Match #1
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC
Profile closeness86/100
Admit rate78%
- 4,170 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 47%, close to 47%
- Enrollment 4,170 students, close to 6,081
The colleges most similar to North Carolina Central University are Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University, and North Carolina A & T State University. North Carolina Central University admits 87% of applicants and has an average net price of $16,708 a year; 8 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 2 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with North Carolina Central University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to North Carolina Central University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC
Profile closeness79/100
Admit rate82%
- 5,762 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 5,762 students, close to 6,081
- Acceptance rate 82%, close to 87%
Match #3
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Profile closeness62/100
Admit rate50%
- 12,182 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Same control type (public)
Match #4
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC
Profile closeness60/100
Admit rate64%
- 1,975 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 46%, close to 47%
- Same control type (public)
Match #5
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA
Profile closeness85/100
Admit rate89%
- 5,074 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 5,074 students, close to 6,081
- Acceptance rate 89%, close to 87%
Match #6
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate88%
- 5,392 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 5,392 students, close to 6,081
- Acceptance rate 88%, close to 87%
Match #7
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate70%
- 4,848 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Enrollment 4,848 students, close to 6,081
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate83%
- 2,934 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Acceptance rate 83%, close to 87%
- Average net price $18,030, close to $16,708
Match #9
Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, TX
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate79%
- 8,877 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 46%, close to 47%
- Enrollment 8,877 students, close to 6,081
Match #10
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate72%
- 5,043 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 5,043 students, close to 6,081
- Average net price $17,835, close to $16,708
Questions about North Carolina Central University alternatives
What colleges are similar to North Carolina Central University?
The closest matches to North Carolina Central University are Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A & T State University, Elizabeth City State University, and Virginia State University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is North Carolina Central University hard to get into?
North Carolina Central University admitted 87% of its 8,244 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 2 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which North Carolina Central University alternatives cost less?
8 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than North Carolina Central University ($16,708 a year), including Elizabeth City State University ($8,048), Fayetteville State University ($8,500), and North Carolina A & T State University ($9,884). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
