Most selective colleges in North Carolina
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in North Carolina18 schools
18 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in North Carolina
- Admits 6%
- Average SAT 1548
- 2
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 13%
- Average SAT 1469
- 3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 15%
- Average SAT 1439
- 4
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 22%
- Average SAT 1475
- 5
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Concord, NC · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 23%
- Average SAT 1150
- 6
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · PublicExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 30%
- Average SAT 1260
- 7
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 42%
- Average SAT 1376
- 8
Manna University
Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 53%
- 9
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 1% for graduation
- Admits 60%
- Average SAT 1130
- 10
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit#16 in North Carolina
- Admits 62%
- Average SAT 1206
- 11
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 64%
- Average SAT 1287
- 12
- 13
- 14
High Point University
High Point, NC · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Admits 75%
- Average SAT 1288
- 15
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · PublicTop 22% for graduation
- Admits 80%
- Average SAT 1231
- 16
- 17
- 18
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | $29,612 | $13,000 | $97,800 | 97% |
| Davidson College | $17,379 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $11,655 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| Wake Forest University | $28,719 | $21,500 | $78,158 | 89% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | $17,618 | $16,000 | $58,708 | 71% |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | $14,906 | $23,870 | $38,357 | 78% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $17,303 | $20,121 | $68,758 | 85% |
| Manna University | $15,210 | $13,450 | — | 80% |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | — | $15,337 | $64,624 | 100% |
| Queens University of Charlotte | $30,857 | $25,000 | $57,673 | 61% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $20,109 | $19,500 | $54,967 | 71% |
| Elon University | $41,555 | $20,500 | $74,545 | 84% |
| Meredith College | $22,488 | $25,000 | $51,539 | 70% |
| High Point University | $38,707 | $24,575 | $61,389 | 74% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $15,435 | $21,500 | $57,289 | 69% |
| Campbell University | $24,516 | $22,500 | $54,886 | 61% |
| East Carolina University | $15,739 | $22,750 | $55,146 | 63% |
| Appalachian State University | $16,836 | $20,231 | $51,836 | 75% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15