Jay, depending on your choice of schools, UNCC is close to Concord and not too far from Statesville - There is an indoor range in Concord but I have not been there (only seen it from the street) but I have been in Cabarrus Creamy for some of the best ice cream you will taste!
Schools downtown (the new law school; Johnson & Wales culinary arts and CPCC) are pretty much accessible from anywhere but the area itself (in my opinion) is not very safe - especially after dark.
Mecklenburg itself is not necessarily anti-gun (I have not seen any of the "No Concealed Weapon" signs except on medical offices and hospitals) and you can review the state laws on this issue at packing.org. I suspect if you contact the Sheriff's office they would send you the sheet of paper they give applicants with the dos and don'ts. The biggie (for me) is the can't carry in places that serve alcohol - which means just about any restaurant - doesn't matter whether you drink or not and NC has no "51 percent" rule.
If you will be paying out of state tuition anyway, the downtown schools are an easy commute from South Carolina. I go the opposite direction just about every day as my office is in Rock Hill, SC but I live just off of I-485 in Charlotte. If you are going to UNCC then Concord or Statesville are better options.
If you want a "viabrant" (local chamber of commerce words, not mine) nightlife, you may enjoy living in downtown Charlotte and, with some luck, you may survive the experience.
Either way, if a place to shoot is important to you, stop in at some of the better local gun shops, Hyatt Gun Shop (704) 394-0387 on Wilkerson Blvd. (kind of a rough area!) and Carolina Sporting Arms
(704) 554-9511 on South Blvd. should be able to guide you to some of the local events and/or clubs.
If you will be driving down I-77 there is an excellent gun shop and range in North Wilkesboro (you will pass the proper exit - Highway 421) called Duncan's Gun Shop and Pawn. The owner, Mark Duncan was once a power in the competition field but I have no idea if he is still active. They have a website and are affiliated with Shooter's Express (the one in Belmont, NC) so you can check it out (if you can tone down the volume on their sound effects).
Unless they have changed, Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club matches were open to the public and that would be a good way to meet area shooters.
I chose to go to Sportsman since I can run over there at lunch and the people are just as nice as can be - a lot like West Virginia people! Since it is in South Carolina, I can't buy a handgun there but can buy anything else and they have an excellent selection.
Drive carefully on your trip.
John