Colleges and universities

Kwesi Fynn is lifted into the air by his uncle Papa Arkhurst after Davidson College's graduation ceremony.

The Charlotte region is home to about three dozen institutions of higher learning, including the state's fourth-largest university, the state's biggest community college and a premier culinary school.

BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE: The Catholic college was founded in 1876 by Benedictine monks. Academic programs include a bachelor's degree in motorsports management. 888-222-0110, www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

CABARRUS COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES: Programs in nursing, occupational therapy, surgical technology, medical imaging, health services management and more. Associated with Carolina Medical Center - NorthEast. 704-403-1556, www.cabarruscollege.edu.

CAROLINAS COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES: Affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare System, this school offers programs in medical technology, nursing and more. 704-355-5043, www.carolinashealthcare.org/education/cchs.

CATAWBA COLLEGE: The private liberal arts college in Salisbury is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. 800-CATAWBA, www.catawba.edu.

DAVIDSON COLLEGE: This small, selective school regularly is listed by U.S. News & World Report as among the nation's top 10 liberal arts colleges. 704-894-2000, www.davidson.edu.

GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY: The historically Baptist private school is located in Boiling Springs, NC. GWU also has graduate and degree completion classes on 16 satellite campuses including Charlotte. 800-253-6472, www.gardner-webb.edu.

JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY: The nation's first historically black college to provide laptops to all its students. 704-378-1000, www.jcsu.edu.

JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY: One of the nation's top-rated culinary schools, it offers two- and four-year degrees in business, hospitality and culinary arts. 980-598-1000, www.jwu.edu/Charlotte.

LENOIR-RHYNE COLLEGE: A private liberal arts college in Hickory, affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 828-328-1741, www.lrc.edu.

LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE: The historically black university in Salisbury offers an undergraduate program and the Hood Theological Seminary. 800-835-3435, www.livingstone.edu.

MONTREAT COLLEGE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND ADULT STUDIES: This Christian college offers programs in education and science, business administration and an MBA. 704-357-3390, www.montreat.edu.

PFEIFFER UNIVERSITY: The private school in Misenheimer is affiliated with the United Methodist church. Also has adult studies programs in Charlotte and Lake Norman. 704-521-9116, www.pfeiffer.edu.

QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE: Offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, including an MBA. 704-337-2200, www.queens.edu.

UNC CHARLOTTE: North Carolina's fourth-largest public university, off N.C. 49 in northeast Charlotte. 704-687-8622, www.uncc.edu.

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY BABCOCK GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT: Working professionals can earn an MBA in two years. The Charlotte campus is at SouthPark's One Morrocroft Centre. 704-365-1717, http://business.wfu.edu.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY'S METRO COLLEGE: In Matthews, the school offers evening classes in courses including business, human services and communications studies. Master's programs include MBA and education degrees. 704-849-2132, http://metro.wingate.edu.

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY: Rock Hill school has a 325-acre recreational/research complex. 803-323-2211, www.winthrop.edu.

THE CHARLOTTE SCHOOL OF LAW: Became the city's first law school when it debuted in 2006. The school has received provisional approval from the American Bar Association. 704-971-8500, www.charlottelaw.org.

DEVRY UNIVERSITY'S KELLER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT: In South Park. 704-362-2345, www.devry.edu.

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX: 704-504-5409, www.phoenix.edu.

STRAYER UNIVERSITY: University City campus: 704-717-2380, South Charlotte campus: 704-499-9200, Huntersville campus: 704-379-6800, www.strayer.edu.

CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE: The school, which has a main campus in Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood, is the state's largest two-year school. It serves more than 70,000 students on six campuses across Mecklenburg County. 704-330-2722, www.cpcc.edu.

CALDWELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTE: 828-726-2200, www.cccti.edu.

CATAWBA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 828-327-7000, www.cvcc.edu.

CLEVELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 704-484-4000, www.clevelandcommunitycollege.edu.

GASTON COLLEGE: 704-922-6200, www.gaston.edu.

MITCHELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 704-878-3200, www.mitchellcc.edu.

ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 704-637-0760 (Salisbury campus), 704-788-3197 (Concord campus), www.rowancabarrus.edu.

SOUTH PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 704-272-5300, www.spcc.edu.

STANLY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 704-982-0121, www.stanly.edu.

WESTERN PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 828-438-6000, www.wpcc.edu.

YORK TECHNICAL COLLEGE: 803-327-8000, www.yorktech.com.

Alison Henry

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