About University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Winston Salem, North Carolina. It enrolls 945 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.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value45
Affordability54
Selectivity79
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 30%, University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
30%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1140 – 1370
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 29
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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 $14,906 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,906
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
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)
$9,477
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$27,211
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,517
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,517
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,818
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,793
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,470
Application fee: $95 (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
$3,165
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,828
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,491
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,173
Over $110,000
$25,172
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,25025%percentile
$23,870Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$32,00090%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 $21,000
↓ $2,870
No Pell $19,000
↓ $4,870
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $4,370
Independent students $20,000
↓ $3,870
Female students $20,238
↓ $3,632
Male students $19,060
↓ $4,810
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,870), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% of full-time students who enrolled at University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn a median of $38,357 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,357
Earning > $25K
60%
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
$40,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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 ↑
6.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is home to 945 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
945
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.7%507
Hispanic 12.7%120
Black 8.7%82
Other 6.8%64
International 3.8%36
Asian 2.4%23
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityWinston Salem, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential614 beds on campus
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of North Carolina School of the Arts offers
a focused set of programs:
9 distinct programs across
1 major.
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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 6:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$27,748
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$123M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$77,784
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
131 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
34
26%
$88,639
Associate Professors
41
31%
$80,800
Assistant Professors
42
32%
$73,253
No Rank
14
11%
$56,182
Pros & Cons of University of North Carolina School of the Arts
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of North Carolina School of the Arts tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts hard to get into?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 30%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts has an acceptance rate of 30%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of North Carolina School of the Arts scored between 1140 and 1370 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of North Carolina School of the Arts scored between 22 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of North Carolina School of the Arts cost?
The average net price after aid at University of North Carolina School of the Arts is $14,906 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,357 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,906 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of North Carolina School of the Arts known for?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is best known for its programs in Drama & Theatre, Film & Video Production, Dance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of North Carolina School of the Arts are $38,357, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts accredited?
Yes. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts enrolls 945 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts a public or private college?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a Public institution.
Where is University of North Carolina School of the Arts located?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
What programs does University of North Carolina School of the Arts offer?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts offers 9 distinct programs. The most popular include Drama & Theatre, Film & Video Production, Dance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 6:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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