Colleges where the most freshmen return in North Carolina
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in North Carolina17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
How this list is made
- Schools in North Carolina.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
Manna University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 100% of freshmen return
- 80% graduate
- 1Tie
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- 100% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 3
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- 98% of freshmen return
- 97% graduate
- 4
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 97% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 5
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 95% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 6
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 94% of freshmen return
- 85% graduate
- 7
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · PublicExceptional: Compass grade A
- 93% of freshmen return
- 78% graduate
- 8
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 93% of freshmen return
- 89% graduate
- 9
- 10
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 88% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 11
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- 85% of freshmen return
- 74% graduate
- 12
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- 85% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
- 13
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- 84% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 14
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public#17 in North Carolina
- 83% of freshmen return
- 63% graduate
- 15
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- 79% of freshmen return
- 70% graduate
- 16
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit#22 in North Carolina
- 76% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
- 17
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- 74% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manna University | $15,210 | $13,450 | — | 80% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | $17,618 | $16,000 | $58,708 | 71% |
| Duke University | $29,612 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $11,655 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Davidson College | $17,379 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $17,303 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | $14,906 | $23,870 | $38,357 | 78% |
| Wake Forest University | $28,719 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| Elon University | $41,555 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $20,109 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| High Point University | $38,707 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $15,435 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Appalachian State University | $16,836 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
| East Carolina University | $15,739 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Meredith College | $22,488 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| Campbell University | $24,516 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | $30,857 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15