Top Five Schools in North Carolina
Duke University
The university that is now known as Duke University was officially founded in 1924, making it one of the youngest prestigious research institutions in the country. Duke has an undergraduate enrollment of 6,330 students, many of whom study at the university's respected college of engineering. The Duke University Medical Center is a leader in medical research, innovative treatment and education. US News and World Report ranks Duke number eight on its list of America's Best Colleges.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was founded in 1789, the ceremony having experienced a delay due to the Revolutionary War. The campus currently has 17,124 undergraduate students who have more than 100 academic programs to choose from at the university, which is ranked #28 by US News and World Report. Among its many accolades, the university has one of the nation's most comprehensive health centers. Basketball lovers will enjoy the storied rivalry between the University of North Carolina and the other surrounding university teams, and sky watchers will marvel at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the beautiful background for Wake Forest University, a private institution of higher learning. The university is relatively small in size, with only 4,321 undergraduate students; however, it offers a world-class education that rivals any larger university. Wake Forest's business education is one of the best in the region, and the university as a whole is ranked #30 by US News and World Report. The university's Baptist traditions help it to retain an air of spirituality even while embracing other religions.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, currently has an undergraduate enrollment of 23,730, making it the state's largest university. It was founded as a land grant school in 1887 and has now been ranked #85 on US News and World Report's list of America's Best Colleges. In fact, NC State is ranked third among all public universities (not including medical schools) in industry-sponsored research expenditures. Students can take advantage of these research opportunities, as well as internship in the surrounding industrial area.
East Carolina University
East Carolina University was founded in 1907 in Greenville, North Carolina to help alleviate the teacher shortage in that part of North Carolina. The university now houses schools of medicine and nursing, as well as a business college. Plans are presently underway for a School of Dentistry. Currently, East Carolina has 18,587 undergraduate students in its 104 academic programs. Many students also enjoy participating in East Carolina's competitive intercollegiate sports programs. There are 16 fraternities and nine sororities on campus.
