North Carolina's public universities offer an excellent value, especially for in-state students. The state's many universities vary widely in both selectivity and personality, so be sure to shop around to find the university that is the best match for your credentials, academic interests, and personal preferences.
The table below can help you figure out which universities are on target for your ACT scores.
The table presents a side-by-side comparison of scores for the middle 50% of enrolled students. If your scores fall within or above these ranges, you're on target for admission to one of these public universities in North Carolina.
Realize, of course, that ACT scores are just one part of the application. The most important piece of your application will be a strong academic record. High grades in college preparatory classes will strengthen your application considerably. AP, IB, Honors, and dual enrollment courses can all play a significant roll in the admissions process. At some of the more selective universities, the admissions folks will also want to see a winning essay, meaningful extracurricular activities and good letters of recommendation.
More ACT Comparison Charts: Ivy League | top universities (non-Ivy) | top liberal arts colleges | more top liberal arts | top public universities | top public liberal arts colleges | University of California campuses | Cal State campuses | SUNY campuses | more ACT charts
Data from the National Center for Educational Statistics
| North Carolina ACT Scores (mid 50%) (Learn what these numbers mean) | ||||||
| Composite | English | Math | ||||
| 25% | 75% | 25% | 75% | 25% | 75% | |
| Appalachian State | 23 | 28 | 22 | 28 | 23 | 27 |
| East Carolina | 21 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 25 |
| Elizabeth City State | 17 | 19 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 19 |
| Fayetteville State | 17 | 20 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 19 |
| NC A&T State | 17 | 21 | 15 | 21 | 17 | 21 |
| NC Central | 17 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
| NC State | 26 | 31 | 25 | 31 | 26 | 31 |
| UNC Asheville | 23 | 28 | 23 | 29 | 21 | 27 |
| UNC Chapel Hill | 28 | 33 | 28 | 34 | 27 | 32 |
| UNC Charlotte | 22 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 21 | 26 |
| UNC Greensboro | 20 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 25 |
| UNC Pembroke | 18 | 22 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 22 |
| UNC School of the Arts | 21 | 27 | 21 | 29 | 19 | 26 |
| UNC Wilmington | 23 | 27 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 26 |
| Western Carolina | 20 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 24 |
| Winston-Salem State | 17 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 19 |
| See the SAT version of this table | ||||||
