10 Best Colleges and Universities Near Durham, North Carolina

The thriving city of Durham, North Carolina, is well-known for its educational offerings along with those nearby. Durham is the hub of a dynamic constellation of cities in the north-central part of the state.

These include Raleigh (the state capital) and Chapel Hill, which together with Durham form the Research Triangle.

Originally a banking and tobacco center, Durham has become the apex of information technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medicine in the state of North Carolina. Healthcare is also a major industry, with more than 300 medical companies and practices.

Below, we share information about the universities and colleges near Durham, NC (within a 20-mile radius). You should be able to find thee program and campus lifestyle that fits your needs.

Featured Colleges in Durham, NC

Of the following schools, Duke University, NC Central University, and Watts College of Nursing are in the city of Durham, while the others are close by.

1. Duke University

Occupying a prominent position in Durham, the beautiful green campus of Duke University is home to this large and prestigious research institution that offers associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The private, nonprofit university, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, serves a student population of 18,023 (of which 6,640 are undergraduates) and boasts an extraordinary student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1.

While the annual price tag of $62,688 in tuition seems high, 57% of students receive aid, which averages $57,444 per student. The student demographics include 37% white, 21% Asian, 11% Latino, 8% African American, and 10% international students.

Duke boasts a phenomenal 99% first-year retention rate and a 97% six-year graduation rate. With 23 varsity athletic teams, the school is residential and offers no undergraduate online degree programs.

Leading majors are biology, computer science, computer engineering, nursing, psychology, public policy analysis, and econometrics/quantitative economics.

2. Meredith College

This private, nonprofit, and residential women's college in Raleigh offering bachelor's and master's degrees serves 1,322 undergraduates and provides a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio. Enrollment is all female, of which 65% of students are white, 13% Latino, and 9% African American.

Charging $42,540 in annual tuition and fees, the school grants 100% of students financial aid, with the average award at $29,825 per year. Meredith has a 77% first-year retention rate and 68% graduation rate.

Popular majors are biology, business administration and management, interior design, social work, psychology, legal assistant studies, clinical nutrition, and health/medical preparatory programs. No distance education is available: all classes are in-person and on campus.

3. North Carolina Central University

Durham is home to the state's leading public HBCU (Historically Black College or University), NC Central University. Offering bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees, NCCU serves 5,634 undergraduates per year, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1. 80% of students are African American.

The annual tuition and fees are $6,599 for NC residents and $19,635 for out-of-state students; however, 96% of students receive financial aid at an average award of $16,168. NCCU's first-year retention rate is 76%, while the graduation rate within six years is 44%.

Leading majors are in the social sciences, social work, psychology, criminal justice, nursing, family and consumer sciences/human sciences, business administration and management. 16% of students are enrolled exclusively in online degree programs, and NCCU has 11 varsity athletic teams.

4. North Carolina State University

Located in Raleigh, North Carolina State University is well-known as NC's leading public science and engineering university, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. A large school with 26,254 undergraduate, the student-to-faculty ratio is16 to 1.

The student demographics are 67% white, 9% Asian, 8% Latino, and 6% African American. NC State's annual tuition and fees for NC residents are $9,128 ($30,869 for non-residents). 80% of students receive financial aid at an average award of $9,181 per year.

The most popular majors are engineering, business, animal sciences, biology, communication, computer science, psychology, and political science. While online courses are available, only 3% of students are enrolled exclusively in distance education.

NC State has 19 varsity athletic teams, a stunning 94% first-year retention rate and an 88% six-year graduation rate.

5. Saint Augustine's University

A private nonprofit HBCU in Raleigh is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, Saint Augustine's offers bachelor's and master's degrees to a student population of 1,100 that is 93% African American. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1.

While the first-year retention rate is 64%, the six-year graduation rate is a low 20%. Annual tuition and fees are $16,896, which are offset by an average aid award of $11,769 received by 94% of incoming students.

Leading major programs are psychology, criminal justice, and degree programs in parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology. Eight percent of students are enrolled exclusively in online courses, and Saint Augustine's has two varsity athletic teams.

6. Shaw University

Another HBCU in Raleigh, Shaw University is a private, nonprofit, Baptist bachelor's and master's degree-granting institution with an undergraduate student population of 924, of which 65% are African Americans. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1.

With an annual tuition of $16,480, 89%of Shaw's students receive financial aid averaging $15,548. With a moderate 57% retention rate, Shaw has a very concerning 14% graduation rate.

Shaw University offers some online courses but no online degree programs, with leading majors being business, social work, criminal justice, exercise science and kinesiology. The school has six varsity athletic teams.

7. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Located in the town of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private, nonprofit, Southern Baptist school that issues associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The majority of students major in theology or religious vocations.

Less than 700 of the 2764 students are undergraduates, one-third of whom are over age 25. Demographically, 80% are white, 7% Latino, and 6% African American. The student-faculty ratio is an appealing 9 to 1.

Annual undergraduate tuition and fees are $10,234. Two-thirds of entering undergraduate students receive financial aid, with an average award of $6,441. SBTS has an 81% first-year retention rate and 56% four-year graduation rate.

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC at Chapel Hill is the foremost public research university in the state, offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and serving 20,000 undergraduate students with a student-faculty ratio of 17:1 on its sprawling green campus.

Among the most popular majors are biology, business, communication & media studies, early childhood education, bioengineering, English, nursing, math, psychology, chemistry, economics, political science, and sports/kinesiology/physical education, with no online degree programs.

Its undergrad demographics are 55% white, 14% Asian, 10% Latino, and 8% African American.

UNC's first-year retention rate of 96% and six-year graduation rate of 91% are extraordinary for a public university of its size. UNC has 24 varsity athletic teams.

The annual tuition is $8,989 in-state and $37,550 out-of-state. 59% of students receive financial aid averaging $18,066 .per student

9. Watts College of Nursing

This private, nonprofit nursing school in Durham has only recently begun offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing accredited by the Commission for Education in Nursing. An exclusively brick and mortar school with no online programs, it serves 163 students.

Of those, 56% are white and 25% are African American, with 77% being nontraditional students over the age of 25. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1.

The annual tuition and fees come to $21,800, though 95% of students receive grant or scholarship aid with an average award of $11,366.

10. William Peace University (aka Peace University)

Peace University is a private, nonprofit institution in Raleigh affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the USA. Student demographics are 53% white, 27% African American, and 12% Latino, with a total of 700 students and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio.

The annual tuition of $33,050 is offset by the awarding of an average of $25,295 to every student (100%). Peace has a 60% first-year retention rate and 43% six-year graduation rate. Students can play on one of 17 varsity athletic teams.

Leading majors recently include business, biology, criminology, psychology, and game and interactive media design. 16% of students are enrolled exclusively in online degree programs.

What Is the Biggest School Near Durham, NC?

The Durham area is home to two very large universities: North Carolina State in Raleigh, with 26,000 undergraduates, and UNC in Chapel Hill with 20,000 undergraduates. When you count graduate students, they are even larger.

How To Choose the Right College Near Durham, NC?

Given the wide variety of schools, consider the size of the school, whether it is located on an urban or a traditional green campus, whether it is residential, the racial/ethnic demographics, the faculty-student ratio, and whether it has the academic program you seek.

Paying for Your Degree Near Durham, NC

As you can see from comparing the 'sticker-price' tuition of the above schools with their average financial aid awards, the posted tuitions at colleges near Durham, NC, can be very misleading in terms of the net price most students actually pay.

Be sure to apply for financial aid, using the FAFSA form, and work closely with a school's financial aid officer to maximize the financial aid you may receive.

Start Your Degree Near Durham, NC Today

You can't go wrong choosing a college near Durham, NC, since it is one of North Carolina's educational hubs. Enroll in the best college for you.