Colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina
16 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 16 colleges and universities in Charlotte, North Carolina (8 Private for-profit, 5 Private nonprofit, 3 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 16 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $21,964 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 58.4%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 77% of applicants.
The median net price in Charlotte runs about $7,284 higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $14,680.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Charlotte, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$21,964
After aid
Median grad rate
58.4%
6-year
Median admission rate
77%
Median enrollment
298
Undergrad
All colleges in Charlotte
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Public, 4-year | $15,435 | 69.0% | 80% | 24,453 | Complete | |
| Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC | NC | Public, 2-year | $3,345 | 30.9% | Not available | 15,067 | Partial | |
| Johnson C Smith University Charlotte, NC | NC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $20,894 | 34.3% | 45% | 1,244 | Complete | |
| Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $30,857 | 61.3% | 62% | 1,211 | Complete | |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $27,426 | 49.0% | 80% | 1,184 | Complete | |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences Charlotte, NC | NC | Public, 4-year | Not available | 100.0% | 60% | 533 | Partial | |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, 2-year | $25,733 | 70.0% | Not available | 344 | Partial | |
| Southeastern College-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, 2-year | $30,611 | 77.2% | 94% | 252 | Complete | |
| Chamberlain University-North Carolina Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, 4-year | $38,436 | Not available | 100% | 202 | Complete | |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $23,033 | 55.6% | Not available | 97 | Partial | |
| Empire Beauty School-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $16,089 | 23.5% | Not available | 90 | Partial | |
| Empire Beauty School-Pineville Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $15,672 | 48.1% | Not available | 75 | Partial | |
| No Grease Barber School Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,795 | 66.7% | Not available | 28 | Partial | |
| Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary Charlotte, NC | NC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 24 | Partial | |
| Union Presbyterian Seminary-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| ECPI University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | NC | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 75% | Not available | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (8)
Private for-profit colleges in Charlotte operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-CharlotteNet price: $25,733Grad: 70.0%
- Southeastern College-CharlotteNet price: $30,611Grad: 77.2%
- Chamberlain University-North CarolinaNet price: $38,436Grad: Not available
- Paul Mitchell the School-CharlotteNet price: $23,033Grad: 55.6%
- Empire Beauty School-CharlotteNet price: $16,089Grad: 23.5%
- Empire Beauty School-PinevilleNet price: $15,672Grad: 48.1%
- No Grease Barber SchoolNet price: $20,795Grad: 66.7%
- ECPI University-CharlotteNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private nonprofit (5)
Private nonprofit colleges in Charlotte are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Johnson C Smith UniversityNet price: $20,894Grad: 34.3%
- Queens University of CharlotteNet price: $30,857Grad: 61.3%
- Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteNet price: $27,426Grad: 49.0%
- Charlotte Christian College and Theological SeminaryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Union Presbyterian Seminary-CharlotteNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (3)
Public colleges in Charlotte are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University of North Carolina at CharlotteNet price: $15,435Grad: 69.0%
- Central Piedmont Community CollegeNet price: $3,345Grad: 30.9%
- Carolinas College of Health SciencesNet price: Not availableGrad: 100.0%
Top programs in Charlotte
Most-completed programs across Charlotte colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business14.6% of degrees
- Computer science10.8% of degrees
- Health professions10.0% of degrees
- Liberal arts9.0% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.3% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts4.8% of degrees
- Engineering4.7% of degrees
- Psychology4.6% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Charlotte
Q.How many colleges are in Charlotte, North Carolina?
There are 16 colleges and universities in Charlotte, North Carolina that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 8 Private for-profit, 5 Private nonprofit, 3 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Charlotte?
By undergraduate enrollment, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest institution in Charlotte with roughly 24,453 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Charlotte?
Based on average net price after aid, Central Piedmont Community College is the most affordable institution in Charlotte at $3,345 per year.
Q.Which Charlotte college has the highest graduation rate?
Carolinas College of Health Sciences reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Charlotte institutions at 100.0%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Charlotte?
The median net price across all 16 colleges in Charlotte is $21,964 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Charlotte?
Across Charlotte colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Computer science, Health professions.
Q.Are there community colleges in Charlotte?
Yes — Charlotte includes 3 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in North Carolina
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Charlotte that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.