List of college athletic programs in North Carolina

This is a list of college athletics programs in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

NCAA

Division I

Appalachian State

Campbell

Charlotte

Davidson

Duke

East Carolina

Elon

Gardner-Webb

High Point

NC State

North Carolina

North Carolina A&T

NC Central

Queens

UNC Asheville

UNC Greensboro

UNC Wilmington

Wake Forest

Western Carolina

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Full NCAA Division I member colleges in North Carolina.
– FBS Football, – FCS Football, – Non-football

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
					M	W			M	W
Appalachian State Mountaineers	Appalachian State University	Boone	Sun Belt	FBS
Campbell Fighting Camels	Campbell University	Buies Creek	CAA	FCS [a]
Charlotte 49ers	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Charlotte	AAC	FBS
Davidson Wildcats	Davidson College	Davidson	Atlantic 10	FCS [b]
Duke Blue Devils	Duke University	Durham	ACC	FBS
East Carolina Pirates	East Carolina University	Greenville	AAC	FBS
Elon Phoenix	Elon University	Elon	CAA	FCS [a]
Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs	Gardner–Webb University	Boiling Springs	Big South	FCS
High Point Panthers	High Point University	High Point	Big South
NC State Wolfpack	North Carolina State University	Raleigh	ACC	FBS
North Carolina Tar Heels	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill	ACC	FBS
North Carolina A&T Aggies	North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University	Greensboro	CAA	FCS [a]
North Carolina Central Eagles	North Carolina Central University	Durham	MEAC	FCS
Queens Royals	Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte	ASUN
UNC Asheville Bulldogs	University of North Carolina at Asheville	Asheville	Big South
UNC Greensboro Spartans	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro	Southern
UNC Wilmington Seahawks	University of North Carolina at Wilmington	Wilmington	CAA
Wake Forest Demon Deacons	Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem	ACC	FBS
Western Carolina Catamounts	Western Carolina University	Cullowhee	Southern	FCS

1. Campbell, Elon, and North Carolina A&T's football teams all compete in CAA Football, the technically separate football league operated by the all-sports CAA.
2. Davidson's football team competes in the Pioneer Football League.

Division II

Barton

Belmont Abbey

Catawba

Chowan

Elizabeth City State

Fayetteville State

Johnson C. Smith

Lees–McRae

Lenoir–Rhyne

Livingstone

Mars Hill

Mount Olive

St. Augustine's

Shaw

UNC Pembroke

Wingate

Winston-Salem State

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Full NCAA Division II member colleges in North Carolina.
Football, – Non-football

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
					M	W			M	W
Barton Bulldogs	Barton College	Wilson	Carolinas
Belmont Abbey Crusaders	Belmont Abbey College	Belmont	Carolinas
Catawba Indians	Catawba College	Salisbury	South Atlantic
Chowan Hawks	Chowan University	Murfreesboro	Carolinas
Elizabeth City State Vikings	Elizabeth City State University	Elizabeth City	CIAA
Fayetteville State Broncos	Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville	CIAA
Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls	Johnson C. Smith University	Charlotte	CIAA
Lees–McRae Bobcats	Lees–McRae College	Banner Elk	Carolinas
Lenoir–Rhyne Bears	Lenoir–Rhyne University	Hickory	South Atlantic
Livingstone Blue Bears	Livingstone College	Salisbury	CIAA
Mars Hill Lions	Mars Hill University	Mars Hill	South Atlantic
Mount Olive Trojans	University of Mount Olive	Mount Olive	Carolinas
Saint Augustine's Falcons	Saint Augustine's University	Raleigh	CIAA
Shaw Bears	Shaw University	Raleigh	CIAA						[a]	[a]
UNC Pembroke Braves	University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke	Carolinas
Wingate Bulldogs	Wingate University	Wingate	South Atlantic
Winston-Salem State Rams and Lady Rams	Winston-Salem State University	Winston-Salem	CIAA

1. Shaw's soccer teams compete as independents.

Division III

Brevard

Greensboro

Guilford

Johnson & Wales

Meredith

Methodist

North Carolina Wesleyan

Pfeiffer

Salem

Warren Wilson

William Peace

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Full NCAA Division III member colleges in North Carolina.
Football, – Non-football

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
					M	W			M	W
Brevard Tornados	Brevard College	Brevard	USA South
Greensboro Pride	Greensboro College	Greensboro	USA South
Guilford Quakers	Guilford College	Greensboro	Old Dominion
Johnson & Wales Wildcats	Johnson & Wales University [a]	Charlotte	C2C
Meredith Angels	Meredith College	Raleigh	USA South
Methodist Monarchs	Methodist University	Fayetteville	USA South
North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops	North Carolina Wesleyan University	Rocky Mount	USA South
Pfeiffer Falcons	Pfeiffer University	Misenheimer	USA South
Salem Spirits	Salem College	Winston-Salem	USA South
Warren Wilson Owls	Warren Wilson College	Swannanoa	C2C
William Peace Pacers	William Peace University	Raleigh	USA South

1. As of the 2025–26 academic year, Johnson & Wales is in the first year of a three-year transition to Division III and will be an active member in 2028–29.

NAIA

Montreat

St. Andrews

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Full NAIA member colleges in North Carolina.
Football, – Non-football

Team	School	City	Conference	Sport sponsorship
				Foot- ball	Basketball		Base- ball	Soft- ball	Soccer
					M	W			M	W
Montreat Cavaliers	Montreat College	Montreat	Appalachian
St. Andrews Knights	St. Andrews University	Laurinburg	Appalachian

USCAA

Team	School	City
Johnson & Wales Wildcats	Johnson & Wales University	Charlotte
MACU Mustangs	Mid-Atlantic Christian University	Elizabeth City

NCCAA

Team	School	City	Division
Carolina Bruins	Carolina University	Winston-Salem	1

NJCAA

Team	School	City	Conference
Albemarle Dolphins	College of The Albemarle	Elizabeth City	Carolinas JC
Brunswick Dolphins	Brunswick Community College	Bolivia	Carolinas JC
Caldwell Cobras	Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute	Hudson	Carolinas JC
Cape Fear Sea Devils	Cape Fear Community College	Wilmington	Carolinas JC
Catawba Valley Red Hawks	Catawba Valley Community College	Hickory	Carolinas JC
Central Carolina Cougars	Central Carolina Community College	Sanford	Carolinas JC
Davidson County Storm	Davidson County Community College	Thomasville	Carolinas JC
Guilford Tech Titans	Guilford Technical Community College	Jamestown	Carolinas JC
Johnston Jaguars	Johnston Community College	Smithfield	Carolinas JC
Lenoir Lancers	Lenoir Community College	Kinston	Carolinas JC
Louisburg Hurricanes	Louisburg College	Louisburg	Carolinas JC
Pitt Bulldogs	Pitt Community College	Greenville	Carolinas JC
Rockingham Eagles	Rockingham Community College	Wentworth	Carolinas JC
Sandhills Flyers	Sandhills Community College	Pinehurst	Carolinas JC
Southeastern Rams	Southeastern Community College	Whiteville	Carolinas JC
Surry Knights	Surry Community College	Dobson	Carolinas JC
Vance–Granville Vanguards	Vance–Granville Community College	Henderson	Carolinas JC
Wake Tech Eagles	Wake Technical Community College	Raleigh	Carolinas JC

See also

• List of NCAA Division I institutions
• List of NCAA Division II institutions
• List of NCAA Division III institutions
• List of NAIA institutions
• List of USCAA institutions
• List of NCCAA institutions
• List of college athletic programs by U.S. state