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North Carolina Central University
Admission at North Carolina Central University is close to open (87%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $42,968 median earnings below before the application.
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North Carolina Central University sits in Durham proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $90,760 four years out. 58.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 6,081 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 72.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 980 and 1100 — below the NC middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on North Carolina Central University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, North Carolina Central University received 14,192 applications and admitted 12,842 (90.5%), with 1,465 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 980–1100 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, North Carolina Central University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 560 | 570 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 500 | 530 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 17 | 18 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How North Carolina Central University compares
| North Carolina Central University | North Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 87% | 75.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $6,699 | $19,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $42,968 | $45,873 | $53,781 |
At $42,968, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($45,873). Look at North Carolina Central University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $6,699 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $19,735. For non-residents, North Carolina Central University's $19,735 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 6,081 undergrads, North Carolina Central University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
41.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 58% don't — ask a North Carolina Central University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at North Carolina Central University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $90,760 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $88,454 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $88,053 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,048 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $54,999 |
| Biology, General | $54,192 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $53,794 |
| Social Work | $49,856 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,443 |
| History | $48,047 |
| Political Science and Government | $47,317 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,124 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $46,136 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $44,678 |
| Psychology, General | $44,053 |
| Social Sciences, General | $43,859 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,230 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $42,426 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $42,085 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $42,067 |
Median earnings for these 20 North Carolina Central University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $42,968 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 15 additional North Carolina Central University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for North Carolina Central University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 980–1100 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 87% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is North Carolina Central University's acceptance rate?
90.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 12,842 admitted from 14,192 applicants.
How much does North Carolina Central University cost?
In-state tuition is $6,699; out-of-state students pay $19,735. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do North Carolina Central University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $42,968 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in North Carolina
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro — 88.5% admitted
- University of North Carolina Asheville — 91.9% admitted
- William Peace University — 94.3% admitted
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke — 93.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.