Colleges and Universities
Catawba College
1836-1865
Catawba College was founded by the German Reformed Church in 1851, and it is the sixth oldest college in North Carolina. Established to train ministers, Catawba now offers co-educational undergraduate and master degrees. Annual enrollment is over 1,300 students, and Catawba has several joint study programs with the Appalachian State, Duke, and Wake Forest Universities.
Guilford College
Guilford College was founded by the Society of Friends (Quaker church) in 1837 as a boarding school. During the Civil War, the institution became a place of Confederate resistance, largely due to the Quaker tradition of equality and pacifism.
Davidson College
Founded by the Presbyterian church in 1837, Davidson College was named in honor of General William L. Davidson, a Patriot soldier who died during the Battle of Cowan's Ford. Early students helped develop the campus, but after a large endowment by Maxwell Chambers, Davidson College had the largest endowment of any college south of Princeton.
Catawba College
Catawba College was founded by the German Reformed Church in 1851, and it is the sixth oldest college in North Carolina. Established to train ministers, Catawba now offers co-educational undergraduate and master degrees. Annual enrollment is over 1,300 students, and Catawba has several joint study programs with the Appalachian State, Duke, and Wake Forest Universities.
Peace College (William Peace University)
Located in Wake County near the State Capitol building, Peace College was founded in 1857. Today it is a co-ed university named William Peace University.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Established in the aftermath of World War 2 as a temporary junior college for veterans, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has become the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte area and the fourth largest university in the state of North Carolina. As of 2012, UNC Charlotte maintains a total enrollment of 25,063 students and a faculty and staff of 3,000.
Wake Forest University
Located in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University was founded in 1834 and ranks 25th overall among national universities. Distinguished for its small size, and student faculty ratio of 11:1, the school boasts a total enrollment of 7, 070 students and offers programs in liberal arts as well as graduate and professional education.
Duke University
Formally known as Trinity College during the mid-nineteenth century with support from the Methodist Church, Duke University has become one of the leading private research universities in the world. The school moved to Durham in 1887.
North Carolina State University (NCSU)
Once known as the North Carolina State University of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, NCSU has become a national and international leading institution in its academia and industry-based research programs. The university was formed in 1887, and the first classes were held in October 1889. Today, NCSU boasts in a student body of 34,000 students and a faculty and staff of 8,000.
Elon University
Once known as Elon College, the name Elon is derived from the Hebrew word for oak. The college received this name because of the large amount of oak trees in the area. In 1889, Elon College was opened, and the first class numbered 76 students. Today, over 50 undergraduate programs are offered at Elon University, and nearly 6,000 students attend the institution.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The University of North Carolina of Wilmington (UNC-W) started in 1947 as a junior college funded by the New Hanover Board of Education. Since its inception, the college has become part of the University of North Carolina higher education system and it offers over 50 undergraduate degree programs. Currently, 13,000 students attend the University of North Carolina of Wilmington.
Appalachian State University
Located in the western mountains of North Carolina in Boone, Appalachian State University was once a school dedicated to prepare teachers. Appalachian, or then Watagua Academy, was formed by the Dougherty brothers in 1899. Appalachian experienced great growth by the 1940s, and it was inducted into the University of North Carolina school system in the 1970s. Appalachian State University currently enrolls over 17,000 students, offering over 140 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Wingate University
Established by the Baptist Association of North Carolina out of a need for schools in the Piedmont region, Wingate University was founded in 1896. Wingate College grew but experienced tough financial times during the Great Depression. However, concerned Baptists and dedicated professors helped Wingate survive. The school became a university in 1995, with a student body of about 2,500 students today.