Johnson C Smith University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,244 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
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes16
Value22
Affordability72
Selectivity86
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 45.2%, Johnson C Smith University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
45.2%
Selective
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 Johnson C Smith University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Johnson C Smith 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 $20,894 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,894
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
69%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
75%
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
$21,300
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,600
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,410
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,923
Application fee: $25 (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
$19,940
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,165
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,005
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,722
Over $110,000
$29,050
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.
$5,17210%percentile
$8,28925%percentile
$30,000Medianpercentile
$33,15175%percentile
$45,21690%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 $21,551
↓ $8,449
No Pell $16,250
↓ $13,750
Dependent students $19,000
↓ $11,000
Independent students $27,606
↓ $2,394
Female students $23,191
↓ $6,809
Male students $16,278
↓ $13,722
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,500, less than completers ($30,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
40% of full-time students who enrolled at Johnson C Smith University graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
40%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Johnson C Smith University earn a median of $42,680 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,680
Earning > $25K
68%
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
$28,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$29,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$32,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$34,700
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 ↑
21.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 45% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Johnson C Smith University is home to 1,244 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,244
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 80.6%1,002
International 2.3%29
Other 1.0%13
White 0.6%7
Hispanic 0.5%6
Asian 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Johnson C Smith University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityCharlotte, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential1,039 beds for 1,244 students
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Johnson C Smith University offers
a varied set of programs:
17 distinct programs across
14 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 Johnson C Smith University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$210M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,759
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
79 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
15
19%
$77,720
Associate Professors
23
29%
$68,083
Assistant Professors
34
43%
$62,940
Instructors
7
9%
$46,186
Pros & Cons of Johnson C Smith University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Johnson C Smith University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Best for:
Based on the data, Johnson C Smith University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Johnson C Smith University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Johnson C Smith University.
Is Johnson C Smith University hard to get into?
Johnson C Smith University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 45.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Johnson C Smith University?
Johnson C Smith University has an acceptance rate of 45.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Johnson C Smith University cost?
The average net price after aid at Johnson C Smith University is $20,894 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Johnson C Smith University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,680 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,894 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Johnson C Smith University known for?
Johnson C Smith University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Johnson C Smith University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Johnson C Smith University are $42,680, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Johnson C Smith University accredited?
Yes. Johnson C Smith University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Johnson C Smith University?
Johnson C Smith University enrolls 1,244 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Johnson C Smith University?
Johnson C Smith University graduates 40% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Johnson C Smith University a public or private college?
Johnson C Smith University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Johnson C Smith University located?
Johnson C Smith University is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What programs does Johnson C Smith University offer?
Johnson C Smith University offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson C Smith University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson C Smith University is 11:1, 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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