A study examines the enrollment trends of North Carolina's private colleges and universities in the period of fall 1974 to fall 1979, and compares these trends to those of the state's public and the nation's private institutions. The Carnegie Council classification of institutions is used for category comparisons. The following are the primary conclusions: (1) the majority of North Carolina's private institutions are not experiencing enrollment declines, with 71 percent having full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment increases for an overall average increase of nine percent; (2) 29 percent reported negative enrollment trends, of which the majority are less selective liberal arts colleges; (3) the number of part-time students has increased 37 percent; and (4) there has been little fluctuation in the mix of students in the private sector (i.e., relative proportions of in-state and out-of-state, graduate and undergraduate institutions). Data charts show full- and part-time headcount and FTE enrollments for each institution in each category, and headcount enrollment trends for each North Carolina private college and university, giving percentage change in the peak year. An outline of the Carnegie categories is appended. (MSE)