11 NC colleges make Forbes’ best in the US list. One’s in the top 25

Forbes just released its annual list of the top 500 colleges in the United States, and 11 of them are in North Carolina.

The ranking considers 14 factors used to determine which institutions offer the best educational, financial and career outcomes for students.

Forbes evaluated schools based on return on investment, average student debt levels and outcomes for graduates. Schools were rewarded if their students returned for a second year, graduated on time, landed high-paying jobs and left college with little student debt.

Two of the North Carolina universities on the list are in the top 50, and five are in the top 100. The 11 institutions are divided almost evenly between public and private schools, with six public and five private.

Best colleges in NC

Here’s how North Carolina colleges and universities were ranked in Forbes’ list:

• No. 22: Duke University — also No. 18 among private colleges, No. 20 in research universities and No. 3 in the South
• No. 35: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — also No. 30 in research universities and No. 8 in the South
• No. 59: Davidson College — also No. 41 in private colleges and No. 12 in the South
• No. 66: North Carolina State University — also No. 52 in research universities and No. 15 in the South
• No. 98: Wake Forest University — also No. 59 in private colleges, No. 72 in research universities and No. 23 in the South
• No. 147: Elon University — also No. 85 in private colleges, No. 105 in research universities and No. 32 in the South
• No. 236: University of North Carolina, Charlotte — also No. 154 in research universities and No. 54 in the South
• No. 273: Appalachian State University — also No. 59 in the South
• No. 440: University of North Carolina, Wilmington — also No. 238 in research universities and No. 97 in the South
• No. 471: East Carolina University — also No. 253 in research universities and No. 107 in the South
• No. 491: High Point University — also No. 278 in private colleges and No. 111 in the South

Changes in the ranking since 2022

North Carolina schools have moved around in the Forbes list over the past three years.

Both Duke and UNC fell — the former from No. 9 and the latter from No. 28.

Wake Forest University, which was No. 50 in 2022 and the third-highest ranked North Carolina school, is now the fifth-highest ranked school. This year, it’s behind Davidson, which has risen 10 places in the ranking, and NC State, was ranked No. 70 in 2022.

Elon, UNC-Charlotte, Appalachian State, UNC-Wilmington and ECU kept the same order among North Carolina schools, but High Point is now on the top 500 list, and UNC-Greensboro is not listed.

Forbes rankings

Forbes has released other reports with local connections this year, including the best companies to work for in North Carolina and billionaires with local ties.

This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 10:31 AM with the headline "11 NC colleges make Forbes’ best in the US list. One’s in the top 25."

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

202-383-6008

Renee Umsted is a service journalism reporter for The News & Observer. She has a degree in journalism from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU.