UMO is a Top Rated Liberal Arts University Eastern NC and is one of the most unique private educational institutions in North Carolina. A great university is the product of its people and a reflection of its history, mission, vision, and values. That is true for the University of Mount Olive, formerly known as Mount Olive College, which was founded by the Original Free Will Baptists as a liberal arts institution with defining Christian principles. Although we have grown and evolved over the years, our lasting emphasis on personalized, values-based learning within the liberal arts tradition has put the University of Mount Olive on the map as one of the leading private colleges in North Carolina for more than half a century.