Chowan University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. It enrolls 603 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes10
Value52
Affordability84
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 68.8%, Chowan University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
68.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Chowan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Chowan University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,086 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,086
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
57%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$27,910
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,734
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,760
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,580
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,996
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,027
Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,726
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,950
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,549
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,565
Over $110,000
$19,713
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,58710%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$29,491Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$45,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,000
↓ $13,491
No Pell $12,000
↓ $17,491
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $14,491
Independent students $20,000
↓ $9,491
Female students $21,750
↓ $7,741
Male students $12,000
↓ $17,491
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($29,491), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of full-time students who enrolled at Chowan University graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Chowan University earn a median of $38,412 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,412
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Chowan University is home to 603 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
603
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 48.3%291
White 28.4%171
International 9.0%54
Hispanic 8.8%53
Other 5.3%32
Asian 0.3%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Chowan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteMurfreesboro, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential1,518 beds for 603 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Chowan University offers
a varied set of programs:
20 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Chowan University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$78M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,172
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
36 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
10
28%
$72,206
Associate Professors
11
31%
$68,250
Assistant Professors
11
31%
$63,142
Instructors
4
11%
$44,705
Pros & Cons of Chowan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Chowan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Chowan University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chowan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Chowan University.
Is Chowan University hard to get into?
Admissions at Chowan University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Chowan University?
Chowan University has an acceptance rate of 68.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Chowan University cost?
The average net price after aid at Chowan University is $14,086 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Chowan University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,412 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,086 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Chowan University known for?
Chowan University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Chowan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Chowan University are $38,412, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Chowan University accredited?
Yes. Chowan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Chowan University?
Chowan University enrolls 603 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Chowan University?
Chowan University graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Chowan University a public or private college?
Chowan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Chowan University located?
Chowan University is located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.
What programs does Chowan University offer?
Chowan University offers 20 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Chowan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Chowan University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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