A Complete Guide to Colleges in Charlotte

Nicknamed Queen City, Charlotte and its suburbs are home to over a dozen colleges and universities, including UNC Charlotte and Davidson College.
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Updated June 2, 2023 · 2 Min Read

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5 Popular Colleges in Charlotte, NC

We put together a table that lists all colleges in Charlotte and its surrounding area. But before that, let's spotlight some of the most popular Charlotte colleges based on variables like enrollment size, selectivity, and reputation.

All school data below comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Tuition and fees are from 2022-2023, while acceptance rates, enrollment statistics, net prices, and number of applicants are from 2021.

List of All Colleges and Universities in Charlotte, NC

The table below lists all four-year nonprofit colleges in Charlotte. You can compare enrollment, net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants for each institution.

All Colleges in Charlotte
School Total Student Enrollment Avg. Annual Net Price Acceptance Rate Number of Applicants
Belmont Abbey College 1,517 $21,821 99% 1,841
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences 557 $18,506 46% 50
Carolinas College of Health Sciences 473 N/A 61% 18
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary 136 N/A N/A N/A
Davidson College 1,973 $25,794 18% 6,434
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 1,262 $27,462 82% 4,480
Johnson C. Smith University 1,166 $14,000 45% 2,634
Queens University of Charlotte 2,063 $29,810 69% 3,503
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 30,448 $15,682 79% 20,366
Wingate University 3,439 $19,013 85% 17,662

Source: NCES

Frequently Asked Questions About Charlotte Colleges

How many colleges are in the Charlotte area?

There are 12 colleges in Charlotte and the surrounding suburbs of Belmont, Davidson, Concord, and Wingate. This number includes eight private nonprofit colleges, two for-profit universities, and two public schools, according to NCES.

As of fall 2021, over 52,000 students were enrolled in academic institutions within a 30-mile radius of Charlotte, including 41,482 undergraduates.

What big college is in Charlotte, NC?

UNC Charlotte is the biggest college in Charlotte, with a total of 30,448 students in fall 2021. UNC Charlotte is the third-largest university in North Carolina, behind 36,831 students at North Carolina State University and 31,641 at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Established in 1946, UNC Charlotte comprises three campuses. Its main campus is located in the University City neighborhood, just 10 miles northeast of Uptown Charlotte.

Its Charlotte Research Institute Campus is attached to the main campus, and its Center City Campus is located downtown.

What is the most diverse university in Charlotte?

UNC Charlotte is one the most diverse universities in Charlotte, according to NCES data. In fall 2021, around 45% of undergraduates identified as belonging to a racial or ethnic minority. UNC Charlotte leads the state in Latino/a enrollment among four-year institutions.

Queens University of Charlotte, a private university near downtown, also has a diverse student body. About 35% of Queens' undergraduates identify as students of color, according to NCES data.

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