North Carolina Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,214 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
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes15
Value48
Affordability74
Selectivity22
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 80.2%, North Carolina Wesleyan University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
80.2%
Easy
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 North Carolina Wesleyan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending North Carolina Wesleyan 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 $17,432 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,432
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
50%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
64%
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
$35,736
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,348
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,500
Books & Supplies
$400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,974
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
$16,114
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,020
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,017
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,403
Over $110,000
$22,379
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.
$3,26410%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$24,50075%percentile
$34,54690%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 $20,054
↓ $4,946
No Pell $16,921
↓ $8,079
Dependent students $16,703
↓ $8,297
Independent students $21,666
↓ $3,334
Female students $21,047
↓ $3,953
Male students $16,764
↓ $8,236
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,569, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at North Carolina Wesleyan University graduate within six years, and 62% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
62%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Carolina Wesleyan University earn a median of $45,873 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,873
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$40,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,700
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 ↑
24.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
North Carolina Wesleyan University is home to 1,214 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,214
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 36.2%439
White 20.4%248
International 14.2%172
Other 5.1%62
Hispanic 3.1%37
Asian 0.5%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at North Carolina Wesleyan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityRocky Mount, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential826 beds on campus
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
North Carolina Wesleyan University offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
17 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 Wesleyan University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$45M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,975
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
60 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
14
23%
$62,154
Associate Professors
21
35%
$61,637
Assistant Professors
21
35%
$55,859
Instructors
4
7%
$50,228
Pros & Cons of North Carolina Wesleyan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Carolina Wesleyan 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
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, North Carolina Wesleyan University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about North Carolina Wesleyan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Is North Carolina Wesleyan University hard to get into?
North Carolina Wesleyan University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 80.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at North Carolina Wesleyan University?
North Carolina Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 80.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does North Carolina Wesleyan University cost?
The average net price after aid at North Carolina Wesleyan University is $17,432 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Carolina Wesleyan University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,873 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,432 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Carolina Wesleyan University known for?
North Carolina Wesleyan University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Carolina Wesleyan University are $45,873, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Carolina Wesleyan University accredited?
Yes. North Carolina Wesleyan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend North Carolina Wesleyan University?
North Carolina Wesleyan University enrolls 1,214 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina Wesleyan University?
North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Carolina Wesleyan University a public or private college?
North Carolina Wesleyan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is North Carolina Wesleyan University located?
North Carolina Wesleyan University is located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
What programs does North Carolina Wesleyan University offer?
North Carolina Wesleyan University offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina Wesleyan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Carolina Wesleyan University is 13:1, 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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