2024 Best Colleges for Political Science in North Carolina

• Durham, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  1,195 reviews

Sophomore: Duke offers me an enriching and transformative experience. What stands out to me the most is the invaluable network and the exceptional people I've encountered here. The community at Duke is filled with goal-oriented, friendly, and intelligent individuals, all of whom have inspired and motivated me to strive for excellence. Moreover, Duke's commitment to providing outstanding academic resources has been a game-changer for me. I'm especially thankful for the innovative and entrepreneurship resources, as they have open my career path to startups. Lastly, the buildings and nature are beautiful!... Read 1,195 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 6%

• Net price $27,297

• SAT range 1470-1570

• Davidson, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  338 reviews

Alum: The professors and faculty are incredibly passionate not only about their research but helping students become better, independent researchers. They care about their students academic performance as well as their general well-being, and help their students prepare for life after Davidson. Additionally, the small classroom environments helps foster a close knit community that thrives on collaboration and the honor code engenders a common, shared community standard of honesty and integrity. The student government, additionally, helps act as an advocate for student voices and works with the administration to effect positive change for everyone. If students ever need help, the administration and staff are generally helpful and provide help in a timely manner. I needed a letter same day for a job offer from the transcript office before transcripts with final grades were available and they were kind enough to fulfill my request on short notice!... Read 338 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $25,794

• SAT range 1300-1460

• Chapel Hill, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  2,626 reviews

Junior: Over all my experience at UNC has been very good! It is a fast pace academically challenging environment. I consider this a good thing, the challenge and learning is exactly what I was looking for. The classes and teachers push me to work hard and grow. The mindset of the other students is likewise. Most students I encounter with are hard working. The main bad experience I have had at UNC Chapel Hill is the two lock downs caused by armed and dangerous people on campus. I do not completely blame the university for this as, of course, they cannot control every possible threat that steps onto campus. The first lock down a staff member was tragically shot and passed away. The university cancelled classes the next two days out of respect and to allow the students to recover. This was the right thing to do. However the second lock down class continued the next day as normal. I am believe they should have cancelled class at least one day after to allow students a break to process and recover.... Read 2,626 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 20%

• Net price $11,508

• SAT range 1140-1380

• Winston-salem, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  862 reviews

Niche User: Small school academic benefits with a favorable student/faculty ratio wrapped in the benefits of a big school spirit. Wake has a rigorous curriculum backed by caring, involved professors. Its gorgeous tree lined campus (ranked as one of the most beautiful by Architectural Digest) has plenty of outdoor space for study and play, and has modern student housing and facilities. Downtown Winston Salem, a burgeoning area with great cafes, restaurants and arts scene, is only a short drive from campus. Although ranked #23 by US News as "best value", it is still underrated. Graduates benefit from the support of a strong alum network and a Wake diploma is highly regarded on a national level. Go Deacs!... Read 862 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 25%

• Net price $24,643

• SAT range —

• Raleigh, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  3,417 reviews

Junior: NC State is not just a school with great academics, campus, and people, but instead a wildly diverse cosmopolitan community. At State there is truly something for everyone. For those who don’t know or have never visited campus, State is located close to Downtown Raleigh. Students enjoy its busy commercial areas as well as the abundance of tech companies, government departments, and awesome parks. On the weekends, friends and myself enjoy the nightlife of Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle. Besides the sense of place that NC State provides, the faculty is remarkable. They retain a sense of intellectual prowess without that air of elitism that other public and private universities might have. Every faculty member I have interacted with has been down to earth and actually cares about student success. I have made so many great connections and friendships since being here. Even though the campus is huge and our student body is large, State feels like a close knit community. Go pack!... Read 3,417 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 47%

• Net price $14,328

• SAT range 1270-1440

• Charlotte, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  3,461 reviews

Freshman: UNC Charlotte is a fantastic college with a vibrant campus and a wide range of academic programs. The campus itself is beautiful, and there are plenty of resources available to support students' academic and personal growth. The professors are knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects, and they genuinely care about their students' success. The campus community is diverse and welcoming, creating a great environment for making new friends and getting involved in various clubs and organizations. There are so many opportunities at UNC Charlotte academically to be a successful student. Overall, UNC Charlotte provides a great college experience with ample opportunities for learning, growth, and fun!... Read 3,461 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $15,682

• SAT range 1120-1320

• Greensboro, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  3,095 reviews

Junior: I am currently a prospective transfer student that has had the best transfer admissions and enrollment experience with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. I have not taken any classes yet but, was able to experience what a Business course would look and feel like at the New Student Orientation I had participated in. I loved how welcoming and helpful everyone was including the adminstration and what would be my future peers as well. I do believe I chose the correct University to transfer to this fall as I have only had a positive experience with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University thus far. I truly am overly excited to continue my education in a state I have never lived in and am ready to began pursuing a more fulfilling and plentiful life!... Read 3,095 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $9,145

• SAT range 990-1170

• Raleigh, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  756 reviews

Sophomore: Meredith College has shaped me into the women I am today. From the area to the professors, I realized that it is possible to feel safe and welcomed in an area you don’t even know. Professors, peers, coaches, and dining hall members care about us dearly. I love how Meredith keeps so many traditions alive such as corn huskin, class day, fire and water, and much more! They allow us students to come together as one and realize we are all in the same part of our lives together! I love this school and I love where I am at. One thing I think they can improve on is improving the dining hall and listening more to the students on major decisions!... Read 756 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 70%

• Net price $21,717

• SAT range 1060-1230

• Greensboro, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  3,174 reviews

Junior: UNCG has a beautiful exterior with large trees, well-groomed bushes and grass patches, and architecture that combines the originally built dorms and class buildings with the newly updated and modern buildings. People are generally very friendly, both students and staff! And classes tend to be relatively decent with lots of thoughtful discussions and creative interactions in their syllabus. There is some improvement that could be made with the way a few buildings are as they get a little older and outdated in technology (dorm-wise). And sometimes there can be so much going on that one cannot even think about how they are going to be able to participate in so many activities whilst still staying strong in grades. But overall, UNCG is a very lovely school and one that people should consider attending for their degrees.... Read 3,174 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 91%

• Net price $9,950

• SAT range 1020-1260

• Durham, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  1,094 reviews

Freshman: I've been at Central for about a month now, and overall I can say that I've enjoyed my experience a lot! During move-in week, there was a large event called "Eaglemania" that lasted for a week. There were chances to network, meet fellow students, and get to know the campus. It was the perfect introduction to what our new life would be. Now that I'm settled in, I wish our living situation was a bit better. I'm an honors student, and I live in the Benjamin Ruffin Residence hall. We have roaches, we were able to spray to get rid of them, but I think that should've been taken care of for us. Our AC system is also broken and has yet to be fixed but overall it's been a wonderful experience. I love how many events are present on campus, but one specific thing I would change is the pool. Central has a beautiful, Olympic-sized pool that currently has no water in it. I love swimming, and I'd love to get some laps in a couple times a week for exercise. Overall Central is a great school.... Read 1,094 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $14,496

• SAT range 930-1150

• Greenville, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  3,052 reviews

Junior: East Carolina University has something for everyone, especially if being a pirate is in your blood! With my parents and the majority of my extended family being ECU alumni, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Reasonable distance from the capital to the coast makes ECU the perfect distance for educational and/ or fun day trips. Recent additions and updates to campus classroom buildings and residence halls have helped ECU spring forward with state of the art facilities and living spaces. Many residence halls are co-ed now allowing for even more diversity than in the past. There’s nothing like a sports team that never gives up! The ECU pirates continue to strive to improve their program. Taking on new coaches and expanding their division to play more and more schools, gives ECU’s football team something g to be proud of. Once a Pirate, always a pirate!... Read 3,052 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 94%

• Net price $14,762

• SAT range 1020-1170

• Charlotte, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  604 reviews

Senior: Ever since the day I inquired about transferring to Queens University, employees and staff have been nothing short of welcoming! From the moment I spoke with an admissions counselor, I had a great feeling about my future potential of being a queens student. Since, I have absolutely fallen in love with the nursing program and feel so lucky to have such supportive professors who go out of their way to assist us in reaching our best potential. I would recommend Queens to anybody who is looking for a smaller campus that fosters an incredible community, and not to mention the beautiful campus, too!... Read 604 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $29,810

• SAT range 1060-1230

• Asheville, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  697 reviews

Alum: I wasn't so sure about this college. I was a transplant to North Carolina from Michigan when I was 15 and there was some ups and downs. I even took a couple semesters off from here a couple of times, because of the strains from life. I also started as a Sociology major and quickly knew it wasn't the right path for me, because the first class, professor, and students I ended up with were a bit prejudice. Other classes, professors, and students were great! I loved the International Studies program! All of the professors are kind and care about your studies and life. My favorite professor was Dr. Jinhua Li, because she didn't just teach a class. Dr. Li taught history, language, and the lives of people in different countries from our own. I was extremely happy and fortunate to have gone to this campus and chosen an International Studies major and an Asian Studies minor and to have had incredible professors backing my journey.... Read 697 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $13,838

• SAT range 1130-1330

• Boone, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  2,768 reviews

Freshman: I have not been here too terribly long yet, and I am still adjusting to campus and college life but I really am liking it here. The people on campus are really accepting and welcoming and the environment on and around campus seems quite healthy and accepting of all sorts of people! The classes range in difficulty and not all professors teach the same, but there are resources outside of your professors that are available for extra help if needed. There is a variety of on campus events, even though they might not all be advertised well but most of them are student led and fun to participate in if you can hear about them ahead of time. The food on campus and housing is really the only downside, some of the food is a bit redundant and isn't always appetizing. There is not enough housing for student on campus and the housing lottery seems unfair. And there isn't even close to enough parking for all the students and professors, but most things are walkable distance. Overall a nice school!... Read 2,768 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $12,735

• SAT range 1130-1300

• Elon, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  1,553 reviews

Freshman: I love Elon! The community is so welcoming, and you can tell my stepping on the beautiful campus. The school supplies so many opportunities for students to get involved. Org fairs are amazing ways to find new things that you may be interested in, and meet others who have the same interests as you. Almost all of the undergraduate teachers that I have had are very understanding and genuinely want to see their students succeed. The night life is very fun, however parties start later than at other universities. Dining options are very good and there are plenty of retail places that you can 'swipe' into a select number of times a week, depending on your meal plan. I have no complaints about Elon and would highly recommend applying!... Read 1,553 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $40,366

• SAT range 1160-1320

• Wilmington, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  1,970 reviews

Alum: UNCW isn't as large as many other UNC schools, but the opportunities available to students - learning communities, scholarships, research, study abroad, extracurriculars, networking - are incredibly robust, especially for undergraduates that might not know what opportunities to look for when they first start off! The Honors program helps its students take even better advantage of the resources that the school has to offer. UNCW is not the most diverse institution. Their commitment to worldliness and diversity is vocal: things like demographic-based student organizations, encouraging every student to study abroad, and providing scholarships and the like specifically for minority groups. But this isn't reflected in the bulk of the student body, faculty, and administration. In my time there (and in the years since), UNCW has grown a lot in this area, though, and I hope that trend continues!... Read 1,970 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $18,792

• SAT range 1210-1330

• Pembroke, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  1,212 reviews

Junior: Here at UNCP, the administrators make sure you have a safe place to study. They make sure they prepare you for your work ahead so that you can put your best foot forward. As someone who values a balance of mental, physical, and educational progress, there are plenty of opportunities for me to engage in on campus. Before class, I register for F45 to help build my physical health. They make sure you know your resourses in case you need to talk to someone. Lastly, the teachers make sure you are ready for the work ahead of you. Not to mention, even the food is great, and that's coming from a vegan! If I had to change anything, I wish there was more members in the SOTC Marching Band. I have fun, but I want to share my love of the marching arts with more people!... Read 1,212 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 92%

• Net price $11,022

• SAT range 890-1140

• Cullowhee, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  1,605 reviews

Freshman: Oh, I'd love to share an amazing experience I had at Western Carolina University! It was such a vibrant and inclusive community. The campus was surrounded by the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, providing a breathtaking backdrop for my studies. The professors were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making learning engaging and inspiring. I also had the opportunity to join various clubs and organizations, which helped me make lifelong friends and create unforgettable memories. Whether it was attending football games, exploring the nearby hiking trails, or participating in campus events, every moment at WCU was filled with excitement and growth. It truly was an incredible experience that I'll cherish forever!... Read 1,605 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $13,082

• SAT range 1060-1230

• Greensboro, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.44 out of 5  470 reviews

Senior: Guilford is a very fun institution to attend there are a lot of possibilities that the school offers and there are so many friendly and helpful staff in the financial aid department. I highly recommend coming to Guilford the rooms are really good and there are plenty of opportunities to thrive and become a part of the Guilford community. Our new President Kyle Farmbry has been very motivational and has gotten a lot of respect from the students after we lost our last President. But actions speak far louder than words do. Apply and find out for yourself!... Read 470 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $25,785

• SAT range 950-1200

• Winston-salem, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  1,278 reviews

Other: Hello, Zaire Page! I'd be delighted to hear about your experience at Winston-Salem State University. Your time at the university has likely been a transformative journey filled with growth and learning. Winston-Salem State University is known for its commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and community engagement. It's a place where students have the opportunity to thrive both inside and outside the classroom, whether through rigorous academic programs, vibrant student organizations, or a welcoming campus atmosphere. As you reflect on your overall experience, I'm sure you'll find a rich tapestry of memories, challenges, and successes that have contributed to your personal and academic development. Your unique perspective and insights will provide a valuable glimpse into the world of Winston-Salem State University and inspire others to embark on their own educational adventures.... Read 1,278 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $12,976

• SAT range 880-1040

• High Point, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  1,557 reviews

Other: We are so incredibly grateful for my daughter'sexperience at HPU. She had amazing professors who prepared her both in and out of the classroom for her to be career-ready. All of the staff at HPU are so caring and truly are there to assist your students. The dorms are beautiful, the security team always goes above and peyond, the learning resources are abundant, and the president, Dr Qubein, continually does the right things right! He has transformed this university into the extraordinary place it is today. He is approachable, transparent, and a tremendous role model for the students Our daughter had two fantastic internships during her time at HPU and was offered two incredible job opportunities in the fall before she graduated in May. She is happily and successfully employed and walked into this new chapter feeling very well-prepared. We dropped off a timid, shy freshman girl and got back after graduation, a mature and confident young woman.... Read 1,557 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 80%

• Net price $40,604

• SAT range 1080-1300

• Buies Creek, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  1,341 reviews

Junior: There are many great things about attending Campbell! For one, Campbell is a consistently growing school. Campbell provides for their students, and genuinely cares for their students. At Campbell, you will find resources, staff and students to assist you in every aspect of your college journey. I personally love the atmosphere, and how diverse the campus is. Campbell has many new buildings, including a new student union which is part of the bookstore, cafeteria, gym, gaming rooms, hangout spots, dance rooms, and many more. I enjoy how Campbell is always committed to their students. Campbell has changed so much, but still remains the same driven school. This school continually improves and has always had student's best-interest at heart. Through the financial process, Campbell has always had my back.. and as a new student it is refreshing. Campbell has provided so much for me, and I highly recommend others to consider Campbell in their college decision making journey.... Read 1,341 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 87%

• Net price $23,163

• SAT range 1030-1230

• Wilson, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  432 reviews

Sophomore: Academically, Barton College offers a range of diverse and rigorous programs that have allowed me to explore my interests and pursue my educational goals. The faculty members provided me with guidance, mentorship, and opportunities for intellectual growth. The small class sizes have facilitated meaningful interactions and discussions, enabling me to develop critical thinking skills and deepen my understanding of the subjects I'm studying. As a student-athlete, Barton College has provided me with an exceptional athletic program that has not only honed my skills but also instilled important values such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. The college's commitment to athletic excellence is evident through state-of-the-art facilities, experienced coaches, and a supportive community. Representing Barton College in my chosen sport has been an honor, and the camaraderie among teammates and the sense of pride in our athletic achievements have made my experience truly memorable.... Read 432 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 99%

• Net price $22,996

• SAT range 970-1150

• Wingate, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  779 reviews

Sophomore: For the most part I enjoy going here. They’re many clubs to join, a lot of surrounding places to go to, decent professors, and many resources. It has a home feel and it’s not too overly crowded. Although it does has it minor issues like any school, it’s never something that over takes the good, you’ll hear more positives than negative!... Read 779 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $19,013

• SAT range 930-1130

• Fayetteville, NC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  957 reviews

Freshman: My overall experience at Fayetteville State University has been wonderful so far as a college freshman. FSU offers a variety of hands on programs and resources that will help benefit students. This includes programs that support mental health, physical well being, grade extensions, and more. The staff and overall institution environment is extremely diverse and friendly, and they pride themselves into being able to encourage and support students.... Read 957 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $6,718

• SAT range 830-1040