North Carolina Central University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Durham, North Carolina. It enrolls 6,081 students (a large 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
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes29
Value54
Affordability82
Selectivity19
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87%, North Carolina Central University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether North Carolina Central University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
22.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending North Carolina Central 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 $15,359 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,359
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
59%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
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 (in-state)
$6,699
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,735
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,450
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,213
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,416
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,816
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,556
Application fee: $50 (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
$13,032
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,882
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,527
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,401
Over $110,000
$23,658
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.
$5,38310%percentile
$10,25025%percentile
$28,250Medianpercentile
$35,50075%percentile
$44,84890%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 $23,250
↓ $5,000
No Pell $16,750
↓ $11,500
Dependent students $21,733
↓ $6,517
Independent students $22,393
↓ $5,857
Female students $23,099
↓ $5,151
Male students $19,540
↓ $8,710
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($28,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
52% of full-time students who enrolled at North Carolina Central University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
52%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Carolina Central University earn a median of $42,968 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,968
Earning > $25K
71%
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)
$32,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,700
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 ↑
20.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 43% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
North Carolina Central University is home to 6,081 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
6,081
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 84.1%5,113
Hispanic 5.7%349
Other 4.3%258
White 3.8%233
Asian 0.8%49
International 0.4%25
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at North Carolina Central University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityDurham, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential3,375 beds on campus
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
North Carolina Central University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
53 distinct programs across
21 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 North Carolina Central University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,263
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$58M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,637
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
333 instructional faculty across 6 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
74
22%
$110,150
Associate Professors
103
31%
$88,521
Assistant Professors
88
26%
$81,062
Instructors
21
6%
$55,726
Lecturers
43
13%
$55,917
No Rank
4
1%
$58,400
Pros & Cons of North Carolina Central University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Carolina Central University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, North Carolina Central University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about North Carolina Central University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Carolina Central University.
Is North Carolina Central University hard to get into?
North Carolina Central University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87%.
What is the acceptance rate at North Carolina Central University?
North Carolina Central University has an acceptance rate of 87%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for North Carolina Central University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at North Carolina Central University scored between 19 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does North Carolina Central University cost?
The average net price after aid at North Carolina Central University is $15,359 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Carolina Central University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,968 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,359 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Carolina Central University known for?
North Carolina Central University is best known for its programs in Law, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Carolina Central University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Carolina Central University are $42,968, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Carolina Central University accredited?
Yes. North Carolina Central University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend North Carolina Central University?
North Carolina Central University enrolls 6,081 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina Central University?
North Carolina Central University graduates 52% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Carolina Central University a public or private college?
North Carolina Central University is a Public institution.
Where is North Carolina Central University located?
North Carolina Central University is located in Durham, North Carolina.
What programs does North Carolina Central University offer?
North Carolina Central University offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina Central University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina Central University is 16:1, 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.
Rhetoric & Composition
Psychology
Visual & Performing Arts
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