Education
Ranked #164 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 49 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $53,794
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
North Carolina Central University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 87% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 6,267 of 8,244 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 480–600, SAT Math 450–550, ACT 19–22. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 6,081
Larger than 82% of colleges
National median 1,603
North Carolina Central UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
Designations: Historically Black college or university(U.S. College Scorecard · 2025)
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Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where North Carolina Central University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
North Carolina Central University admitted 87% of 8,244 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants8,244
87% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted6,267
17.8% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)1,115
Middle 50% test scores
- SAT Reading & Writing
- 480–600
- 200800
- SAT Math
- 450–550
- 200800
- ACT Composite
- 19–22
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against North Carolina Central University- SAT, middle 50%
- 930–1150
- ACT, middle 50%
- 19–22
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$16,708
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $6,733
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $19,769
- Average net price
- $16,708
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 64.2%
Free tools
Plan your costs for North Carolina Central University
- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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Aid & Loan Plan$14 once
A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
47.4%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
72.7%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$46,956
Former students who received federal aid
Where North Carolina Central University ranks
- #164Best colleges for educationof 521 ranked
- #202Best colleges for nursingof 686 ranked
- #348Best colleges for criminal justiceof 379 ranked
Programs at North Carolina Central University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where North Carolina Central University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Nursing
Ranked #202 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 29 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $90,760
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $18,751
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Criminal justice
Ranked #348 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 105 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $48,443
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $25,185
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Communications
Ranked #377 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 40 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $43,230
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $27,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Political science
Ranked #384 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 25 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $47,317
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
- Median debt
- $26,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Computer science
Ranked #400 of 466 for valueComputer and Information Sciences, General · 23 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $88,053
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $28,500
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #423 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 43 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $44,678
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $29,125
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Biology
Ranked #554 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 52 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,192
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $26,000
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Psychology
Ranked #748 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 98 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $44,053
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $28,014
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Business
Ranked #876 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 113 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,999
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $26,000
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
6,081
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's university
A College or University that also has a large number of Master’s Degree programs.
Colleges like North Carolina Central University
- Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC
- Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC
North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, NC, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC, United States
- Public
- Master's university
Large city
Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.
- City (this campus)
- Suburb
- Town
- Rural
Nearest major cityRaleigh, NC · about 20 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- nccu.edu
Colleges nearby
- Durham Technical Community College0.9 miDurham
Duke University2.9 miDurham
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus9.6 miChapel Hill
Meredith College16.8 miRaleigh
North Carolina State University at Raleigh18.1 miRaleigh- Living Arts College19.3 miRaleigh
Colleges nearby
- Durham Technical Community College1 mi from North Carolina Central University
- Duke University3 mi from North Carolina Central University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus10 mi from North Carolina Central University
- Meredith College17 mi from North Carolina Central University
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at North Carolina Central University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $16,708 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
Tagged by CollegesRef editors as a big-time athletics school.
Mission & community
HBCU
Historically Black college or university.
CollegesRef editorial tag
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for North Carolina Central University and Winston-Salem State University, side by side.
Compare with Winston-Salem State UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the North Carolina Central University acceptance rate for 2026?
North Carolina Central University admitted 87% of 8,244 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is North Carolina Central University tuition?
In-state tuition at North Carolina Central University is $6,733 and out-of-state tuition is $19,769 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $16,708 a year.
What is the average net price at North Carolina Central University?
The average net price at North Carolina Central University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $16,708 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at North Carolina Central University?
47.4% of first-time, full-time students at North Carolina Central University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to North Carolina Central University?
The closest matches are Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University, and North Carolina A & T State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
