About Raleigh
Meredith is located in the vibrant capital city of Raleigh, North Carolina. Our 225-acre campus is surrounded by charming Raleigh neighborhoods and just down the street from North Carolina State University. With both downtown Raleigh and Research Triangle Park nearby, Meredith offers numerous opportunities for research, internships and career development. And, when you're ready for a change of scenery, both the beach and mountains are just a short drive away.
Raleigh's close to 400,000 residents enjoy all the excitement of urban living and all the conveniences of a friendly college town. Here, you'll enjoy shopping, arts, culture, concerts and outdoor recreation. Major venues include PNC Center, Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park and the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. Museums include the stunning N.C. Museum of Art, the N.C. Museum of History and N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.
Raleigh consistently ranks among the best places to live and start your career. In 2012, Raleigh was named one of the top 10 best cities for college graduates by Rent.com. It was also described as an "an amazing place to get a job” by Yahoo! Finance, which placed Raleigh sixth on its list of the 15 “Hottest American Cities of the Future.” In 2011, Raleigh was named "America's Best City," and the number one best place for business and careers. It was also named the "happiest city for women" by Self Magazine!
Meredith students cheer on the Avenging Angels, who participate in seven Division III teams. In addition, opportunities to attend college sports and professional sporting events abound in the Raleigh area, including legendary basketball rivalries that draw fans from across the country and a Stanley Cup-winning hockey team.
If you enjoy the outdoors, you can walk, jog, bike and hike the 50 miles of greenway that wind through Raleigh, including two miles of greenway that run through campus, connecting the college to the nearby N.C. Museum of Art.
Raleigh is accessible by regional highways, Amtrak, Greyhound and air, with Raleigh Durham International Airport just 10 minutes from campus. The UPASS program allows students to ride the city bus system fare-free.
Also, Meredith College has partnered with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to the area. To use a Zipcar, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, use your Zipcard to enter the car, and drive away. Return the car to the same location where you picked it up. As a member you have 24/7 access to Zipcars and gas, insurance and maintenance are included for free! Join today and get more information at Meredith College Zipcar.
Raleigh is home to an active arts and music scene, with a dynamic arts museum right next door to the College and music venues that range from large outdoor amphitheatres to intimate clubs. Major venues include PNC Center, Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park and the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. Museums include the stunning N.C. Museum of Art, the N.C. Museum of History and N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.
We asked our students to share their favorite things about going to school in Raleigh:
•“My favorite thing about Raleigh is actually a street. Glenwood Avenue has really neat little shops, and it is sort of the ‘artsy’ district – you can meet great people there.” – Kristen Gallagher, ’13
•“Downtown. It is so beautiful there and there are a lot of cute little shops. Also, I love the public transportation that is available because it makes being in Raleigh without a car so much better.” –Dayanna Hernandez, ’14
•“My favorite thing about Raleigh is the fact that it is a “college town”. There is always something to do, somewhere to eat, someone to make friends with. There are a variety of restaurants. There are concerts, athletic events, and other things going on in the city. One of my favorite places to go in Raleigh, is the $1.50 movie theater. It’s cheap and right down the street!” —Christina Cole, ’13
•“Just to name a few things that I love about Raleigh: Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops, $1.50 movie theater on Blue Ridge, three malls that are perfect for people watching and are only fifteen minutes away, the Raulston arboretum down the street, the NC Museum of Art, Snoopy's Hotdogs, and how clean and safe it is in downtown Raleigh.”—Paisely Murff, ’14
•“Lots of college people and lots of great shops.” —Sydney Sauers, ’12
•"It has something for everyone. The shopping is great, the restaurants are endless and sporting events are always happening." —Jade Rice, ’13
•“I love that Meredith is right next to N.C. State. It’s like getting the great parts of a co-ed school (boys, parties, sporting events, boys) but then getting to come home to a quiet, clean oasis. Raleigh also has a lot of things going on during the weekends like First Friday, where all the local art galleries are open.” –Emily Pappas, ’12
•“There is ALWAYS something to do and someone who will go with you. I come from a small town where everything closes at 6 p.m., but in Raleigh, if I want ice cream at 2 a.m., I can find it!” —Chloe Williams, ’13
•“I love that there are so many different places to go and that parts of the city are very similar to a college town while other parts offer different restaurants and things to do.” –Allison Huber, ’12
