Carolina University
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
About Carolina University
Carolina University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, enrolling about 460 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 39.54% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $32,864 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Carolina University charges about 0.6× the national private non-profit median tuition ($17,575).
- Versus the North Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 2.5×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 21.55%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,864.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Carolina University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 294% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina University | $17,575 | $20,828 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $6,906 | $6,820 | 133 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Carolina University really?
Key findings
- Carolina University charges about 0.6× the national private non-profit median tuition ($17,575).
- Versus the North Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 2.5×.
Carolina University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $17,575
Finding Carolina University charges about 0.6× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $17,575. That is about 0.6× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the North Carolina median ($6,906), sticker tuition is about 2.5×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 48% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Carolina University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Carolina University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Carolina University is $20,828.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $20,828 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,008 above the North Carolina median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $775 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Carolina University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Carolina University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Carolina University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$17,575
Avg. net price
$20,828
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,738 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,560 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,993 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,597 |
| $110,001+ | $24,152 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $70,300. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Carolina University is known for
Top program completions
- Divinity/Ministry79
- Organizational Leadership31
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other23
- Business Administration and Management, General22
- Data Science, General14
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 64% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Carolina University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Carolina University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Carolina University.
Campus
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
City / state
- ZIP
- 27101
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is 4% above the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Size
Enrollment
460
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 530
- Graduate
- 420
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,287
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 37.26%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Carolina University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Carolina University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Carolina University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2016–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $9,650 | $9,650 | $16,669 |
| 2017 | $9,480 | $9,480 | $13,004 |
| 2018 | $9,920 | $9,920 | $15,700 |
| 2019 | $11,900 | $11,900 | $14,461 |
| 2020 | $14,580 | $14,580 | $14,466 |
| 2021 | $14,400 | $14,400 | $13,771 |
| 2022 | $15,050 | $15,050 | $16,706 |
| 2023 | $16,000 | $16,000 | $18,866 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Carolina University reported total enrollment of about 460 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 57% male and 43% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Non-Resident Alien (33.5%), White (28.3%), and Black or African American (18.0%). About 37.26% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Carolina University in 2024 is 460 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 530 students. Graduate enrollment is about 420 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
56.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
19.30% 100% Completion Time
21.55% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 19.30% of students graduating from Carolina University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Divinity/Ministry: 89% male / 11% female
- Organizational Leadership: 55% male / 45% female
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other: 57% male / 43% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Carolina University graduates earn a median of $32,864 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Carolina University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $32,864. Median federal loan debt: $20,287. Average net price used in cost models: $20,828.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Carolina University graduates report median earnings of $32,864 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Carolina University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (18 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Carolina University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Carolina University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Carolina University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$2.9M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- North Carolina median 0.24× the median ($12M)
- Southeast median 0.15× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.11× the median ($26.4M)
- North Carolina median 0.55× the median ($8,184)
- Southeast median 0.49× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.37× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 40.8%
- North Carolina median 8.2 pp below median (49.1%)
- Southeast median 18.6 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 17.1 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,407
- North Carolina median 0.82× the median ($6,566)
- Southeast median 0.79× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.71× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,977
- North Carolina median 0.49× the median ($8,093)
- Southeast median 0.60× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.55× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Carolina University at a glance
Carolina University
Carolina University is a private non-profit institution in Winston-Salem, NC, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Divinity/MinistryOrganizational LeadershipBusiness Administration, Management and Operations, Other
- Largest enrollment groups
- Non-Resident Alien33.5%White or Caucasian28.3%Black or African American18.0%
Schools near Carolina University
Other campuses in Winston-Salem, NC when available, plus nearby institutions in North Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within North Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carolina University located?
Carolina University is located in Winston-Salem, NC.
What is Carolina University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Carolina University is 39.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 547 applicants and 186 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Carolina University's tuition?
Carolina University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $17,575 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $20,828 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Carolina University cost?
Reported tuition is $17,575 and average net price is $20,828 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,400 annually.
What explains Carolina University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($20,828), completion (21.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($32,864). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Carolina University?
Carolina University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 530 students, Non-Resident Alien (33.5%), White (28.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Carolina University?
About 32.7% of students at Carolina University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Carolina University earn?
Median earnings are $30,657 six years after entry and $32,864 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Carolina University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 21.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Carolina University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,287.
Is Carolina University public or private?
Carolina University is a private nonprofit institution located in Winston-Salem, NC.
Is Carolina University an HBCU?
No. Carolina University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- North Carolina college profile
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Urban (City) college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in North Carolina
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.