University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public research university in Winston Salem, North Carolina, enrolling about 945 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 29.97% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,357 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,477
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $14,906 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 29.97% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 945 98.5% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 77.78%
  • Carnegie Classification: Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 6.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 74.8%
  • Average SAT Score: 1260
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 955
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 1,423
  • Room & Board: $13,517 annual estimate

University of North Carolina School of the Arts: what the data shows

Common questions about University of North Carolina School of the Arts, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, NC (ZIP 27127-2738).

NCES locale classification: City.

Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts public or private?

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a Public institution.

How much does University of North Carolina School of the Arts cost?

Published tuition: $9,477 in-state, $27,211 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $14,906.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$3,165
$30,001–$48,000$7,828
$48,001–$75,000$11,491
$75,001–$110,000$20,173
$110,001+$25,172

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $37,908.

How hard is it to get into University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

Admission rate: 29.97%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1260 and midpoint ACT 25.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

Total enrollment: 945 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 955 students.

Graduate enrollment: 165 students.

About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

150%-time completion rate: 77.78%.

First-year retention: 92.8%.

What do graduates of University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn?

Median earnings: $24,537 six years after entry; $38,357 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,870.

26.27% of students receive Pell grants.

What is University of North Carolina School of the Arts known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 29.97%; completion rate 77.78%; median earnings $38,357 at 10 years; net price $14,906. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$9,477
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of North Carolina School of the Arts was $9,477.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$14,906
2024 Value

In 2024 University of North Carolina School of the Arts had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,906.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$59,624 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$14,906 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$37,908 4-Year In-State Tuition

$108,844 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$13,517 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,500 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$24,494 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$97,976 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Financial Aid by Income Level

26.27% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

46.67% 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 20132023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$8,271$21,416$11,759
2014$8,363$23,733$13,625
2015$8,983$24,403$14,454
2016$9,139$24,609$14,753
2017$9,338$25,081$14,101
2018$9,371$25,514$13,548
2019$9,358$25,901$13,885
2020$9,358$25,901$13,276
2021$8,941$26,175$13,097
2022$9,388$26,622$13,211
2023$9,477$27,211$12,372

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

29.97% Acceptance Rate

1,423 Total Applicants

471 Students Admitted

221 First-Time Students Enrolled

46.92% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1260

ACT Average: 25

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5

Estimated Median GPA: 3.45

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

University of North Carolina School of the Arts reported total enrollment of about 945 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.6%), Hispanic or Latino (12.7%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (12.0%). About 26.27% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

98.5% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2024 is 945 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 955 students. Graduate enrollment is about 165 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

92.8%
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 White at 53.6%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

74.49% 100% Completion Time

77.78% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 74.49% of students graduating from University of North Carolina School of the Arts completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology: 32% male / 68% female
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 45% male / 55% female
  • Music Performance, General: 61% male / 39% 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Return on Investment

$23,870 Median Student Debt

$38,357 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

62.23% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

543.31% Return on Investment

6.2 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Top Programs by Completions

6 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 7 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology: 90 completions

2. Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 88 completions

3. Music Performance, General: 44 completions

4. Dance, General: 27 completions

5. Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General: 27 completions

6. Voice and Opera: 2 completions

Most popular programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of North Carolina School of the Arts from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 74.8%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,980
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $26,642

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public institution located in Winston Salem, NC, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting). In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology, Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Music Performance, General. Enrollment is approximately 945 students. Student body composition includes White (53.6%), Hispanic or Latino (12.7%), Race/ethnicity unknown (12.0%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 29.97%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1260. The 150%-time completion rate is 77.78%. Approximately 26.27% of students receive Pell Grants.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)

Location

Winston Salem, NC 27127-2738

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

University of North Carolina School of the Arts provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is University of North Carolina School of the Arts located?

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, NC.

What is University of North Carolina School of the Arts's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 30.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,423 applicants and 471 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does University of North Carolina School of the Arts cost?

Reported tuition is $9,477 and average net price is $14,906 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,517 annually.

What is the student body demographics at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

University of North Carolina School of the Arts reports undergraduate enrollment of about 955 students, White (53.6%), Hispanic or Latino (12.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.

What test scores do students need for University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of North Carolina School of the Arts reports midpoint SAT about 1260 and midpoint ACT about 25.

What do graduates of University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn?

Median earnings are $24,537 six years after entry and $38,357 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?

The 150%-time completion rate is 77.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do University of North Carolina School of the Arts students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,870.

Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts public or private?

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public institution located in Winston Salem, NC.

Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts an HBCU?

No. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts a tribal college?

No. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, University of North Carolina School of the Arts does not meet that proxy (reported share 12.7%).

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • 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.