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Johnson C Smith University

Johnson C Smith University is a private campus in Charlotte proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities — a federally recognized designation.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$19,693

family income
under $30k

$29,425

$30–48k

$17,959

$48–75k

$19,673

$75–110k

$21,063

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$20,8942023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Johnson C Smith University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $20,894 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $20,894.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$19,574
2009	$19,762
2010	$17,231
2011	$19,415
2012	$17,384
2013	$20,797
2014	$19,918
2015	$19,721
2016	$19,820
2017	$20,019
2018	$19,220
2019	$20,792
2020	$16,703
2021	$20,528
2022	$20,011
2023	$20,894

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$34,9232024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Johnson C Smith University rose from $26,036 (2009) to $34,923 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$26,036
2010	$27,190
2011	$28,074
2012	$28,872
2013	$30,314
2014	$31,993
2015	$32,021
2016	$32,001
2017	$31,909
2018	$32,065
2019	$31,931
2020	$33,444
2021	$26,234
2022	$33,121
2023	$34,228
2024	$34,923

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2001	$10,066
2002	$12,444
2003	$13,062
2004	$13,712
2005	$14,399
2006	$15,004
2007	$15,754
2008	$15,754
2013	$18,236
2014	$18,236
2015	$18,236
2016	$18,236
2017	$18,236
2018	$18,236
2019	$18,784
2020	$18,784
2021	$18,944
2022	$19,504
2023	$20,480

IPEDS Published price 2001–02 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Johnson C Smith University reports published tuition of $21,300 in this record. Johnson C Smith University's $21,300 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Johnson C Smith University reports 1,244 undergraduates. This count does not measure class size or advising access.

34.3% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Johnson C Smith University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

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34.3%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Johnson C Smith University has wandered from Fall 1992 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts — up to 50.7% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 34.3%.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1992 cohort	36.4%
1993 cohort	39.1%
1994 cohort	42.5%
1995 cohort	39.7%
1996 cohort	40.9%
1997 cohort	40.3%
1998 cohort	41.2%
1999 cohort	36.3%
2000 cohort	39.7%
2001 cohort	41.6%
2002 cohort	38.8%
2003 cohort	38.3%
2004 cohort	39.4%
2005 cohort	37%
2006 cohort	41.6%
2007 cohort	44.1%
2008 cohort	43.7%
2009 cohort	45.7%
2010 cohort	50.7%
2011 cohort	43.5%
2012 cohort	35.8%
2013 cohort	49.1%
2014 cohort	43.7%
2015 cohort	39%
2016 cohort	42.9%
2017 cohort	34.1%
2018 cohort	34.3%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1992–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$17,941	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$20,375	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$21,913	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$22,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$22,000	$5,563
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$22,491	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$23,688	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$24,875	$4,000
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$25,230	$3,998
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$23,188	$3,998
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$21,250	$3,750
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$21,250	$5,098
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$24,125	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$27,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$30,000	$9,107
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$31,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$31,374	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$31,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$31,362	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$32,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$31,000	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$31,000	$10,750
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$31,000	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$30,000	$12,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$31,478

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$35,892

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$42,680

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Johnson C Smith University admitted 3,083 of 6,820 applicants in Fall 2024. The 45.2% rate describes that application pool.

45.2%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $20,480 tuition · 2023–24 1,244 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Johnson C Smith University did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for Johnson C Smith University under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Johnson C Smith University received 6,820 applications and admitted 3,083 (45.2%), with 396 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

45.2%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	41%
Fall 2002	37.1%
Fall 2003	56.7%
Fall 2004	48.2%
Fall 2005	52.9%
Fall 2006	36.8%
Fall 2007	37.9%
Fall 2008	46%
Fall 2009	25.9%
Fall 2010	25.1%
Fall 2011	28.8%
Fall 2012	38.1%
Fall 2013	36.7%
Fall 2014	42.3%
Fall 2015	45.6%
Fall 2016	45.3%
Fall 2017	38.1%
Fall 2018	45.8%
Fall 2019	47%
Fall 2020	49.2%
Fall 2021	44.5%
Fall 2022	25.3%
Fall 2023	42.9%
Fall 2024	45.2%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

800–980Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	870	1010
Fall 2002	825	1009
Fall 2003	825	1009
Fall 2004	804	992
Fall 2005	815	1009
Fall 2006	979	1045
Fall 2007	853	1007
Fall 2008	870	1010
Fall 2009	780	923
Fall 2010	790	945
Fall 2011	750	960
Fall 2012	730	935
Fall 2013	733	920
Fall 2014	720	900
Fall 2015	700	880
Fall 2016	740	915
Fall 2017	748	960
Fall 2018	810	980
Fall 2019	803	960
Fall 2020	800	980

IPEDS Fall 2001–2020, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

13–18Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	19	20
Fall 2005	19	20
Fall 2006	19	21
Fall 2007	19	21
Fall 2008	19	27
Fall 2009	16	19
Fall 2010	17	20
Fall 2011	15	19
Fall 2012	15	19
Fall 2013	15	19
Fall 2014	15	18
Fall 2015	15	18
Fall 2016	15	19
Fall 2017	14	19
Fall 2018	14	18
Fall 2019	14	18
Fall 2020	13	18

IPEDS Fall 2004–2020, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

1,244Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Johnson C Smith University fell from 1,537 (Fall 2002) to 1,244 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	1,537
Fall 2003	1,474
Fall 2004	1,415
Fall 2005	1,404
Fall 2006	1,470
Fall 2007	1,463
Fall 2008	1,571
Fall 2009	1,466
Fall 2010	1,331
Fall 2011	1,541
Fall 2012	1,665
Fall 2013	1,382
Fall 2014	1,375
Fall 2015	1,371
Fall 2016	1,324
Fall 2017	1,392
Fall 2018	1,480
Fall 2019	1,429
Fall 2020	1,248
Fall 2021	1,122
Fall 2022	1,041
Fall 2023	1,047
Fall 2024	1,244

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

71%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Johnson C Smith University rose from 59% (Fall 2002) to 71% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	59%
Fall 2003 cohort	59%
Fall 2004 cohort	66%
Fall 2005 cohort	65%
Fall 2006 cohort	64%
Fall 2007 cohort	63%
Fall 2008 cohort	69%
Fall 2009 cohort	70%
Fall 2010 cohort	74%
Fall 2011 cohort	72%
Fall 2012 cohort	56%
Fall 2013 cohort	66%
Fall 2014 cohort	68%
Fall 2015 cohort	65%
Fall 2016 cohort	69%
Fall 2017 cohort	69%
Fall 2018 cohort	66%
Fall 2019 cohort	65%
Fall 2020 cohort	57%
Fall 2021 cohort	57%
Fall 2022 cohort	63%
Fall 2023 cohort	71%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Johnson C Smith University

Faculty pay at Johnson C Smith University averages $93,672 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Johnson C Smith University as a primarily residential campus of 1,244 undergraduates — and 71.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Johnson C Smith University reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 45.2%. Review Johnson C Smith University's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Johnson C Smith University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Johnson C Smith University45.2%

North Carolina median74.9%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Johnson C Smith University$21,300

North Carolina median$19,500

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Johnson C Smith University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Johnson C Smith University$42,680

North Carolina median$45,873

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Johnson C Smith University, North Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	Johnson C Smith University	North Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	45.2%	74.9%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$21,300	$19,500	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$42,680	$45,873	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Johnson C Smith University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Johnson C Smith University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 6 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$51,371
Criminology	$46,215
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$44,678
Biology, General	$42,595
Communication and Media Studies	$40,600
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$38,941

These 6 fields listed for Johnson C Smith University measure earnings after completion. The $42,680 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 17 additional Johnson C Smith University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Johnson C Smith University report?

Johnson C Smith University did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 45.2% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is Johnson C Smith University's acceptance rate?

45.2% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 3,083 admitted from 6,820 applicants.

How much does Johnson C Smith University cost?

At Johnson C Smith University, tuition is $21,300. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Johnson C Smith University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $42,680. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Carolina

Livingstone College — 59.2% admitted
Louisburg College — 55.8% admitted
North Carolina A & T State University — 49.9% admitted
North Carolina State University at Raleigh — 41.7% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.