North Carolina Wesleyan University
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
About North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University is a private research university in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, enrolling about 1,214 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 80.23% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,264 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- North Carolina Wesleyan University charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($37,856).
- Versus the North Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 5.4×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 44.93%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,264.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at North Carolina Wesleyan University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 506% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | $37,856 | $20,318 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $30,216 | — | 1,451 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $7,040 | $6,250 | 132 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,824 | $15,745 | 1,516 |
| United States (national median) | $12,200 | $17,569 | — |
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.
Average net price is 46% below published tuition at North Carolina Wesleyan University
Key findings
- North Carolina Wesleyan University's average net price ($20,318) is 46% below published tuition ($37,856).
- North Carolina Wesleyan University charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($37,856).
- Versus the North Carolina median, sticker tuition is about 5.4×.
North Carolina Wesleyan University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $37,856
Finding North Carolina Wesleyan University charges 25% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $37,856. That is 25% above the national private non-profit median ($30,216). Versus the North Carolina median ($7,040), sticker tuition is about 5.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($12,200), sticker is about 3.1×.
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 North Carolina Wesleyan University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at North Carolina Wesleyan University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at North Carolina Wesleyan University is $20,318.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $20,318 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,068 above the North Carolina median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,573 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 46% lower after grants and scholarships.
North Carolina Wesleyan University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for North Carolina Wesleyan 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
$37,856
Avg. net price
$20,318
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $26,413 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,100 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,952 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,696 |
| $110,001+ | $22,017 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $151,424. 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General121
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration69
- Organizational Leadership39
- Psychology, General28
- Computer and Information Sciences, General24
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 13% of admitted students enrolled.
- Midpoint ACT: 18
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is North Carolina Wesleyan University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
North Carolina Wesleyan 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Campus
Location
Rocky Mount, NC
City / state
- ZIP
- 27804
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 29% above the median for Town campuses ($15,745 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Size
Enrollment
1,214
Undergraduates (fall)
- Undergraduates (full year)
- 1,464
- Graduate
- 157
- Full-time share
- 85%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 52.29%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for North Carolina Wesleyan 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 North Carolina Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan 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 | $26,632 | $26,632 | $19,532 |
| 2014 | $27,400 | $27,400 | $21,365 |
| 2015 | $28,150 | $28,150 | $13,540 |
| 2016 | $29,150 | $29,150 | $17,960 |
| 2017 | $29,900 | $29,900 | $16,205 |
| 2018 | $30,750 | $30,750 | $15,723 |
| 2019 | $31,650 | $31,650 | $14,023 |
| 2020 | $32,750 | $32,750 | $16,679 |
| 2021 | $33,371 | $33,371 | $18,119 |
| 2022 | $34,352 | $34,352 | $17,801 |
| 2023 | $35,536 | $35,536 | $18,165 |
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 has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Midpoint 18 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
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
North Carolina Wesleyan University reported total enrollment of about 1,214 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (36.2%), Race/ethnicity unknown (20.6%), and White (20.4%). About 52.29% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 46.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at North Carolina Wesleyan University in 2024 is 1,214 students.
Over a full year, about 1,464 undergraduates enroll. Graduate enrollment is about 157 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
58.5%
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
32.25% 100% Completion Time
44.93% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 32.25% of students graduating from North Carolina Wesleyan University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 42% male / 58% female
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 48% male / 52% female
- Organizational Leadership: 23% male / 77% 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.
North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates earn a median of $49,264 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,264. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $20,318.
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 North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates report median earnings of $49,264 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (30 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for North Carolina Wesleyan 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
$12.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- North Carolina median 1.1× the median ($12M)
- Southeast median 0.66× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.48× the median ($26.4M)
- North Carolina median 1.2× the median ($8,184)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.82× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 41.4%
- North Carolina median 7.7 pp below median (49.1%)
- Southeast median 18.1 pp below median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 16.6 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,597
- North Carolina median near the median ($6,566)
- Southeast median near the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.87× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,633
- North Carolina median 0.70× the median ($8,093)
- Southeast median 0.85× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.77× 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.
North Carolina Wesleyan University at a glance
North Carolina Wesleyan University
North Carolina Wesleyan University is a private non-profit institution in Rocky Mount, NC, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement AdministrationOrganizational Leadership
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American36.2%Race/ethnicity unknown20.6%White or Caucasian20.4%
Schools near North Carolina Wesleyan University
Other campuses in Rocky Mount, NC when available, plus nearby institutions in North Carolina.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within North Carolina, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is North Carolina Wesleyan University located?
North Carolina Wesleyan University is located in Rocky Mount, NC.
What is North Carolina Wesleyan University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at North Carolina Wesleyan University is 80.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,417 applicants and 1,884 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is North Carolina Wesleyan University's tuition?
North Carolina Wesleyan University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $37,856 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $20,318 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does North Carolina Wesleyan University cost?
Reported tuition is $37,856 and average net price is $20,318 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,608 annually.
Why is North Carolina Wesleyan University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At North Carolina Wesleyan University, published tuition is $37,856 while average net price is $20,318—about 46% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains North Carolina Wesleyan University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($20,318), completion (44.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($49,264). 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 North Carolina Wesleyan University?
North Carolina Wesleyan University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,464 students, Black or African American (36.2%), Race/ethnicity unknown (20.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend North Carolina Wesleyan University?
About 46.8% of students at North Carolina Wesleyan University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for North Carolina Wesleyan University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, North Carolina Wesleyan University reports midpoint ACT about 18.
What do graduates of North Carolina Wesleyan University earn?
Median earnings are $43,006 six years after entry and $49,264 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina Wesleyan University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 44.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do North Carolina Wesleyan University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
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 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.