The state of North Carolina offers a handful of 4-year, Presbyterian colleges that vary in size, available degree programs and other factors. Here we discuss each school in depth and what makes each one unique.
School Comparison
Five different cities in North Carolina are home to Presbyterian-affiliated colleges. Examine each school's location and tuition rate in the table below.
| School Name | Institution Type | Location | Tuition (2019-2020)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Davidson, NC | $53,166 |
| Lees-McRae College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Banner Elk, NC | $26,625 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Charlotte, NC | $35,720 |
| St. Andrews University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Laurinburg, NC | $27,846 |
| William Peace University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Raleigh, NC | $31,700 |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Description of Presbyterian Colleges in North Carolina
When comparing the Presbyterian colleges in North Carolina, students should consider the characteristics and resources of each school and how these factors will help them reach their personal goals. Compare and contrast each school's size, spiritual growth opportunities and other distinguishing characteristics.
Davidson College
Davidson College is an undergraduate institution with more than 1,800 students. Students can pursue bachelor's degree programs in 26 different majors, including biology, English, math, environmental studies, chemistry, psychology and anthropology. The school also offers several pre-professional programs, such as pre-medicine, pre-law and pre-ministry. Although it is a Presbyterian school, the college still offers spiritual activities for those of the Buddhist, Muslim and Jewish faiths and celebrates a variety of religious holidays, including the Festivals of Diwali and Holi (Hindu), Passover (Jewish) and Feasts on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Muslim). Specifically for Christian students there are 13 Christian student organizations, like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Young Life College.
Lees-McRae College
Lees-McRae College is a College of Distinction for North Carolina and was named a Silver Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. The school is an undergraduate institution with 20 different majors, including areas in nursing, elementary education, criminal justice, sport and fitness administration, human services, wildlife biology and business administration. There are close to 1,000 students and the student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. Students can participate in spiritual organizations, like InterVarsity and Common Ground, as well as Greek life, club sports, academic clubs and other student organizations. The school also has a disc golf course and an open climbing wall and competitive climbing team for those who like the outdoors.
Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte had an undergraduate population of a little more than 1,700 in 2018 and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1. U.S. News & World Report ranked the school #13 overall in the Regional Universities of the South for 2020. The school has a unique Multi-Faith Council that oversees the various clubs on campus to ensure that students' spiritual needs are being met. Students may choose to participate in Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Chapel Fellows Program and other spiritual organizations, as well as Greek life, clubs and/or sports. Students at the school can pursue post baccalaureate certificates, bachelor's or master's degree programs. The school offers a wide range of subjects for study, including communication, organizational leadership, exercise physiology, Spanish, chemistry, international relations and affairs, graphic design and music.
St. Andrews University
St. Andrews University offers both bachelor's and master's degree programs. Most graduate degree programs are in business administration, but students can pursue bachelor's degrees in areas like equestrian/equine studies, forensic science and technology, game and interactive media design, psychology, English and biology. Equestrian is a very popular program at the school that also offers competitive teams and clubs. As of 2018, the school had about 700 undergraduate students and currently has 25 different countries represented. The school has several partner congregations in the surrounding area, including partner presbyteries, to meet the spiritual needs of students.
William Peace University
William Peace University was ranked #1 for internships nationwide and offers students more than 28 majors. As an undergraduate institution, students at the school can earn a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, public relations, education, criminology, anthropology, drama, environmental studies and more. The school had a little over 1,000 students in 2018, but still offers students more than 30 clubs and organizations. These organizations include athletics, intramural sports and community service opportunities.
