The outer coastal plain includes the outer bank islands and the immediate coastal areas. UNC Wilmington is located in this area and is one of the most highly regarded schools in the Southeast. Located in Wilmington, it boasts excellent programs in education, medicine and marine science. This last is, in part, because of the schools closeness to the beaches, a fact non-marine science students also appreciate.
Another excellent school in the outer coastal plain is Elizabeth City State University. A historically black college, in 1972 it was one of the 16 founding members of the UNC system. ECSU has recently been increasing its alumni funding, and has embarked on a large improvement program, as evidenced by the new 28 million dollar Pharmacy complex. It has a beautiful 200-acre campus and is also located close to the beaches.
East Carolina University is a well-regarded school located in Greenville, NC. It has a number of respected programs, including a medical school, a theater arts program, one of the few underwater archeology programs in the world and one of the prominent music programs in the Southeast. Despite all this, ECU has a reputation as a "party school" that is not entirely undeserved.
UNC Pembroke is located in Pembroke, NC. Not surprisingly, since Pembroke is one of the main population centers for the Lumbee tribe, UNC Pembroke is a major center for Native American Studies. It also has an excellent program in journalism.
North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, NC. It is one of the largest schools in the state, and has a wide array of programs, including a top engineering school and the primary agricultural college in the state. Located in the capital, students have access to many entertainment venues and cultural resources.
Located in the small town of Chapel Hill only a few miles from Raleigh, UNC Chapel Hill is considered to be on a par with many of the private Ivy League schools, both in the quality of its program and the respect a degree from Chapel Hill receives. Chapel Hill has an excellent medical program, a well respected history program and one of the top anthropology programs in the world.
Duke University is a private school located in Durham, NC. Is was originally created by the Duke family, and is very well endowed by its alumni. Duke has a number of top-flight programs, including its medical and history programs. However, it is best known for its law school, which has produced a number of governors, congressmen, Senators and federal judges.
If you are looking for a small college experience in the Piedmont, instead of the larger schools near the capital, North Carolina Wesleyan College is located to the west in Rocky Mount. Although associated with the Methodist church, it is in fact open to people of all faiths or none, and has an excellent undergraduate program that can prepare a student either for the work place or to go on to graduate school.
Appalachian State is located in Boone, NC. It is the sixth largest university in the UNC system and was awarded Time magazine's 2001 "College of the Year." Appalachian State began as a teacher's college, and although it has vastly expanded beyond that subject area, it still has one of the most respected teaching programs in the state. While it is located in a fairly small town, its location in the mountains provides many opportunities for student recreation.
Western Carolina is located in Cullowhee, NC. Like Appalachian, Western Carolina was originally founded as a teacher's college to help alleviate the shortage of teachers in the area. As a consequence, it also has a first-rate teacher program. In addition, it has excellent History, English and Social Science programs. Its location near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park makes it a wonderful choice for the student who likes nature, while it is only a 45-minute drive from the major city of Asheville.