Meredith College is a private women's

liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on Undergraduate education, undergraduate study in the Liberal arts education, liberal arts of humanities and science. Such colleges aim to impart ...

and

coeducational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

graduate school Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachel ...

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...

. As of 2025 Meredith enrolls approximately 1,600 women in its undergraduate programs and 275 men and women in its graduate programs.

History

Chartered by the First Baptist Church, the college first opened as the "Baptist Female University" in 1891 in a facility in downtown Raleigh. In 1904, the school's name was first changed to "Baptist University for Women". In 1909, the school adopted its current name, "Meredith College", to honor Thomas Meredith who was the founder of the Baptist newspaper '' The Biblical Recorder''. In 1997, the college moved away from a direct connection with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Meredith began construction at the current location on Hillsborough Street near

North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and p ...

in 1924, and students began attending classes there in 1926. The campus covers and is located close to both Raleigh-Durham International Airport and

Research Triangle Park Research Triangle Park (RTP) is the largest research park in the United States; it occupies in North Carolina and hosts more than 300 companies and 65,000 workers. It is owned and managed by the Research Triangle Foundation, a private non-profi ...

. In 1980 an angel was chosen as the school sports mascot, but in the summer of 2007 this was changed to the "Avenging Angels". In April 2022, the school renamed Joyner Hall, named for

white supremacy White supremacy is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White supremacy has roots in the now-discredited doctrine ...

advocate James Yadkin Joyner, as part of its anti-racism initiatives.

Academics

38 majors are offered at Meredith, as well as licensure, graduate, and pre-professional programs. According to ''U.S. News & World Report'' the most popular majors are Psychology, Biology/Biological Sciences, Business Administration and Management, Child Development and Social Work. Meredith College

Upon completion of an undergraduate major, students can receive a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Social Work. The John E. Weems Graduate School is coeducational. Undergraduate students who wish to study engineering can participate in a five-year dual-degree program, whereby they can receive degrees from both Meredith and North Carolina State University's College of Engineering. To do this, students must major in either chemistry, computer science or mathematics at Meredith. Through this arrangement, students receive a B.A. from Meredith in chemistry, computer science or mathematics and a B.S. from NCSU in engineering. The college's Undergraduate Research Program supports student/faculty partnerships for the purposes of academic research and creative activity in all fields. College funds support these projects and underwrite travel costs for students presenting their work at conferences. The college hosts an annual one-day research conference in April to present work of Meredith students.

Student life

Meredith College is noted for its traditions, which range from the Honor Code to Cornhuskin', a yearly weeklong festival encouraging competition between graduating classes. Meredith College also celebrates its Founder's Day every year. During each college generation, faculty perform ''Alice in Wonderland'' for students, keeping their involvement in the production a secret up until the students see them on stage.

Rankings and classifications

As of 2021, Meredith College was ranked #136 in the category of Best Liberal Arts Colleges by ''U.S. News & World Report '', was ranked #119 by ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

'' among "In The South", and was categorized by ''

The Princeton Review The Princeton Review is an education services company providing tutoring, test preparation and admission resources for students. It was founded in 1981, and since that time has worked with over 400 million students. Services are delivered by 4, ...

'' in the Best Southeastern category. Meredith College was ranked fifth among regional colleges in the South in the 2016 edition of ''U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges'' rankings. Meredith College is not included in this ranking as a southern regional university.

Athletics

left, 120px, Meredith athletics logo Meredith College's athletics teams are nicknamed the Avenging Angels. Meredith College Field

Meredith athletes compete in basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball. In August 2014 Meredith College announced the addition of track and field and in September 2019 announced the addition of golf as well as field hockey. A member of the

USA South Athletic Conference The USA South Athletic Conference (formerly the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference or the Dixie Conference) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member schools are located in North Carolin ...

since 2007, Meredith has claimed 26 USA South championships, made 15 NCAA appearances, and had 300 student-athletes named all-conference and 670 to USA South All-American.

Notable people

Administration

* Jo Allen, president (2011–2024) * E. Bruce Heilman, president (1966–1971) * Thomas Meredith, founding figure and namesake * Leonidas L. Polk, founding figure * Hoyt Patrick Taylor, former trustee

Alumnae

* Carrie Lougee Broughton, North Carolina State Librarian
Margaret Currin
first woman U.S. attorney in North Carolina, class of 1972 * Addie Elizabeth Davis, first woman ordained as a Southern Baptist pastor. * Eleanor Layfield Davis, artist; class of 1932 * Annie Dove Denmark, fifth president of Anderson University *

Susan Hill Dame Susan Elizabeth Hill, Lady Wells (born 5 February 1942) is an English author of fiction and non-fiction works. Her novels include '' The Woman in Black'', which has been adapted for stage and screen, '' The Mist in the Mirror'', and '' ...

, women's rights advocate * Eleanor Hines (known professionally as Margaret Arlen), talk show host * Roxie Collie Laybourne, ornithologist * Beth Leavel,

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

winning

musical theatre Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...

actor * Lucile Aycock McKee, socialite, president of the Junior League of Raleigh * Dale Mercer, interior designer, television personality, and socialite * Sarah Parker, former Chief Justice of the

North Carolina Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina is the state of North Carolina's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists ...

* Suzanne Reynolds, law professor and North Carolina Supreme Court candidate * Silda Wall Spitzer, chair of Children for Children and former First Lady of

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

* Patricia N. Willoughby, former interim North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction * Adrian H. Wood, educator, blogger, and writer *

Judy Woodruff Judy Carline Woodruff (born November 20, 1946) is an American broadcast journalist who has worked in local, network, cable, and public television news since 1970. She was the anchor and managing editor of the ''PBS NewsHour'' through the end of 20 ...

, journalist
Kendra Dillingham
author, award-winning Welcome and Connections Coordinator at Holy Trinity Anglican Church,

Socialite A socialite is a person, typically a woman from a wealthy or aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having ...

Faculty

120px, Ida Isabella * Louise Hawes, writer and former guest lecturer * Thomas C. Parramore, historian and noted North Carolina scholar * Arthur Poister,

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

* Ida Isabella Poteat, painter *

Charlotte Ruegger Charlotte Ruegger (17 November 187616 June 1959) was a Swiss composer, conductor, violinist, and music educator who taught at several colleges in the United States. She received Belgium's Medal for Bravery for her service during World War I. Earl ...

, composer and violinist; music department chair * Marion Elizabeth Stark, mathematician * Lillian Frances Parker Wallace, historian

References

External links

*
Athletics website

Meredith College student yearbooks on DigitalNC.org
{{Authority control 1891 establishments in North Carolina Liberal arts colleges in North Carolina Private universities and colleges in North Carolina Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Universities and colleges established in 1891 Universities and colleges in Raleigh, North Carolina Universities and colleges in the Research Triangle Women in North Carolina Women's universities and colleges in the United States