| Colleges And Universities |  |
 As befits a growing region with a sound economy and cultural diversity, the Lake Norman area is home to numerous institutions of higher learning, many of which are nationally acclaimed.The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, one of the universities in the highly praised UNC system, offers numerous opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. UNCC enrolls about 20,000 students, and the student population is growing about 4 percent each year. The main campus is 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. In addition, UNCC provides distance education opportunities as well as post-baccalaureate study. Plans are in place to construct a five-story classroom building in Uptown’s First Ward within in the next few years. The 100,000-square-foot facility will offer classes in business, social services, architecture and the humanities. Founded in 1837 by Presbyterians, the highly selective Davidson College is located on a historic 450-acre campus. Offering a small-town atmosphere near Lake Norman, Davidson is able to provide its 1,600 students with a student/faculty ratio of 11 to 1. The college also participates in NCAA Division I athletics. Queens University was founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute in Charlotte's Center City, moved to the scenic Myers Park area of Charlotte 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 more than 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 by Presbyterians and has maintained its reputation as an institution focused on morals and ethics. 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 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. 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 37 undergraduate and 25 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 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. CPCC operates eight campuses, including its North Campus in Huntersville. Other community colleges in the Lake Norman area include Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, Gaston College’s satellite campus in Lincolnton and Mitchell Community College’s Mooresville campus. The area, home to Lowe’s Motor Speedway and numerous racing teams, is also home to the NASCAR Institute in Mooresville, which trains auto mechanics for the pit crews of professional racers. The Art Institute of Charlotte, one of the 31 art institutes associated with The Art Institutes International Inc. offers associate 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 working students. In 2004, Johnson & Wales University opened in Charlotte as a consolidation of its Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, S.C., campuses. Calling itself “America’s Career University,” Johnson & Wales offers 51 degree programs in business, hospitality, culinary arts and technology. About 1,200 students are enrolled in its second year with an anticipated enrollment of 2,800 within couple of years. Johnson & Wales offers a four-day school week and the opportunity to earn both associate and baccalaureate degrees in four years. Johnson & Wales’ academic center and residence hall are in the heart of Gateway Village in Uptown Charlotte.
Barber-Scotia College Belmont Abbey College Carolinas College of Health Sciences Catawba College Catawba Valley Community College Central Piedmont Community College Davidson College Gaston College – Lincolnton Campus Johnson C. Smith University Johnson & Wales University King’s College McColl School of Business at Queens University Mitchell Community College Montreat College School of Professional and Adult Studies NASCAR Technical Institute Pfeiffer University at Charlotte UNC Charlotte |
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