North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public research university in Durham, North Carolina, serving roughly 6,081 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 86.96% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,968 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $6,699
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,359 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 86.96% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 6,081 87.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 41.65%
- Average SAT Score: 1050
North Carolina Central University: what the data shows
Common questions about North Carolina Central University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is North Carolina Central University?
North Carolina Central University is located in Durham, NC (ZIP 27707).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is North Carolina Central University public or private?
North Carolina Central University is a Public institution.
How much does North Carolina Central University cost?
Published tuition: $6,699 in-state, $19,735 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,359.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,032 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,882 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,527 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,401 |
| $110,001+ | $23,658 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $26,796.
How hard is it to get into North Carolina Central University?
Admission rate: 86.96%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1050 and midpoint ACT 18.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is North Carolina Central University?
Total enrollment: 6,081 students.
About 88% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina Central University?
150%-time completion rate: 41.65%.
First-year retention: 72.7%.
What do graduates of North Carolina Central University earn?
Median earnings: $35,967 six years after entry; $42,968 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $28,250.
58.70% of students receive Pell grants.
What is North Carolina Central University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (1,559 completions)
- Law (JD) (149 completions)
- CIP 520201 (137 completions)
- CIP 450101 (131 completions)
- General Psychology (106 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (105 completions)
- Social Work (104 completions)
- Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (70 completions)
- CIP 250101 (69 completions)
- Public Administration (55 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is North Carolina Central University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 86.96%; completion rate 41.65%; median earnings $42,968 at 10 years; net price $15,359. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$6,699
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at North Carolina Central University was $6,699.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,359
2024 Value
In 2024 North Carolina Central University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,359.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,436 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,359 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$26,796 4-Year In-State Tuition
$78,940 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for North Carolina Central University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
58.70% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
62.93% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at North Carolina Central 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 North Carolina Central University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,526 | $16,099 | $10,214 |
| 2014 | $5,526 | $16,941 | $10,464 |
| 2015 | $5,755 | $17,793 | $10,743 |
| 2016 | $6,132 | $18,590 | $11,564 |
| 2017 | $6,399 | $19,106 | $13,474 |
| 2018 | $6,464 | $19,171 | $13,285 |
| 2019 | $6,534 | $19,241 | $14,732 |
| 2020 | $6,629 | $19,336 | $14,332 |
| 2021 | $6,644 | $19,351 | $15,328 |
| 2022 | $6,599 | $19,635 | $14,014 |
| 2023 | $6,542 | $19,578 | $15,028 |
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
86.96% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1050
ACT Average: 18
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
87.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at North Carolina Central University in 2024 is 6,081 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.7%
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.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
26.20% 100% Completion Time
41.65% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 26.20% of students graduating from North Carolina Central University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for North Carolina Central University.
Return on Investment
$28,250 Median Student Debt
$42,968 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
65.75% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
599.39% Return on Investment
6.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for North Carolina Central University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Law (JD): 149 completions
CIP 52.0201: 137 completions
CIP 45.0101: 131 completions
General Psychology: 106 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 105 completions
Social Work: 104 completions
Parks, Recreation, & Leisure: 70 completions
CIP 25.0101: 69 completions
Public Administration: 55 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 1,559 completions
Most popular programs at North Carolina Central University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for North Carolina Central University graduates.
About
North Carolina Central University is a public institution located in Durham, NC, offering 53 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 6,081 students. The admission rate is 86.96%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1050. The institution maintains a 41.65% graduation rate. Approximately 58.70% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Durham, NC 27707
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 53 distinct degree programs, North Carolina Central University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does North Carolina Central University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $6,699 and average net price is $15,359 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into North Carolina Central University?
The admission rate is 87.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for North Carolina Central University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, North Carolina Central University reports midpoint SAT about 1050 and midpoint ACT about 18.
What do graduates of North Carolina Central University earn?
Median earnings are $35,967 six years after entry and $42,968 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina Central University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do North Carolina Central University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $28,250.
How big is North Carolina Central University?
Total enrollment is about 6,081 students in the latest reporting year.
Is North Carolina Central University public or private?
North Carolina Central University is a public institution located in Durham, NC.
Is North Carolina Central University an HBCU?
Yes. North Carolina Central University is flagged as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in IPEDS.
Is North Carolina Central University a tribal college?
No. North Carolina Central University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is North Carolina Central University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, North Carolina Central University does not meet that proxy (reported share 5.7%).
Is North Carolina Central University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for North Carolina Central University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.