North Carolina Central University

Durham, NC · Public · Large city · Website

Admission rate: 87%; Accessible
Average net price: $16,708; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 47%
Median earnings: $46,956; 10 years after enrolling

North Carolina Central University is a public college in Durham, NC with 6,081 undergraduates. It admits 87% of applicants, and admitted students average 1050 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $16,708 per year ($15,130 for families earning under $30,000). 47% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $46,956 ten years after enrolling.

HBCUpublic college

Admissions

Admission rate: 87%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 14,192; Fall 2023
Admitted: 12,842; Fall 2023
Yield: 11%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

ACT Composite19–22

136

What North Carolina Central University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementNot considered
RecommendationsConsidered
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusNot considered
Work experienceNot considered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $27,916; sticker price, per year
In-state tuition: $6,733
Out-of-state tuition: $19,769

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$15,130
$30–48k$14,560
$48–75k$16,701
$75–110k$22,258
$110k+$25,133

Get a personal estimate with North Carolina Central University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 47%
Freshman retention: 73%
Median earnings: $46,956; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $26,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 6,081
Student–faculty ratio: 16:1
Receive Pell grants: 64%

White4%
Hispanic6%
Black84%
Asian1%

North Carolina Central University FAQ

What is North Carolina Central University's acceptance rate?+

North Carolina Central University admits 87% of applicants, which makes it accessible.

What ACT score do you need for North Carolina Central University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 19–22.

Is North Carolina Central University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to North Carolina Central University?+

In Fall 2023, 14,192 students applied to North Carolina Central University and 12,842 were admitted; 1,465 enrolled.

Does North Carolina Central University consider legacy status?+

No. North Carolina Central University reported that legacy status is not considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does North Carolina Central University require an essay?+

North Carolina Central University reported that an essay or personal statement is not considered for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does North Carolina Central University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $27,916 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,708.

What is North Carolina Central University's graduation rate?+

47% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 199157 · How we use this data