NORTH CAROLINA: Higher Education 2023.

• Author: Morman, Ebony

Welcome to our annual guide to the state's higher education sector. North Carolina has 16 public universities, with its largest, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, enrolling nearly 37,000 students. The smallest is UNC School of the Arts in WinstonSalem, which has about 1,100 students. Also, the state is home to 58 private institutions and 58 community colleges, for a total of 132 different institutions.

This list, compiled from data from the UNC System and the National Center for Education Statistics, looks beyond enrollment figures. It also lists overall costs, including tuition, fees and room and board, where applicable, based on the 2021-2022 school year, plus the average financial aid awarded at each institution (based on 2020-2021 school year). For public universities, N.C. State tops the list at $24,986 for in-state students and $45,771 for students out of state. The state's public universities haven't raised in-state tuition for seven consecutive years, though other costs have increased.

Duke University and Davidson top the private schools with estimated costs of $79,860 and $73,200, respectively. Both campuses provide average financial aid awards of about $42,000, making them accessible to more students.

This list also describes acceptance rates; student-faculty ratios; gender ratio for full-time undergraduate students; and the percentage of diverse students, based on non-white students enrolled in the fall of 2021.

The overall retention rates refer to full-time students who began in the fall of2020 and returned in 2021. Graduation rates track the progress of full-time students who entered school in fall 2015 to see if they completed a degree within 150% of "normal time," typically six years. Community college statistics are for 2021-2022.

The list also provides information on the 32 colleges and universities offering MBA programs, including online options.

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Enrollment for 2021-22 school year.

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

BOONE, APPSTATE.EDU

Total enrollment: 20,641; undergraduate enrollment 18,555; contact: 828-262-2120, admissions@appstate.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 21,120/17,952,student/faculty ratio: 17/1; (85%); total cost(in-state/out-of-state): $20,799/$36,406; average financial aid awarded: $8,184; retention/graduation rate: 86%/73%; undergraduate male/female: 43%/57%; diverse students: 19%

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

GREENVILLE, ECU.EDU

Total enrollment: 28,021; undergraduate enrollment: 22,463; contact: 252-328-6640, admissions@ecu.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 21,898/20,548 (94%); student/faculty ratio: 18/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $23,215/839,492; average financial aid awarded: $7,604; retention/graduation rate: 81%/66%; undergraduate male/female: 41%/59%; diverse students: 37%

ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY *

ELIZABETH CITY, ECSU.EDU

Total enrollment: 2,054; undergraduate enrollment: 1,956; contact: 252-335-3305, admissions@ecsu.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 3,373/2,597 (77%); student/faculty ratio: 16/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $14,425/$18,425; average financial aid awarded: $8,338; retention/graduation rate: 73%/40%; undergraduate male/female: 40%/60%; diverse students: 82%

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

FAYETTEVILLE, UNCFSU.EDU

Total enrollment: 6,748; undergraduate enrollment: 5,557; contact: 910-672-1371, admissions@uncfsu.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 4,135/3,391 (82%);student/faculty ratio: 15/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $17,626/$29,234; average financial aid awarded: $7,646; retention/graduation rate: 63%/37%; undergraduate male/female: 30%/70%; diverse students: 81%

N.C. AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL STATE COLLEGE

GREENSBORO, NCAT.EDU

Total enrollment: 13,322; undergraduate enrollment: 11,596; contact: 336-334-7496, uadmit@ncat.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 21,528/12,271 (57%); student/faculty ratio: 19/1; total cost (in-state/ out-of-state): $18,612/$32,122; average financial aid awarded: $9,180; retention/ graduation rate: 77%/53%; undergraduate male/ female: 39%/61%; diverse students: 96%

N.C. CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

DURHAM, NCCU.EDU

Total enrollment: 7,953; undergraduate enrollment: 5,892; contact: 919-530-6100, admissions@nccu.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 8,244/6,265 (76%); student/faculty ratio: 15/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $25,160/$37,867; average financial aid awarded: $10,262; retention/ graduation rate: 74%/51%; under-graduate male/ female: 30%/70%; diverse students: 95%

N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, NCSU.EDU

Total enrollment: 36,831; undergraduate enrollment 26,505; contact 919-515-2011, undergradadmissions@ncsu.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 32,998/15,509 (47%); student/faculty ratio: 15/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $24,986/$45,771; average financial aid awarded: $8,951; retention/ graduation rate: 94%/84%; undergraduate male/ female: 51%/49%; diverse students: 33%

UNC ASHEVILLE

ASHEVILLE, UNCA.EDU

Total enrollment 3,233; undergraduate enrollment 3,233; contact 828-251-6481, admissions@unca.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 4,550/3,731 (82%); student/faculty ratio: 14/1; total cost (in-state/ out-of-state): $21,231/$38,579; average financial aid awarded: $7,317; retention/graduation rate: 75%/65%; undergraduate male/female: 43%/57%; diverse students: 26%

UNC CHAPEL HILL

CHAPEL HILL, UNC.EDU

Total enrollment 31,641; undergraduate enrollment 19,845; contact: 919-966-3621, unchelp@admissions.unc.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 50,729/ 10,146 (20%); student/faculty ratio: 15/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $24,770/$52,633; average financial aid awarded: $16,349; retention/graduation rate: 97%/90%; undergraduate male/female: 40%/60%; diverse students: 44%

UNC CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE, UNCC.EDU

Total enrollment: 30,448; undergraduate enrollment: 24,166; contact: 704-687-5507, admissions@uncc.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 20,366/17,922 (79%); student/faculty ratio: 20/1; total cost (in-state/ out-of-state): $23,716/ $37,150; average financial aid awarded: $7,583; retention/graduation rate: 85%/66%; undergraduate male/female: 52%/48%; diverse students: 48%

UNC GREENSBORO

GREENSBORO, UNCC.EDU

Total enrollment: 19,038; undergraduate enrollment 15,178; contact 336-334-5243, aamissions@uncg.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 10,696/9,733 (91%); student/faculty ratio: 17/1; total cost (in-state/ out-of-state): $20,404/$35,563; average financial aid awarded: $8,501; retention/graduation rate: 78%/58%; undergraduate male/female: 33%/67%; diverse students: 59%

UNC PEMBROKE *

PEMBROKE, UNCP.EDU

Total enrollment: 8,318; undergraduate enrollment: 6,317; contact: 910-521-6262, admissions@uncp.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 5,578/5,132 (92%); student/faculty ratio: 15/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $16,195/$20,195; average financial aid awarded: $5,854; retention/graduation rate: 73%/44%; undergraduate male/female: 37%/63%; diverse students: 62%

UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

WINSTON-SALEM, UNCSA.EDU

Total enrollment: 1,119; undergraduate enrollment: 938; contact: 336-770-3290, admissions[R] uncsa.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 1,321/396 (30%); student/faculty ratio: 6/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $24,335/$41,569; average financial aid awarded: $10,106; retention/ graduation rate: 91 %/70%; undergraduate male/ female: 39%/61%; diverse students: 36%

UNC WILMINGTON

WILMINGTON, UNCW.EDU

Total enrollment: 18,030; undergraduate enrollment: 14,488; contact: 910-962-3243, admissions@uncw.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 15,792/10,739 (68%); student/faculty ratio:16/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $25,855/$39,920; average financial aid awarded: $6,447; retention/graduation rate: 83%/72%; undergraduate male/female: 35%/65%; diverse students: 23%

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY *

CULLOWHEE, WCU.EDU

Total enrollment: 11,877; undergraduate enrollment: 10,145; contact: 828-227-7317, admiss@email.wcu.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 12,308/9,723 (79%); student/faculty ratio: 15/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $19,018/$23,018; average financial aid awarded: $5,652; retention/ graduation rate: 75%/61%; undergraduate male/ female: 44%/56%; diverse students: 23%

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

WINSTON-SALEM, WSSU.EDU

Total enrollment: 5,226; undergraduate enrollment: 4,726; contact: 336-750-2074, admissions@wssu. edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 5,419/4,389 (81%);student/faculty ratio: 16/1; total cost (in-state/out-of-state): $22,603/$33,259; average financial aid awarded: $8,223; retention/graduation rate: 76%/46%; undergraduate male/female: 24%/76%; diverse students: 93%

PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS

Enrollment for 2021-22 school year.

BARTON COLLEGE

WILSON, BARTON.EDU

Total enrollment: 1,213; contact: 252-629-5472, enroll@barton.edu; freshman applicants/accepted: 1928/1909 (99%); student/ faculty ratio: 13/1; total cost: $47,750; average financial aid awarded: $22,785; retention/graduation rate: 71%/52%; undergraduate male/female: 45%/55%; diverse students: 45%

BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE

BELMONT, BELMONTABBEYCOLLECE.EDU

Total enrollment: 1,517; contact: 888-222-0110, admissions@bac.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 1,841/1,823 (99%); student/faculty ratio: 14/1; total cost: $33,990; average financial aid awarded: $10,480; retention/graduation rate: 65%/45%; undergraduate male/female: 53%/48%; diverse students: 37%

BENNETT COLLEGE

GREENSBORO, BENNETT.EDU

Total enrollment: 207; contact: 336-370-8624, admissions@bennett.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 1,218/962 (79%); student/faculty ratio: 9/1; total cost: $35,872; average financial aid awarded: $14,654; retention/graduation rate: 86%/22%; undergraduate male/female: 0%/100%; diverse students: 100%

BREVARD COLLEGE

BREVARD, BREVARD.EDU

Total enrollment: 780; contact: 828-641-0641, admissions@brevard.edu; freshman applicants/ accepted: 2,232/1,004(45%); student/faculty ratio: 10/1; total cost: $44,650; average financial aid awarded: $21,916; retention/graduation rate: 67%/32%...