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 about 21,000 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 in the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, mostly to appeal to M.B.A. students working in the Center City. Plans are in place to construct a five-story classroom building in Uptown’s First Ward within the next few years. The 100,000-square-foot facility will offer classes in business, social services, architecture and the humanities.
Founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute in downtown Charlotte, 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 10 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 Christian 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. Black Issues in High Education ranked JCSU 37th in the nation for awarded computer science degrees to African-American students and 45th in the nation for English degrees – higher than any other private college in the Carolinas.
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, Davidson is able to provide its 1,600 students with a student/faculty ratio of 10 to 1.
Located about 20 minutes south of Charlotte in Rock Hill, S.C., is Winthrop University. In 2007, the school was ranked among the top 10 colleges in the South by U.S. News and World Report – the 15th time Winthrop has received this distinction. With around 6,200 students, Winthrop offers 37 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs in more than 100 courses of study.
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 35 art institutes associated with The Art Institutes International, Inc., The Art Institute of Charlotte offers associate’s degrees and certificate programs in Interior Design, Culinary Arts, 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 over 50 degree programs in business, hospitality, culinary arts and technology. About 2,500 students are enrolled in its fourth year and the school boasts a 98 percent employment rate for its graduates. Johnson & Wales offers a three-term school year 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’s Third Ward.
The Charlotte School of Law opened in 2006 on Morehead Street in Dilworth. The school seeks to provide a student-centered learning environment. The school plans to construct a 102,000-square-foot academic building at Bryant Park that is slated to open in August 2008.
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