# Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 45 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-psychology-north-carolina

## Methodology

Psychology programs in North Carolina ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Duke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/duke-university) | Durham, NC | 96% | $97,800 | $29,612 | $13,000 | 0.13x |
| 2 | [Davidson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/davidson-college) | Davidson, NC | 91% | $81,400 | $17,379 | $18,688 | 0.23x |
| 3 | [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wake-forest-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 90% | $78,158 | $28,719 | $21,500 | 0.28x |
| 4 | [University of North Carolina Asheville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-asheville) | Asheville, NC | 55% | $44,030 | $12,250 | $20,500 | 0.47x |
| 5 | [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) | Charlotte, NC | 68% | $57,289 | $15,435 | $21,500 | 0.38x |
| 6 | [University of North Carolina Wilmington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington) | Wilmington, NC | 71% | $54,967 | $20,109 | $19,500 | 0.35x |
| 7 | [Appalachian State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/appalachian-state-university) | Boone, NC | 74% | $51,836 | $16,836 | $20,231 | 0.39x |
| 8 | [Meredith College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/meredith-college) | Raleigh, NC | 68% | $51,539 | $22,488 | $25,000 | 0.49x |
| 9 | [East Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-carolina-university) | Greenville, NC | 62% | $55,146 | $15,739 | $22,750 | 0.41x |
| 10 | [Fayetteville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fayetteville-state-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 37% | $40,144 | $7,892 | $22,987 | 0.57x |
| 11 | [University of North Carolina at Greensboro](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-greensboro) | Greensboro, NC | 57% | $48,160 | $10,965 | $22,858 | 0.47x |
| 12 | [Elon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elon-university) | Elon, NC | 84% | $74,545 | $41,555 | $20,500 | 0.28x |
| 13 | [Western Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-carolina-university) | Cullowhee, NC | 60% | $49,458 | $13,315 | $21,868 | 0.44x |
| 14 | [University of Mount Olive](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mount-olive) | Mount Olive, NC | 50% | $47,139 | $18,853 | $27,209 | 0.58x |
| 15 | [Wingate University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wingate-university) | Wingate, NC | 47% | $52,649 | $20,748 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 16 | [Elizabeth City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elizabeth-city-state-university) | Elizabeth City, NC | 46% | $40,026 | $6,364 | $21,463 | 0.54x |
| 17 | [Guilford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/guilford-college) | Greensboro, NC | 47% | $47,590 | $22,270 | $26,000 | 0.55x |
| 18 | [North Carolina A & T State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-a-t-state-university) | Greensboro, NC | 56% | $44,440 | $10,846 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 19 | [Campbell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/campbell-university) | Buies Creek, NC | 58% | $54,886 | $24,516 | $22,500 | 0.41x |
| 20 | [William Peace University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-peace-university) | Raleigh, NC | 45% | $46,643 | $21,649 | $22,250 | 0.48x |
| 21 | [Pfeiffer University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pfeiffer-university) | Misenheimer, NC | 39% | $51,562 | $19,076 | $26,163 | 0.51x |
| 22 | [University of North Carolina at Pembroke](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-pembroke) | Pembroke, NC | 44% | $43,407 | $10,260 | $25,000 | 0.58x |
| 23 | [North Carolina Central University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-central-university) | Durham, NC | 44% | $42,968 | $15,359 | $28,250 | 0.66x |
| 24 | [Winston-Salem State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/winston-salem-state-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 48% | $45,344 | $13,479 | $25,000 | 0.55x |
| 25 | [Greensboro College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/greensboro-college) | Greensboro, NC | 43% | $46,566 | $17,882 | $25,607 | 0.55x |
| 26 | [Queens University of Charlotte](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/queens-university-of-charlotte) | Charlotte, NC | 64% | $57,673 | $30,857 | $25,000 | 0.43x |
| 27 | [North Carolina Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-wesleyan-university) | Rocky Mount, NC | 41% | $45,873 | $17,432 | $25,000 | 0.54x |
| 28 | [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh) | Raleigh, NC | 85% | $68,758 | $17,303 | $20,121 | 0.29x |
| 29 | [High Point University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/high-point-university) | High Point, NC | 72% | $61,389 | $38,707 | $24,575 | 0.4x |
| 30 | [Belmont Abbey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belmont-abbey-college) | Belmont, NC | 47% | $47,937 | $24,639 | $26,000 | 0.54x |
| 31 | [Barton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barton-college) | Wilson, NC | 48% | $47,913 | $23,626 | $25,877 | 0.54x |
| 32 | [Warren Wilson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/warren-wilson-college) | Swannanoa, NC | 42% | $36,260 | $21,249 | $25,000 | 0.69x |
| 33 | [Lenoir-Rhyne University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lenoir-rhyne-university) | Hickory, NC | 49% | $45,543 | $20,689 | $26,000 | 0.57x |
| 34 | [Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/methodist-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 42% | $48,050 | $24,704 | $27,000 | 0.56x |
| 35 | [Brevard College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brevard-college) | Brevard, NC | 44% | $43,545 | $23,509 | $25,000 | 0.57x |
| 36 | [Mars Hill University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mars-hill-university) | Mars Hill, NC | 43% | $44,781 | $19,910 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 37 | [Gardner-Webb University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gardner-webb-university) | Boiling Springs, NC | 59% | $48,039 | $17,674 | $24,222 | 0.5x |
| 38 | [Lees-McRae College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lees-mcrae-college) | Banner Elk, NC | 43% | $43,415 | $28,340 | $17,375 | 0.4x |
| 39 | [Shaw University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shaw-university) | Raleigh, NC | 21% | $34,409 | $16,512 | $32,500 | 0.94x |
| 40 | [Chowan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chowan-university) | Murfreesboro, NC | 29% | $38,412 | $14,086 | $29,491 | 0.77x |
| 41 | [Montreat College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/montreat-college) | Montreat, NC | 45% | $45,151 | $27,061 | $25,813 | 0.57x |
| 42 | [Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnson-wales-university-charlotte) | Charlotte, NC | 51% | $43,418 | $27,426 | $26,000 | 0.6x |
| 43 | [Johnson C Smith University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnson-c-smith-university) | Charlotte, NC | 34% | $42,680 | $20,894 | $30,000 | 0.7x |
| 44 | [Livingstone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/livingstone-college) | Salisbury, NC | 26% | $32,600 | $13,479 | $31,125 | 0.95x |
| 45 | [Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carolina-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 24% | $32,864 | $20,828 | $20,287 | 0.62x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-psychology-north-carolina

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.