NC Schools Ranked Among 2021’s Best Colleges: US News

NORTH CAROLINA — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes several schools in North Carolina.

Despite how the pandemic has forced current and potential students to alter college plans, U.S. News said in a news release that it must “continue providing students and their families with the tools they need to help find the right school for them.”

To rank colleges, U.S. News first placed each school into a category based on its mission and, in some cases, its geographical location in the United States. U.S. News then evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities on 17 indicators of academic quality. The colleges are ranked based on their overall scores.

The data used for this year’s rankings was gathered in spring and early summer 2020; however, the publication noted that the pandemic did not affect the numbers.

This year’s edition also includes several methodology updates. The new measures look at timely topics such as student debt, social mobility and test-blind admissions policies. U.S. News also added new weights and indicators to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and added a new ranking for computer science programs.

See more detailed methodologies and frequently asked questions about the rankings.

These North Carolina colleges and universities were included in this year’s rankings:

National Universities

• Duke University, ranked No. 12
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, No. 28
• Wake Forest University, No. 28
• North Carolina State University, No. 80
• Elon University, No. 88
• University of North Carolina at Wilmington, No. 187
• East Carolina University, No. 217
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte, No. 227
• Campbell University, No. 258
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro, No. 258
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, No. 272
• Gardner-Webb University, No. 284

National Liberal Arts Colleges

• Davidson College, No. 15
• Meredith College, No. 136
• Salem College, No. 140
• University of North Carolina at Asheville, No. 140
• Guilford College, No. 155
• Warren Wilson College, No. 162

Regional Universities

• Appalachian State University, Boone, No. 6
• Queens University of Charlotte, No. 13
• Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, No. 25
• Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, No. 42
• North Carolina Central University, Durham, No. 47
• Winston-Salem State University, No. 59
• University of Mount Olive, No. 65
• Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, No. 72
• Methodist University, Fayetteville, No. 73
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke, No. 73
• Fayetteville State University, No. 89

Regional Colleges

• High Point University, High Point, No. 1
• Catawba College, Salisbury, No. 7
• Barton College, Wilson, No. 10
• Belmont Abbey College, No. 18
• Brevard College, No. 24
• William Peace University, Raleigh, No. 24
• Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, No. 26
• Mars Hill University, No. 26
• Elizabeth City State University, No. 36
• Greensboro College, No. 36
• North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, No. 47
• St. Augustine's University, Raleigh, No. 65

Princeton University is once again No. 1 among National Universities, and Williams College remains in the top spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

For Top Public Schools, the University of California - Los Angeles is No. 1 among National Universities. The United States Naval Academy ranks No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

See all of 2021’s Best U.S. Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.