Carolina University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
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 Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $17,575
- 2024 Average Net Price: $20,828 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 39.54% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 460 96.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 21.55%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
- First-Generation Students: 32.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 6.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 12.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 40.8%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 530
- Applicants (IPEDS): 547
- Room & Board: $12,400 annual estimate
Carolina University: what the data shows
Common questions about Carolina University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Carolina University?
Carolina University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (ZIP 27101).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Carolina University public or private?
Carolina University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Carolina University cost?
Published tuition: $17,575.
Average net price after aid: $20,828.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $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.
How hard is it to get into Carolina University?
Admission rate: 39.54%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Carolina University?
Total enrollment: 460 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 530 students.
Graduate enrollment: 420 students.
About 96% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Carolina University?
150%-time completion rate: 21.55%.
First-year retention: 56.4%.
What do graduates of Carolina University earn?
Median earnings: $30,657 six years after entry; $32,864 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,287.
37.26% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Carolina University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Divinity/Ministry (79 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (31 completions)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (23 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (22 completions)
- Data Science, General (14 completions)
- Deaf Studies (12 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (8 completions)
- Psychology, General (7 completions)
- Financial Planning and Services (6 completions)
- Education, General (5 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Carolina University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 39.54%; completion rate 21.55%; median earnings $32,864 at 10 years; net price $20,828. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$17,575
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Carolina University was $17,575.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$20,828
2024 Value
In 2024 Carolina University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,828.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$83,312 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$20,828 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$70,300 4-Year Tuition
$12,400 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,600 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$32,575 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$130,300 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Carolina University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
37.26% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
44.58% 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 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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
39.54% Acceptance Rate
547 Total Applicants
186 Students Admitted
119 First-Time Students Enrolled
63.98% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Non-Resident Alien at 33.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
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
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Carolina University.
Return on Investment
$20,287 Median Student Debt
$32,864 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
61.73% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
294.47% Return on Investment
6.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Carolina University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 18 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Divinity/Ministry: 79 completions
2. Organizational Leadership: 31 completions
3. Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other: 23 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 22 completions
5. Data Science, General: 14 completions
6. Deaf Studies: 12 completions
7. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 8 completions
8. Psychology, General: 7 completions
9. Financial Planning and Services: 6 completions
Most popular programs at Carolina University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Carolina University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Carolina University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 40.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,407
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,977
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Carolina University is a private non-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, NC, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Divinity/Ministry, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. Enrollment is approximately 460 students. Student body composition includes Non-Resident Alien (33.5%), White (28.3%), Black or African American (18.0%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 39.54%. The 150%-time completion rate is 21.55%. Approximately 37.26% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Location
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 21.55% graduation rate at Carolina University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
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.
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 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.
Is Carolina University a tribal college?
No. Carolina University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Carolina University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Carolina University does not meet that proxy (reported share 12.0%).
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
- North Carolina college costs
- North Carolina colleges by ROI
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- 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 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.