As befits a growing region with a sound economy and cultural diversity, the Charlotte metro area is home to numerous institutions of higher learning, many of which are nationally acclaimed.

One of the universities in the highly praised UNC system, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers numerous opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students seeking a higher education. UNCC enrolls more than 19,000 students, a number that is growing by about 4 percent each year. Located in the northeast section of Charlotte, UNCC also offers classes at its Uptown campus which opened in 1995, mostly to appeal to M.B.A. students working in the Center City. In addition, UNCC also provides distance education opportunities as well as post-baccalaureate study for students who seek an education beyond the baccalaureate degree.

Founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute, Queens University moved to the scenic Myers Park area in 1912 and adopted its name in honor of the British Queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg. A private, Presbyterian institution, Queens University has an internship program that is ranked as one of the top ten in the country by U.S. News and World Report, and over 90 percent of Queens students study abroad. The McColl School of Business was established in 1993 to strengthen degree programs in accounting and business administration. Queens attained university status in 2002.

Johnson C. Smith University was founded in 1867 and has maintained its reputation as an institution focused on morals and ethics, due to its Presbyterian roots. Historically African-American, J.C. Smith encourages self-confidence and diversity in its students as well as an awareness of their heritage. The university is also sponsored by the IBM Laptop Initiative as the first historically black college to offer laptops for each of its 1,500 students.

The highly selective and nationally recognized Davidson College is located about 20 minutes north of Charlotte. Offering a small-town atmosphere near beautiful Lake Norman and the foothills of North Carolina, Davidson is able to provide its 1,600 students with a student/faculty ratio of 11 to 1.

Located about 20 minutes south of Charlotte in Rock Hill, S.C., is Winthrop University. Recognized by U.S. News

and World Report as one of the best schools in the Southeast, Winthrop offers 82 undergraduate and 45 graduate programs for more than 6,400 students.

As the largest community college in North Carolina, Central Piedmont Community College serves about 70,000 students through its multi-campus system. In addition to numerous associate’s degrees, CPCC offers educational opportunities for those who intend to transfer to a four-year school as well as those who seek knowledge for their own personal fulfillment.

One of the 30 art institutes associated with The Art Institutes International, Inc., The Art Institute of Charlotte offers associate’s degrees and certificate programs in Interior Design, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design, and Multimedia and Web Design. Additionally, The Art Institute offers some evening classes to appeal to its working students.

In 2004, Johnson & Wales University opened in Charlotte as a consolidation of its Norfolk and Charleston campuses. Calling itself “ America’s Career University,” Johnson & Wales offers 51 degree programs in business, hospitality, culinary arts and technology. About 885 students are enrolled in its first year with an anticipated enrollment of 2,800 within three years. Johnson & Wales offers a four-day school week and the opportunity to earn both associate’s and baccalaureate degrees in four years. Johnson & Wales’ academic center and residence hall are located in the heart of Gateway Village in Uptown.

PATRICK SCHNEIDER/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Area Colleges and Universities
The Art Institute of Charlotte
Three LakePointe Plaza
2110 Water Ridge Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28217
704-357-8020
http://www.aich.artinstitutes.edu/
2-year public art institute

Barber-Scotia College
145 Cabarrus Ave.
Concord, NC 28025
704-789-2900 or
800-610-0778
http://www.b-sc.edu/
4-year private liberal arts

Belmont Abbey College
100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd.
Belmont, NC 28012
704-825-6700 or 888-222-0110
http://www.belmontabbeycollege.edu/
4-year private liberal arts

Brookstone College of Business
8307 University Executive Park
Suite 240
Charlotte, NC 28262
704-547-8600
http://www.brookstone.edu/
private business school

Carolinas College of Health Sciences
1200 Blythe Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-355-5043
http://www.carolinascollege.org/
2-year health sciences

Central Piedmont Community College
1201 Elizabeth Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28235-5009
704-330-2722
http://www.cpcc.edu/
2-year public community college

Davidson College
North Main St.
Davidson, NC 28036
704-894-2000
http://www.davidson.edu/
4-year private liberal arts

Gardner-Webb University
110 Main St.
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
704-406-4000
http://www.gardner-webb.ed/u
4-year private liberal arts

Gaston College
201 Highway 321 S.
Dallas, NC 29034
704-922-6200
http://www.gaston.cc.nc.u/s
2-year public community college

Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28216
704-378-1000
http://www.jcsu.edu/
4-year private liberal arts

Johnson & Wales University
901 West Trade St., Suite 175
Charlotte, NC 28202
866-598-2427
http://www.jwucharlotte.org/
4-year private career college

King’s College
322 Lamar Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-372-0266
http://www.kingscollegecharlotte.ed/u
2-year private career college

McColl School of Business at Queens University
1900 Selwyn Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28274
704-337-2234
http://mccoll.queens.ed/u
undergraduate and graduate business

Montreat College School of Professional and Adult Studies
4135 South Stream Blvd.,
Suite 200
Charlotte, NC 28217
800-436-2777
http://www.montreat.ed/u
4-year and graduate private liberal arts

Pfeiffer University at Charlotte
4701 Park Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28209
704-521-9116
http://www.pfeiffer.edu/
4-year and graduate private liberal arts

Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28274
704-337-2200
http://www.queens.edu/
4-year and graduate private liberal arts

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
P.O. Box 1595
Salisbury, NC 28145-1595
704-637-0760
http://www.rccc.cc.nc.us/
2-year public community college

South Piedmont Community College
West Campus (Union County)
721 Brewer Dr.
Monroe, NC 28112
704-292-1300 or 877-591-1130
http://www.southpiedmont.or/g
2-year public community college

UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223
704-687-2000
http://www.uncc.edu/
4-year and graduate public liberal arts, business, engineering and architecture

USC Lancaster
476 Hubbard Dr.
Lancaster, SC 29721
803-313-7000
http://usclancaster.sc.edu/
2-year community college

Wake Forest University
Babcock School of Management
6805 Morrison Blvd., Suite 150
Charlotte, NC 28211
704-365-1717 or 888-925-3622
http://www.mba.wfu.edu/
2-year evening business program

Wingate University
P.O. Box 3059
Wingate, NC 28174
704-233-8000
http://www.wingate.edu/
4-year and graduate private liberal arts

Winthrop University
701 Oakland Ave.
Rock Hill, SC 29733
803-323-2211
http://www.winthrop.edu/
4-year and graduate public liberal arts

York Technical College
452 S. Anderson Rd.
Rock Hill, SC 29730
803-327-8008
http://www.yorktech.com/
2-year public technical