Federal enrolment data · Fall 2023 · North Carolina

Online colleges in North Carolina

Across the 126 North Carolina colleges the federal government holds distance-education figures for, 146,295 students (27%) were enrolled entirely at a distance in Fall 2023, and 59% took at least one distance course. 68 of those colleges enrol at least a quarter of their students that way; they are listed below, largest online intake first.

Data snapshot: August 20, 2026

Colleges with federal figures

126

In North Carolina

Students studying entirely online

146,295

27% of the 549,204 enrolled at those colleges

Took at least one distance course

59%

Fully online plus part-distance study

Colleges on the list below

68

At least 25% of students studying entirely online AND at least 50 of them. CampusPin thresholds, not federal categories.

Why your state still matters for online study

Distance study has no postcode, but the price and the paperwork do. Most public institutions charge residents less than non-residents, including for online courses at many of them, and states authorise which out-of-state institutions may enrol their residents at all. Starting from the colleges in North Carolina is therefore usually starting from the cheaper and simpler end, which is the only sense in which an online college is “in” a state.

North Carolina colleges where students actually study online

Every North Carolina college where at least 25% of students were enrolled entirely at a distance and at least 50students did so, ordered by how many. Share alone would let a twenty-student campus open the list ahead of a community college teaching thousands at a distance. It is a measurement of enrolment, not a ranking, and nobody paid to be on it.

10,309 of 22,763 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,483 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,336 in-state / $7,582 out-of-state.

7,929 of 26,785 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 11,428 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $7,361 in-state / $23,638 out-of-state.

6,307 of 18,446 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,604 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,792 in-state / $8,936 out-of-state.

4,973 of 10,877 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,170 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state.

4,381 of 14,119 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,217 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,748 in-state / $8,892 out-of-state.

3,774 of 7,630 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,922 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $3,571 in-state / $7,571 out-of-state.

3,656 of 10,443 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,119 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,319 in-state / $7,695 out-of-state.

3,521 of 8,716 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,626 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,256 in-state / $6,864 out-of-state.

3,509 of 6,862 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,413 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,064 in-state / $6,672 out-of-state.

3,198 of 6,847 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,787 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $3,969 in-state / $7,969 out-of-state.

Gaston College54% online

3,176 of 5,871 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,295 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $3,186 in-state / $9,330 out-of-state.

3,011 of 7,371 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,338 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,972 in-state / $6,580 out-of-state.

2,897 of 4,413 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,100 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,367 in-state / $7,743 out-of-state.

2,635 of 5,574 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,765 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,554 in-state / $8,698 out-of-state.

2,413 of 4,354 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,318 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state.

1,996 of 6,297 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,851 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,882 in-state / $9,026 out-of-state.

1,961 of 3,739 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,151 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,528 in-state / $8,642 out-of-state.

1,895 of 2,582 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 543 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,249 in-state / $7,222 out-of-state.

1,841 of 4,680 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,272 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,657 in-state / $8,801 out-of-state.

1,714 of 2,841 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 778 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,956 in-state / $6,564 out-of-state.

1,669 of 2,527 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 471 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,672 in-state / $8,816 out-of-state.

1,628 of 3,617 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 949 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,651 in-state / $8,795 out-of-state.

1,614 of 2,648 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 692 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,416 in-state / $8,176 out-of-state.

1,410 of 3,824 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,457 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,040 in-state / $6,598 out-of-state.

1,391 of 2,425 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 672 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,883 in-state / $8,883 out-of-state.

1,380 of 3,959 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 539 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,978 in-state / $6,586 out-of-state.

1,335 of 3,457 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,363 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,462 in-state / $8,606 out-of-state.

1,306 of 2,851 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 675 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state.

1,272 of 3,764 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,064 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,537 in-state / $8,681 out-of-state.

1,211 of 2,883 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,135 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,524 in-state / $8,668 out-of-state.

1,202 of 1,617 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 356 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,743 in-state.

1,180 of 3,548 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,232 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state.

1,152 of 3,125 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 853 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $33,450 in-state.

1,146 of 2,128 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 413 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $25,950 in-state.

1,085 of 1,680 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 417 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,830 in-state / $9,742 out-of-state.

1,079 of 2,926 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 779 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $10,646 in-state.

1,078 of 2,387 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 859 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,568 in-state / $8,712 out-of-state.

986 of 1,890 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 771 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,602 in-state / $8,746 out-of-state.

942 of 1,777 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 558 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,966 in-state / $6,574 out-of-state.

897 of 1,989 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 631 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,571 in-state / $8,715 out-of-state.

873 of 1,845 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 779 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,532 in-state / $8,676 out-of-state.

872 of 1,810 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 297 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,030 in-state / $6,638 out-of-state.

813 of 1,036 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 211 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,640 in-state / $8,784 out-of-state.

732 of 2,405 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 813 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,572 in-state / $8,716 out-of-state.

731 of 2,411 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 470 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,552 in-state / $8,696 out-of-state.

727 of 1,751 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 202 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,572 in-state / $8,716 out-of-state.

700 of 1,579 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 504 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,310 in-state / $7,954 out-of-state.

695 of 1,376 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 382 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,592 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state.

654 of 1,785 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 587 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,540 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state.

634 of 1,203 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 313 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,958 in-state / $6,566 out-of-state.

590 of 2,165 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,087 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $3,412 in-state / $7,412 out-of-state.

564 of 1,013 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 449 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,608 in-state / $8,752 out-of-state.

550 of 1,260 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 385 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,612 in-state / $8,756 out-of-state.

513 of 893 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 377 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $16,000 in-state.

498 of 990 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 261 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,558 in-state / $8,702 out-of-state.

432 of 819 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 289 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,523 in-state / $8,673 out-of-state.

423 of 1,345 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 228 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $35,536 in-state.

400 of 969 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 312 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,363 in-state / $8,507 out-of-state.

312 of 863 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 292 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,560 in-state / $8,704 out-of-state.

271 of 591 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 219 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $2,642 in-state / $8,786 out-of-state.

247 of 832 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $30,800 in-state.

245 of 379 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 81 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,867 in-state / $6,475 out-of-state.

245 of 932 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 302 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $33,860 in-state.

193 of 230 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 24 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $7,163 in-state.

84 of 132 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 15 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,743 in-state.

82 of 192 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 50 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,743 in-state.

73 of 82 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 9 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $11,960 in-state.

57 of 173 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 51 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $6,276 in-state.

Tuition shown is the published institution-wide rate, not the price of an online programme. Many colleges price online study on a separate schedule, and some charge a single rate regardless of where the student lives, so treat them as headline figures for the institution and confirm the online rate with the institution.

What this list is not

  • It is not the complete set of your options. It counts students, not programmes. A college below the threshold may run an excellent online degree that few students happened to take exclusively that term, and residents of North Carolina can enrol with institutions anywhere.
  • It is not a ranking. A high share describes how an institution enrols, not how good it is. Some of the largest shares belong to institutions worth reading carefully before applying, which is why every row links to the full profile with cost, debt and graduation figures.
  • It is one term. These are Fall 2023 enrolments, on the federal reporting cycle.

Next steps in North Carolina

Other states

Source & methodology

Enrolment figures are from the U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023. Published tuition and control are from CampusPin's committed institution snapshot. Federal data is public domain; credit the U.S. Department of Education.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2026). Online study at North Carolina colleges. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/online-colleges-in/north-carolina

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