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Most selective colleges in North Carolina

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The most selective four-year colleges in North Carolina are Duke (5.2% admitted), Davidson (13% admitted) and UNC (17% admitted), by acceptance rate.

Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.

The list (25 of 50)

Four-year colleges in North Carolina with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 25 of the 50 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 20 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 5 colleges.

  1. Duke University 5.2% admitted Durham, NC · Average price after grants: $23,706 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  2. Davidson College 13% admitted Davidson, NC · Average price after grants: $15,060 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 17% admitted Chapel Hill, NC · Average price after grants: $11,305 a year in-state, about $47,438 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  4. Wake Forest University 21% admitted Winston-Salem, NC · Average price after grants: $28,165 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  5. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences 23% admitted Concord, NC · Average price after grants: $16,171 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. University of North Carolina School of the Arts 30% admitted Winston Salem, NC · Average price after grants: $14,859 a year in-state, about $32,593 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. North Carolina State University at Raleigh 40% admitted Raleigh, NC · Average price after grants: $16,486 a year in-state, about $41,451 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  8. Brevard College 42% admitted Brevard, NC · Average price after grants: $25,617 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Johnson C Smith University 45% admitted Charlotte, NC · Average price after grants: $21,397 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. North Carolina A & T State University 50% admitted Greensboro, NC · Average price after grants: $9,884 a year in-state, about $23,944 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Livingstone College 59% admitted Salisbury, NC · Average price after grants: $10,838 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Carolinas College of Health Sciences 60% admitted Charlotte, NC · Average price after grants: $41,061 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Queens University of Charlotte 62% admitted Charlotte, NC · Average price after grants: $29,421 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. University of North Carolina Wilmington 64% admitted Wilmington, NC · Average price after grants: $19,570 a year in-state, about $37,724 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Elizabeth City State University 64% admitted Elizabeth City, NC · Average price after grants: $8,048 a year in-state, about $12,048 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Elon University 66% admitted Elon, NC · Average price after grants: $35,785 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. Mars Hill University 68% admitted Mars Hill, NC · Average price after grants: $20,442 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Chowan University 69% admitted Murfreesboro, NC · Average price after grants: $19,783 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Montreat College 69% admitted Montreat, NC · Average price after grants: $25,095 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Greensboro College 70% admitted Greensboro, NC · Average price after grants: $18,187 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Warren Wilson College 71% admitted Swannanoa, NC · Average price after grants: $23,319 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. Meredith College 74% admitted Raleigh, NC · Average price after grants: $22,801 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 75% admitted Wake Forest, NC · Average price after grants: $8,500 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. Belmont Abbey College 75% admitted Belmont, NC · Average price after grants: $25,416 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Methodist University 75% admitted Fayetteville, NC · Average price after grants: $25,760 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in North Carolina?

The most selective four-year colleges in North Carolina are Duke (5.2% admitted), Davidson (13% admitted) and UNC (17% admitted), by acceptance rate.

How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?

10 of the 25 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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