Ranking

Most Selective Colleges in North Carolina by Acceptance Rate 2026

The hardest North Carolina colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $6,364
Top earnings 10y: $97,800
Public / Private: 6 / 19

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 5.7%
Net price: $29,612
Earnings 10y: $97,800
Acceptance: 5.7%

Davidson College

Davidson, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 13.4%
Net price: $17,379
Earnings 10y: $81,400
Acceptance: 13.4%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public

Acceptance: 15.3%
Net price: $11,655
Earnings 10y: $72,200
Acceptance: 15.3%

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 21.7%
Net price: $28,719
Earnings 10y: $78,158
Acceptance: 21.7%

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Concord, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 23.4%
Net price: $17,618
Earnings 10y: $58,708
Acceptance: 23.4%

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston Salem, NC · Public

Acceptance: 30%
Net price: $14,906
Earnings 10y: $38,357
Acceptance: 30%

Saint Augustine's University

Raleigh, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 33.8%
Net price: $24,313
Earnings 10y: $35,730
Acceptance: 33.8%

Carolina University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 39.5%
Net price: $20,828
Earnings 10y: $32,864
Acceptance: 39.5%

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

Acceptance: 41.7%
Net price: $17,303
Earnings 10y: $68,758
Acceptance: 41.7%

#10

Brevard College

Brevard, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 42.2%
Net price: $23,509
Earnings 10y: $43,545
Acceptance: 42.2%

#11

Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 45.2%
Net price: $20,894
Earnings 10y: $42,680
Acceptance: 45.2%

#12

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, NC · Public

Acceptance: 49.9%
Net price: $10,846
Earnings 10y: $44,440
Acceptance: 49.9%

#13

Bennett College

Greensboro, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 50.7%
Net price: $28,299
Earnings 10y: $36,654
Acceptance: 50.7%

#14

Louisburg College

Louisburg, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 55.8%
Net price: $22,694
Earnings 10y: $34,818
Acceptance: 55.8%

#15

Livingstone College

Salisbury, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 59.3%
Net price: $13,479
Earnings 10y: $32,600
Acceptance: 59.3%

#16

Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 62.1%
Net price: $30,857
Earnings 10y: $57,673
Acceptance: 62.1%

#17

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Elizabeth City, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 62.2%
Net price: $18,328
Earnings 10y: $38,342
Acceptance: 62.2%

#18

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

Acceptance: 64.2%
Net price: $6,364
Earnings 10y: $40,026
Acceptance: 64.2%

#19

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · Public

Acceptance: 64.2%
Net price: $20,109
Earnings 10y: $54,967
Acceptance: 64.2%

#20

Elon University

Elon, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 66.4%
Net price: $41,555
Earnings 10y: $74,545
Acceptance: 66.4%

#21

Mars Hill University

Mars Hill, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 67.9%
Net price: $19,910
Earnings 10y: $44,781
Acceptance: 67.9%

#22

Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 68.8%
Net price: $14,086
Earnings 10y: $38,412
Acceptance: 68.8%

#23

Montreat College

Montreat, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 69.2%
Net price: $27,061
Earnings 10y: $45,151
Acceptance: 69.2%

#24

Greensboro College

Greensboro, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 70.1%
Net price: $17,882
Earnings 10y: $46,566
Acceptance: 70.1%

#25

Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa, NC · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 71.3%
Net price: $21,249
Earnings 10y: $36,260
Acceptance: 71.3%

How we picked this list

This list starts with North Carolina colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 6.88 (6 public, 19 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Duke University in Durham, NC tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 5.7%.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many North Carolina colleges are in this list?

54 North Carolina colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.