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Carolina Theatre (Durham Auditorium 1924)Photo: Maria Miracoli · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Durham

Durham is home to four colleges, with about 24,000 students on campus

Duke University (16,196 students on campus) and North Carolina Central University (6,226) are inside the city. About 10% of Durham’s residents are enrolled in college, above North Carolina (6%).

North Carolina Central UniversityDuke University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Durham. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
55,181 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
North Carolina Central University
Residents in college
10%
Above NC (6%)
Nearest community college
0.9 mi
Durham Technical · $1,986 tuition
Nearest public university
0.3 mi
North Carolina Central University · $6,699 in-state
Median household income
$82K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Durham

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 2.7 milesNorth Carolina Central University admits 87% of applicants; Duke University admits 6%. Together they have 22,422 students on campus.In-state price at North Carolina Central UniversityLiving in North Carolina, North Carolina Central University charges $6,699 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,735. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 0.9 miles awayDurham Technical Community College in Durham: tuition and fees $1,986 a year for North Carolina residents.Students are 10% of residentsAbove North Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Durham

Two private colleges within 4.2 miles, two public colleges within 9.7 miles, and Durham Technical Community College 0.9 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miDuke UniversityNorth Carolina Central UniversityDurham
University or collegeCommunity college
North Carolina Central UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 6,226 on campus · In Durham87%admitted$15knet price42%graduate$43kearningsDurham Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,941 on campus · In Durham · mostly online$2knet price45%graduate$36kearnings55% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,986 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Duke UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 16,196 on campus · In Durham6%admitted$30knet price97%graduate$98kearningsWatts College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 134 on campus · In DurhamUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity or college · Public · 30,684 on campus · 9.7 mi · Chapel Hill15%admitted$12knet price91%graduate$72kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Durham’s median household income ($81,619) falls.

Durham Technical Community CollegeIn Durham · mostly online · sticker $10,430 · tuition $1,986$9,407a year
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill9.7 mi · Chapel Hill · sticker $26,055$16,415a year
Duke UniversityIn Durham · sticker $87,072$17,100a year
North Carolina Central UniversityIn Durham · sticker $26,556$22,401a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Durham: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →North Carolina Central UniversityDurham TechnicalDuke UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill91% graduate$72k earnings$14k typical debt
Duke University97% graduate$98k earnings$13k typical debt
North Carolina Central University42% graduate$43k earnings$28k typical debt
Durham Technical Community College45% graduate$36k earnings$15k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Durham

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Durham’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Social sciences 15%Interdisciplinary 9%Engineering 8%Business 7%Biology 6%Computer science 6%Everything else 51%

Biggest programs

Computer ScienceDuke University · 410 graduates a year
$196k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDuke University · 224 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out
EconomicsDuke University · 199 graduates a year
$161k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralDuke University · 169 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Public Policy AnalysisDuke University · 144 graduates a year
$103k4 yrs out
Social Sciences, GeneralNorth Carolina Central University · 122 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNorth Carolina Central University · 114 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentDuke University · 111 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Durham Technical Community College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Durham

Is Durham a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Durham residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above North Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, Duke University, has 16,196 students on campus.

What colleges are in Durham?

Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Durham Technical Community College and Watts College of Nursing are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Durham, and what does it cost?

Durham Technical Community College in Durham, 0.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,986 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $1,664, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does North Carolina Central University cost if we live in North Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $6,699 a year in-state and $19,735 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,032 (under $30,000 income) to $23,658 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Durham. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →