Scotty McCreery is going to college

Scotty McCreery poses in the press room at the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards on April 1, 2012, in Las Vegas.

/ Jason Merritt

(CBS News) Scotty McCreery, named the Academy of Country Music's best new artist Sunday night, has a serious decision to make about his future: Where to go to college.

The 18-year-old North Carolina native, who won the 10th season of "American Idol" in May and has a a platinum-selling debut album to his credit, is graduating from high school with his class this spring and is planning to go to college.

Pictures: The 2012 ACM Awards
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McCreery told People magazine that he was admitted to four schools and is in the process of making a choice.

"We're gonna figure it out and decide as a family," he told People. "I grew up rooting for NC State, and that's where my dad went. But also, there are schools in Nashville that have been really great - and that's Music City so we'll see."

McCreery already knows that he will continue in the music business, so he says his classes will have to be organized around his career obligations.