Where do Triad universities rank among the nation’s best?

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A few North Carolina universities once again found themselves sitting near the top of the best higher learning institutions in the country.

The U.S. News & World Report unveiled the 2025 edition of its “Best College” rankings on Tuesday, providing several North Carolina colleges and universities a reason to celebrate.

Schools are divided into different categories, including national universities that have a full range of undergraduate majors and doctoral programs, liberal arts colleges that emphasize undergraduate education and have at least half their degrees in liberal arts, and regional universities that have a full range of undergraduate majors, but few doctoral programs.

Triad colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report national rankings

• 46. Wake Forest University
• 121. Elon University
• 196. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• 220. Winston-Salem State University
• 231. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

North Carolina colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report rankings

• 6. Duke University (National)
• 26. William Peace (Regional University South)
• 27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (National)
• 34. North Carolina Central University (Regional University South)
• 45. North Carolina Wesleyan University (Regional College South)
• 58. North Carolina State University (National)
• 62. Fayetteville State University (Regional University South)
• 82. University of Mount Olive (Regional University South)
• 86. Saint Augustine’s University (Regional University South)
• 88—97. Shaw University (Regional College South)
• 97. Methodist University (Regional University South)
• 126. Meredith College (Liberal Arts)
• 152. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• 189. East Carolina University
• 196. University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• 231. Western Carolina University
• 329. Campbell University (National)
• 342. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• 371. Wingate University
• 388. Gardner-Webb University

Duke University climbed to No. 6 nationally, one spot higher than last year . This marks the highest that Duke has been on the list since 2006, sharing its ranking with the California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and Northwestern University.

Only five schools are positioned higher in the annual rankings: Princeton University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University and Yale University.

Meanwhile, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill slipped from 22nd to 27th overall but still held its status as a top-five public university nationwide – a title the institution has carried now for 23 straight years.

UNC-Chapel Hill also topped the list for the best value among public universities for the 20th time.

“We have a remarkable story to share about our affordability and value. For each year of the past two decades, U.S. News and World Report has named Carolina the best value among public institutions,” UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said in a released statement. “This accolade is largely due to the sustained, bipartisan dedication of our state’s citizens to keeping exceptional education affordable and accessible. As one of the top five public universities in the nation, Carolina boasts world-class faculty, committed staff and outstanding students who can look forward to excellence in teaching, research and service to our community, state and beyond.”

North Carolina State University rose in the rankings for the third consecutive year, ascending to No. 58 overall – two spots over this past year and soaring 26 spots since 2020. The university also moved up to No. 26 among public institutions, which is the best in N.C. State history.

“This year’s ‘Best Colleges’ list demonstrates what we already know: that N.C. State is among the best of the best,” N.C. State University Chancellor Randy Woodson said in a released statement. “We continue to be recognized for our excellence in teaching, research and scholarship because of you — our incredible students, faculty and staff — and all you bring to this place each and every day.”

Duke, UNC, and N.C. State are also among the 14 members of the Atlantic Coast Conference to rank among the top 70.

“ACC schools are dedicated to providing every student-athlete with a world-class academic experience and the highest level of athletic competition,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. “Our schools’ unwavering commitment to comprehensive excellence continues to be prominently recognized. We must never lose sight of the academic connection to intercollegiate athletics and the importance of these experiences for the long-term future of our student-athletes. We are proud our institutions collectively remain the standard of academic and athletic success.”

Campbell University is the only other local school in the top 400 national rankings, sitting at No. 329 overall.

Outside of the national university rankings, Meredith College ranked No. 126 among liberal arts colleges.

Among regional universities in the South, William Peace University ranked No. 26, North Central Carolina University ranked No. 34, Fayetteville State University ranked No. 62, University of Mount Olive ranked No. 82, Saint Augustine’s University ranked No. 86, and Methodist University ranked No. 97. North Carolina Wesleyan University ranked No. 45 among regional colleges in the South and Shaw University ranked between No. 88 and No. 97.

The “Best Colleges” list categorizes nearly 1,500 of the nation’s four-year, bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 weighted indicators, using data collected from over 1,800 colleges and universities.

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