergraduates
- 19
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public#18 in North Carolina
- 60% graduate
- 10,009 undergraduates
- 20
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit#24 in North Carolina
- 57% graduate
- 436 undergraduates
- 21
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- 57% graduate
- 12,216 undergraduates
- 22
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- 56% graduate
- 14,156 undergraduates
- 23
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit#27 in North Carolina
- 55% graduate
- 1,840 undergraduates
- 24
University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville, NC · PublicTop 22% for low net price
- 54% graduate
- 2,907 undergraduates
- 25
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC · Private nonprofit#30 in North Carolina
- 52% graduate
- 1,937 undergraduates
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | — | $15,337 | $64,624 | 100% |
| Duke University | About $30,000 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | About $12,000 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Davidson College | About $17,000 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 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% |
| Manna University | About $15,000 | $13,450 | — | 80% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | About $15,000 | $23,870 | $38,357 | 78% |
| Appalachian State University | About $17,000 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| High Point University | About $39,000 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | About $18,000 | $16,000 | $58,708 | 71% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | About $20,000 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Meredith College | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | About $15,000 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| East Carolina University | About $16,000 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | About $31,000 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| Campbell University | About $25,000 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Western Carolina University | About $13,000 | $21,868 | $49,458 | 60% |
| Salem College | About $18,000 | $26,649 | $44,640 | 57% |
| North Carolina A & T State University | About $11,000 | $27,000 | $44,440 | 57% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | About $11,000 | $22,858 | $48,160 | 56% |
| Gardner-Webb University | About $18,000 | $24,222 | $48,039 | 55% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $44,030 | 54% |
| University of Mount Olive | About $19,000 | $27,209 | $47,139 | 52% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3