All biographical information is current for the time period the honorary degree was conferred.
| Year | Individual | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Wilbur Fiske Massey | Doctor of Science |
| 1925 | Charles E. Waddell | Doctor of Science |
| 1926 | Thomas Nelson | Doctor of Science |
| 1929 | Stuart Warren Cramer | Doctor of Science |
| William Dollison Faucett | Doctor of Science | |
| 1932 | O. Max Gardner | Doctor of laws |
| James A. Powell | Doctor of Science | |
| Reuben Robertson | Doctor of Science | |
| 1937 | Weightman Wells Garner | Doctor of Science |
| Arthur Ernest Morgan | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1938 | Charles I. Burkholder | Doctor of Engineering |
| William McKinney Piatt | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1939 | Stephen Cole Bruner | Doctor of Science |
| Junius Sidney Cates | Doctor of Agriculture | |
| Adrianus J.L. Mortiz | Doctor of Science | |
| Benjamin Brown Gossett | ||
| (October) Wallace Carl Riddick | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1940 | Clement Leinster Garner | Doctor of Engineering |
| Charles Albert Cannon | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1941 | Richard Thurmond Chatham | Doctor of Textile Science |
| Roger Vernon Terry | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1942 | Carle Clark Zimmerman | Doctor of Science |
| (October) Graham Hudson Anthony | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Thomas Kenneth Mail | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Charles William Burkett | Doctor of Science | |
| 1943 | Wilbert James Carter | Doctor of Textile Science |
| Benjamin Wesley Kilgore | Doctor of Science | |
| Thomas Alfred Morgan | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1944 | David Clark | Doctor of Textile Science |
| Louis Valvelle Sutton | Doctor of Engineering | |
| 1945 | Dudley Warren Bagley | Doctor of Agriculture |
| William Carey Lee | Doctor of Military Science | |
| Arthur Mills Dixon | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1946 | Victor Arthur Rice | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Roger Williams | Doctor of Engineering | |
| James Edward Millis | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1947 | John Redd Hutcheson | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Charles Burt Stainback | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Harry H. Strasu | Doctor of Engineering | |
| John Washington Clark | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1948 | James Morgan Sherman | Doctor of Agriculture |
| William Henry Sullivan | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Thomas Everett Browne | Doctor of Vocational Ed | |
| Franklin Warren Hobbs | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1949 | William Kerr Scott | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Felix Stanton Hales | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Albert Gallatin Myers | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1950 | Harry J. Reed | Doctor of Science |
| Frank Porter Graham | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Clyde Atkinson Erwin | Doctor of Vocational Ed. | |
| Clyde Alvin Dillon | Doctor of Engineering | |
| John Flood Matheson | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1951 | Ira Obed Schaub | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Clarence Poe | Doctor of Agriculture Ed. | |
| Harry Parker Hammond | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Colin George Spencer | Doctor of Forest Science | |
| Frederick Bonnett | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1952 | Junius Greene Adams | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Luther Wilson Greene | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Carl Alvin Schenck | Doctor of Forest Science | |
| William Hagwood Ruffin | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1953 | Lynton Yates Ballentine | Doctor of Agriculture |
| Walter Gropius | Doctor of Architecture | |
| John Warren Smith | Doctor of Vocational Ed. | |
| George William Gullette | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Inman Fowler Eldredge | Doctor of Forest Science | |
| Herman Cone | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1954 | John William Turrentine | Doctor of Agriculture |
| R. Buckminster Fuller | Doctor of Design | |
| John William Harrelson | Doctor of Education | |
| James Thomas Ryan | Doctor of Engineering | |
| Walter Julius Damtoft | Doctor of Forest Science | |
| Robert Ten Broeck Stevens | Doctor of Textile Science | |
| 1955 | James Harold Hilton | Doctor of Science |
| Victor Silas Bryant | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Luther Hartwell Hodges | Doctor of Laws | |
| Edward Eastman Clayton | Doctor of Science | |
| Elwood Leonard Demmon | Doctor of Science | |
| 1956 | James Harold Linebarger | Doctor of Humanities |
| George Waddell Snedecor | Doctor of Science | |
| Ludwig Mies van der Rohe | Doctor of Laws | |
| Lillian Lee Vaughn | Doctor of Laws | |
| 1957 | Leroy Argius Brothers | Doctor of Science |
| Thomas Dolliver Church | Doctor of Laws | |
| Harold D. Cooley | Doctor of Laws | |
| Wilson Durward Leggett | Doctor of Science | |
| Clifford Willard Tilson | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1958 | Halbert McNair Jones | Doctor of Humanities |
| William Gardner Van Note | Doctor of Science | |
| Conrad Louis Wirth | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1959 | Willard Holden Darst | Doctor of Science |
| Henry Burton Robinson | Doctor of Science | |
| Francis Xavier Schumacker | Doctor of Science | |
| Carl Cleveland Taylor | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1960 | William Dunford Appel | Doctor of Science |
| Jonathan Worth Daniels | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Granville Moorman Reed | Doctor of Science | |
| Oliver Reagan Rowe | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Burrhus Frederic Skinner | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Thomas Benton Upchurch | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1961 | John Columbus Cowan | Doctor of Humanities |
| Frederick Carlton Gardner | Doctor of Science | |
| Irvine Theodore Haig | Doctor of Science | |
| Thelma Howell | Doctor of Science | |
| Thomas Franklin Parker | Doctor of Science | |
| 1962 | Sterling Brown Hendricks | Doctor of Science |
| Lennox Polk McLendon | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Laurence Hasbrouck Snyder | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Raymond Albert Wheeler | Doctor of Science | |
| 1963 | George McMillan Darrow | Doctor of Science |
| Terry Sanford | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Eli Sternberg | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Bertram Whittier Wells | Doctor of Science | |
| 1964 | Henry Armfield Foscue | Doctor of Humanities |
| William Dallas Herring | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Louis Isadore Kahn | Doctor of Humanities | |
| Lillian Parker Wallace | Doctor of Humanities | |
| David Stathem Weaver | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1965 | Leonard David Baver | Doctor of Science |
| Charles Francis Goldthwait | Doctor of Science | |
| Jasper Leonidas Stuckey | Doctor of Science | |
| John Harold Lampe | Doctor of Science | |
| 1966 | James Gordon Hanes | Doctor of Humanities |
| James Herbert Jensen | Doctor of Science | |
| Rudolph Ivey Mintz | Doctor of Laws | |
| Charles Scott Mitchell | Doctor of Science | |
| Frances Gray Patton | Doctor of Humanities | |
| 1967 | David Stanton Coltrane | Doctor of Humanities |
| Verne Lester Harper | Doctor of Science | |
| George Richard Herbert | Doctor of Science | |
| Joseph Grant Knapp | Doctor of Science | |
| Francis P. W. Winteringham | Doctor of Science | |
| 1969 | none | |
| 1970 | none | |
| 1971 | none | |
| 1972 | Gordon Kennedy Middleton | Doctor of Science |
| 1973 | none | |
| 1974 | none | |
| 1975 | John Tyler Caldwell | Doctor of Laws |
| 1976 | none | |
| 1977 | none | |
| 1978 | none | |
| 1979 | Lodwick Charles Hartley | Doctor of Humanities |
| 1980 | none | |
| 1981 | none | |
| 1982 | none | |
| 1983 | none | |
| 1984 | Theodore W. Schultz | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 1984 | Theodore W. Schultz | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 1985 | Harwell H. Harris | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| Samuel D. Proctor | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 1986 | Phillip M. Smith | Doctor of Science |
| 1987 | none | |
| 1988 | Richard G. Walser | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 1989 | Gertrude B. Elion | Doctor of Science |
| 1990 | none | |
| 1991 | Nyle C. Brady | Doctor of Science |
| William C. Friday | Doctor of Public Service | |
| 12/1992 | Eugene Butler | Doctor of Agriculture |
| 5/1993 | George Wallace Giles | Doctor of Sciences |
| 12/1993 | Ernest L. Boyer | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 5/1994 | John Hope Franklin | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Frank Hawkins Kenan | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/1994 | Benjamin S. Carson, Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Edward E. Hood, Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/1995 | William Brantley Aycock | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Gen. Maxwell Reid Thurman | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/1995 | Raymond H. Dawson | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Burley B. Mitchell, Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/1996 | Fred McFeely Rogers | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 12/1996 | Prezell R. Robinson | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 5/1997 | none | |
| 12/1997 | Albert Carnesale | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Ben Rankin Morris | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/1998 | Hugh Shelton | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Edgar S. Woolard, Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/1998 | Nicholaas Bloembergen | Doctor of Sciences |
| Joab L. Thomas | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/1999 | Kaye Gibbons | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Kathryn Stinson | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/1999 | John Thomas Biggers | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| 5/2000 | Reverend Billy Graham | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Donna Shalala | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/2000 | Ray C. Anderson | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| F. Albert Cotton | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Peter C. Doherty | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Theodore M. Hesburgh | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Hipolito Mejia | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Vernon Owens | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2001 | T. Ming Chu | Doctor of Sciences |
| Harm J. de Blij | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Walter Fitch | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Jane Henney | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Neal Lane | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Ruby Vann Crumpler McSwain | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/2001 | Hon. James B. Hunt Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Robert H. Buckman | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Alan T. Dickson | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Charles E. Hamner | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Larry K. Monteith | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Douglas M. Orr Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2002 | Dr. James P. Comer | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Dr. James J. Duderstadt | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Ms. Lee Smith | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| Mr. William James Raspberry | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Dr. Charles M. Vest | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2002 | Dr. James Goodnight | Doctor of Sciences |
| Mr. Thomas Karl | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2003 | Ken Burns | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| Edward Carroll Joyner | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| William G. Hill | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Cyma Rubin | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 12/2003 | Shirley Ann Jackson | Doctor of Sciences |
| Dan K. McNeill | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| John P. Sall | Doctor of Sciences | |
| E. Travis York | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 5/2004 | Eva Clayton | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Harvey K. Littleton | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| Steve Wozniak | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2004 | Richard Benedick | Doctor of Sciences |
| Robert Ward | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| R. Scott Wallinger | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 5/2005 | Johnnetta B. Cole | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Richard Meier | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| Patrick A. Moore | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2005 | Dean Kamen | Doctor of Sciences |
| W. Duke Kimbrell | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Hugh Morton | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| William R. McNeal | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2006 | Ralph Cicerone | Doctor of Sciences |
| David Effron | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| J. Stuart Hunter | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Daniel McFadden | Doctor of Sciences | |
| John Ruffin | Doctor of Sciences | |
| George Tolley | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2006 | Roscoe R. Braham, Jr. | Doctor of Sciences |
| Lynn Margulis | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Bonnie McElveen-Hunter | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Rex M. Nettleford | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 5/2007 | Kenneth Olden | Doctor of Sciences |
| Eduardo Catalano | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| Roger Milliken | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2007 | David H. Blackwell | Doctor of Sciences |
| Walter Royal Davis | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Billy Ray Hall | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Arlinda F. Locklear | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Arthur Tab Williams | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Gianfranco Zaccai | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2008 | Pat Mora | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Richard G. Robb | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| C.D. Spangler, Jr. | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/2008 | Freeman A. Hrabowski, III | Doctor of Sciences |
| Carl Wieman | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 5/2009 | John Seely Brown | Doctor of Sciences |
| Sarita E. Brown | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Wayne A. Fuller | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2009 | Jack Ward Thomas | Doctor of Sciences |
| G. Smedes York | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2010 | I. King Jordan | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Charlie Rose | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| William Julius Wilson | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/2010 | Deanna Bowling Marcum | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Gen. Raymond T. Odierno | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Richard Sapper | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 5/2011 | Robert Weiss | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| James E. Rogers | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/2011 | Ray A. Buchanan | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Rajendra K. Pachauri | Doctor of Sciences | |
| Robert G. Stanton | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 5/2012 | Robert B. Jordan III | Doctor of Sciences |
| David H. Murdock | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2012 | James H. Woodward | Doctor of Sciences |
| 5/2013 | Indra Nooyi | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Michael Wingfield | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 12/2013 | Tony Badger | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Hayden White | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 5/2014 | David Ferriero | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Thomas Sayre | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 12/2014 | George M. Whitesides | Doctor of Sciences |
| 5/2015 | Betsy M. Bennett | Doctor of Sciences |
| Clara Adams-Ender | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| 12/2015 | Karl Eikenberry | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Pedro Sanchez | Doctor of Sciences | |
| 5/2016 | Admiral Michelle Howard | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Dr. Jean Schensul | Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Dr. Larry Wheeler | Doctor of Fine Arts | |
| 12/2016 | Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus | Doctor of Sciences |
| 5/2017 | David Christian | Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Philip G. Freelon | Doctor of Fine Arts |