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Program Rankings · North Carolina

Best Public Administration & Policy Colleges in North Carolina

Ranked by a weighted composite of outcomes, affordability, selectivity, academic profile, and program depth. Based on NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data.

35
Colleges Ranked
35
4-Year Programs
14
Public Colleges
Duke University
Top Ranked
Ranking Methodology: Each college earns a major score = 70% global composite score (outcomes 30%, affordability 25%, selectivity 20%, academic 15%, breadth 10%) + 30% program depth score (graduates in this major ÷ total enrollment, normalized across all US colleges).
1
73
Duke University
Durham · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
7% accept96% grad rate429 graduates/yr
#12 nationally
2
63
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill · Public · 4-year
19% accept92% grad rate$7,019 in-state606 graduates/yr
#88 nationally
3
58
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh · Public · 4-year
40% accept85% grad rate$6,535 in-state378 graduates/yr
#182 nationally
#4
53
Campbell University
Buies Creek · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
94% accept55% grad rate24 graduates/yr
#1002 nationally
#5
52
Appalachian State University
Boone · Public · 4-year
89% accept73% grad rate$4,242 in-state309 graduates/yr
#1294 nationally
#6
52
Elon University
Elon · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
67% accept83% grad rate60 graduates/yr
#1303 nationally
#7
51
Barton College
Wilson · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
96% accept52% grad rate39 graduates/yr
#1607 nationally
#8
50
East Carolina University
Greenville · Public · 4-year
90% accept62% grad rate$4,452 in-state222 graduates/yr
#2284 nationally
#9
49
Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
43% accept34% grad rate60 graduates/yr
#2699 nationally
#10
49
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro · Public · 4-year
46% accept55% grad rate$3,540 in-state135 graduates/yr
#2895 nationally
#11
49
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro · Public · 4-year
90% accept58% grad rate$4,422 in-state273 graduates/yr
#2896 nationally
#12
49
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington · Public · 4-year
74% accept71% grad rate$4,443 in-state306 graduates/yr
#2897 nationally
#13
49
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke · Public · 4-year
92% accept45% grad rate$1,000 in-state243 graduates/yr
#2898 nationally
#14
49
Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
95% accept43% grad rate36 graduates/yr
#2701 nationally
#15
49
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
78% accept43% grad rate33 graduates/yr
#2894 nationally
About Public Administration & Policy Programs in North Carolina

North Carolina offers 35 accredited public administration & policy programs across public and private institutions. Our rankings use NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data to measure how many graduates each college produces in this field relative to its total enrollment, combined with overall college quality metrics.

The ranking formula weights overall college quality at 70% — covering graduation outcomes, net price affordability, admissions selectivity, and academic profile of enrolled students — and program-specific depth at 30%, rewarding schools that genuinely specialize in public administration & policy.

For in-state students, public colleges often offer significantly lower costs. Complete the FAFSA to determine need-based aid eligibility regardless of your income level. Aid availability can dramatically change the actual cost of attendance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our composite ranking — which weighs outcomes (graduation rates), affordability (net price), selectivity, academic profile, and program depth — the top-ranked college for Public Administration & Policy in North Carolina is Duke University. We rank all accredited institutions offering this program using NCES IPEDS 2023–24 data.

Explore Other Majors in North Carolina