10 Colleges in North Carolina With High Acceptance Rates 2026

If you do not have stellar grades but still want to attend college, you have plenty of options. While it's a good idea to aim to earn the best academic performance, there are several colleges in North Carolina with high acceptance rates and diverse undergraduate degree programs. We'll show you a list of 10 easy-admission schools in NC.

Are There Good Universities With High Acceptance Rates in North Carolina?

Yes, several accredited schools admit over 70% of applicants while offering respected degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Some of these institutions may also have easier academic standards for students seeking a full ride through scholarships. These universities also have a terrific reputation with North Carolina businesses and other employers.

What Is Considered a High Acceptance Rate for Colleges in North Carolina?

There are many colleges in the South with high acceptance rates of about 70% or higher. Some schools even use an automatic admission process where all you need to do is complete the application properly to gain acceptance. Keep in mind this refers primarily to general undergraduate acceptance, whereas specific degree programs (e.g., nursing) may have stricter admissions requirements.

What Are the Easiest Colleges to Get Into in North Carolina?

These are the three easiest schools for first-year admission. Each school accepts almost all applicants.

• North Carolina A&T State University: 96% acceptance rate
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro: 92% acceptance rate
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke: 92% acceptance rate

Best Colleges in North Carolina With the Highest Acceptance Rates

So, if you live in North Carolina, check out some of the state's east coast colleges with high acceptance rates. This section gives you a school description, tuition costs, acceptance rates, and academic accreditations.

1. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T) has the highest acceptance rate among North Carolina colleges. This school (like all the others on this list) is a public university, which receives state funding to offset tuition costs.

Its tuition rate is among the lowest anywhere in the country, even among most community colleges. NCA&T offers a range of degree programs, especially for students who wish to major in farming, technical, and food production fields.

• Acceptance rate: About 96%
• Estimated tuition cost: $62.50 per credit hour
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. University of North Carolina - Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) is one of the largest schools east of the Raleigh-Durham area, with a student body of about 20,000. It was the first NC college established to offer education primarily for women.

The acceptance rate is over 90%, meaning you should have a solid chance of admission � provided you complete high school and demonstrate academic progress during your last two years. UNCG also has several graduate programs with about 4,000 postgraduate students altogether.

• Acceptance rate: About 92%
• Estimated tuition cost: $7,731 per semester
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. University of North Carolina - Pembroke

The University of North Carolina - Pembroke (UNCP) was originally ''Croatan Normal School'' upon its establishment in 1887. This smaller UNC college has about 5,000 to 6,000 undergraduates and offers a solid student-to-professor ratio.

The acceptance rate is comparable to UNCG and NCA&T, with about a 92% chance of admission. If you can raise your grades or score high on standardized tests, then you may qualify for merit-based scholarships.

• Acceptance rate: About 92%
• Estimated tuition cost: $208.33 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. East Carolina University

East Carolina University (ECU) has an acceptance rate of at least 73%, but some sources claim it may be as high as 90%. This university offers respected programs in nursing, business, engineering, and other fields.

The student body is roughly 30,000 after several years of growth, making it almost as large as other nearby schools, such as UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. It also offers competitive tuition rates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

• Acceptance rate: About 73%
• Estimated tuition cost: $204.79 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University (WCU), located in Cullowhee, NC, is a terrific undergraduate option if you enjoy being close to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. This growing public university now has over 10,000 undergraduate students.

WCU takes pride in its Forensic Research Facility (FoREST), which is only one of two research centers devoted to decomposition research in the mountains. This includes ample research opportunities for undergraduate anthropology majors.

• Acceptance rate: About 85%
• Estimated tuition cost: $500 per semester
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is a public historically black university with about 8,000 students at its Durham, NC, location. NCCU receives accreditation from SACSCOC along with accredited programs for business, education, law, library and information sciences, health sciences, and social sciences.

This university also offers affordable tuition and admits a majority of students who come from low-income backgrounds. NCCU is ''test optional,'' but you can impress the admissions staff by submitting an SAT score of at least 1080 or higher.

• Acceptance rate: About 84%
• Estimated tuition cost: $350 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University is a growing public university in Boone, NC. Graduates have an opportunity to discover solid employment prospects in that area, nearby Charlotte, and other metropolitan areas.

This school admits over 80% of applicants into its student body of over 20,000 undergraduates. Appalachian State also offers 70 graduate degrees, including two doctoral programs.

• Acceptance rate: About 83%
• Estimated tuition cost: $176.75 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

8. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is a historically Black institution in Fayetteville, NC. It was one of multiple NC colleges to receive substantial funding from the large Thurgood Marshall Fund.

Although Fayetteville State does not publish an average GPA for accepted students, the school prefers to admit high school graduates with at least a weighted 2.5 GPA. Its average incoming SAT scores range from 855 to 1075.

• Acceptance rate: About 81%
• Estimated tuition cost: $41.67 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

9. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is the easternmost school in the UNC system, located in Elizabeth City, NC, close to the Outer Banks area. The state established this university in 1891, which now trains about 2,000 undergraduates and 100 master's students.

The acceptance is slightly competitive, but you should have no trouble with admissions if you can secure at least a 2.5 GPA. If you have at least a 2.8 GPA, then you do not have to submit standardized test scores.

• Acceptance rate: About 71%
• Estimated tuition cost: $500 per semester
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. University of North Carolina - Charlotte

The University of North Carolina - Charlotte (UNCC) is one of the largest schools in the state with over 30,000 students, serving North Carolina's largest city with future business and healthcare leaders. UNCC has almost 80 undergraduate majors, 66 master's programs, and 24 doctoral programs.

This university publishes its expectations for incoming students on its admission review website. The admissions process focuses on cumulative GPA, SAT/ACT scores, high school course difficulty, and a personal statement.

• Acceptance rate: About 80%
• Estimated tuition cost: $1,906 per semester
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Admissions Requirements for Colleges With High Acceptance Rates in North Carolina

Here is a quick overview of the most common admissions requirements at North Carolina colleges. Incoming freshmen should focus on these components the most when completing their college applications.

• GPA: Schools with higher acceptance rates won't require high GPAs, but you may still need to earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 for admissions.
• High school diploma/GED: Very few colleges admit students without at least finishing high school.
• SAT scores: You may need to submit SAT scores, but most of the schools on our list have made standardized tests optional.
• Extracurricular activities: Many universities use a holistic admissions process, which will consider other non-academic factors, including activities and leadership roles.
• Recommendation letters: It helps to get two or three letters of recommendation from high school teachers or other mentors.
• Personal statement: Students can demonstrate their eagerness to enter college by writing a strong admissions essay.

FAQs About Colleges in North Carolina With High Acceptance Rates

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the colleges with high acceptance rates in North Carolina. These address concerns about open admissions and tuition expenses.

Are There Open Admissions Colleges in North Carolina?

Yes, there are several open admissions institutions, if you consider community colleges and other state-subsidized organizations. Some schools partner with the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) or NC College Connect to help students enter college without a difficult admission process.

What Is the Easiest University To Get Into in North Carolina?

NCA&T tops the list of easy colleges to get into in NC. Its acceptance rate is 96%, making it effectively an automatic enrollment university. There are a few other NC universities that admit at least 90% of applicants as well.

What Is the Least Expensive College in North Carolina?

Multiple public universities in North Carolina offer the same low tuition rates. UNC Pembroke, Fayetteville State University, Western Carolina University, and Elizabeth City State University all participate in the NC Promise Tuition Plan, which restricts tuition rates to no higher than $500 per semester for qualified students.

What Is the #1 Rated College in North Carolina?

North Carolina's most prestigious school is Duke University, a private school with very selective admissions in Durham, North Carolina. The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is a close contender for the top ranking and is the flagship school of the large UNC public university system.

Explore Colleges in North Carolina

We encourage you to learn more about top colleges in North Carolina. Browse through our articles on affordable, online, or easy-admissions universities in this state and elsewhere.