2022 North Carolina Best Colleges Tuition Comparison

This page compares the best colleges in North Carolina with tuition, admission, and more academic facts (Ranking data from College Evaluator). For the academic year 2021-2022, Duke University rank first in the best North Carolina college ranking and Davidson College is placed in second.

Admission Comparison Between Best Colleges in North Carolina

4 public and 6 private schools rank in the best North Carolina colleges. The schools' average acceptance rate is 50.80% where Duke University has the tightest (lowest) acceptance rate of 8% and Salem College has the highest rate of 85%. Total 140,571 students are attending one of the best North Carolina schools where North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the largest population with 36,042 students and Salem College has the smallest number of students (636 students). The average graduation rate is 81.30% and the average students to faculty ratio is 11.90:1 at those colleges.
The following table shows the academic information and key facts of the best North Carolina colleges including acceptance rate, graduation rate, student population, and students to faculty ratio.
Table. North Carolina Best Colleges Overview
RankName Acceptance RateSAT ScoreGraduation RatePopulationStudent-Faculty Ratio
1Duke University
Durham, NC
8%1,52096%16,1726:1 (16.67 %)
2Davidson College
Davidson, NC
20%1,38093%1,9839:1 (11.11 %)
3University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
25%1,38591%30,09213:1 (7.69 %)
4North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
46%1,32084%36,04214:1 (7.14 %)
5Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
32%-89%8,78910:1 (10.00 %)
6Elon University
Elon, NC
72%1,23083%7,11712:1 (8.33 %)
7Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC
85%1,07766%63611:1 (9.09 %)
8Meredith College
Raleigh, NC
72%1,10464%1,80211:1 (9.09 %)
9University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
68%1,23574%17,91517:1 (5.88 %)
10Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
80%1,15573%20,02316:1 (6.25 %)
Average50.80%1,26781.30%140,571 (Total)11.90:1 (8.40 %)

Best North Carolina Colleges 2022 Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimated Costs

The following table lists 2021-2022 tuition & fees and compares them between the best North Carolina colleges. The 2021-2022 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for the academic year 2022-2023 are calculated and estimated based on each school's rate of tuition change from 2021 to 2022.

For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of the best North Carolina colleges is $39,656 where Duke University has the most expensive costs at $60,244 and University of North Carolina Wilmington has the lowest amount of tuition at $21,303. The average graduate tuition & fees of the best North Carolina colleges is $27,076 where Duke University has the highest tuition with $59,141 and Salem College has the lowest amount of graduate school tuition with $8,220.
UndergraduateGraduate
Table. Best North Carolina Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Duke University $60,244$62,973
2Davidson College $55,200$55,225
3University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $9,028$36,891 $9,076 $37,638
4North Carolina State University at Raleigh $9,131$29,916 $9,161 $30,629
5Wake Forest University $59,770$61,850
6Elon University $38,725$39,546
7Salem College $30,266-
8Meredith College $41,224$42,536
9University of North Carolina Wilmington $7,238$21,303 $7,295 $21,360
10Appalachian State University $7,410$23,017 $7,410 $23,846
Average$8,202$39,656$8,236$41,734
Table. Best North Carolina Colleges 2022 Graduate School Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Duke University $59,141$59,142
2Davidson College --
3University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $12,566$30,858 $12,566$12,610
4North Carolina State University at Raleigh $11,703$29,690 $11,703$11,733
5Wake Forest University $39,240$39,264
6Elon University $18,828$19,233
7Salem College $8,220-
8Meredith College $13,344$14,815
9University of North Carolina Wilmington $7,514$21,343 $7,514$7,571
10Appalachian State University $8,007$23,017 $8,007$8,007
Average$9,948$27,076$9,980$30,055