Quad

North Carolina Central University

Durham, NCQuad's selectivityOpen
Known forEconomic diversityTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

North Carolina Central admits about 9 in 10 applicants (87%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 30% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

87%

87%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

18,368

Admitted

15,972

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

ACT middle 50%

19–22

1836
Applications +63% since fall 2014 · admit rate 43% → 87%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 6,081 undergrads, where 59% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

6.1K

undergrads · larger than 81% of colleges

Diversity index

0.29

Pell Grant

59%

above the median

First generation

33%

about the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FCS · Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
Steady · index 0.31 → 0.29 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Social Sciences, General (12% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 68% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,526 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

Most popular major

Social Sciences, General

12% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$90.8K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

68%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$12.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $19,590 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $4.7K less than the national median. The 87% who received grants paid $14,475 on average; the other 13% paid the full sticker price of $26,788 in-state / $39,824 out-of-state.

35%

$19.6K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $4.7K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$26,788 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 35% of full price

Federal loans

63%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +29% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $42,968 ten years after enrolling, more than at 19% of colleges; 52% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

52%

52%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$43K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$28.3K

≈ $299/month for 10 years

Retention

73%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 47% → 42% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 16% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 29%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 63% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 43% to 87%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +29% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +63%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 43% → 87%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.31 → 0.29

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Norfolk State University

88% admit · SAT 927 · 5.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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Albany State University

6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso public
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Virginia State University

89% admit · SAT 955 · 5.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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Texas A&M University-Kingsville

91% admit · SAT 1050 · 4.7K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

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    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
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  3. 3
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    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
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    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
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    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
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    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
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    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

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    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

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    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

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    State laws on public colleges

    State legislatures (statutes read and summarized by hand) · In effect since June 24, 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

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    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

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    North Carolina Central University (2026)

    North Carolina Central University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 199157 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything