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North Carolina Central University logoPublicUrbanHBCU

North Carolina Central University

Durham, North Carolina 27707

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeUrbanPublicHBCU

Known for business — excellent value

North Carolina Central University is a public institution in Durham with particular strength in business and psychology. With an average SAT of 1023, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 5.4K undergraduates with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

46% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $42,968 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $15,028.

Established
1910
Motto
"Truth and Service"
Mascot
Eddie the Eagle
Type
Public historically black university
Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

90%
Acceptance
1023
SAT Avg
5,400
Undergrads
16:1
Student : Faculty
46%
Grad Rate (4yr)
$42,968
Earnings 10yr
$15,028
Avg Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

North Carolina Central University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate90.5%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1023

Reading & WritingMid: 540
500570
MathMid: 500
480530

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 18
1718

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

90.5%

Trend

SAT Avg

1023

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$6,542
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,578
Room & Board$14,760
Books & Supplies$1,500
Total Cost of Attendance$25,618
Average Net Price$15,028
Median Debt at Graduation$28,250
Monthly Payment (10yr)$299

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$12,136
$30–48K$14,482
$48–75K$17,688
$75–110K$21,713
$110K+$23,621

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

36.6%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$22,000

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

41

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

11

Burglary

2

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

4

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

11

Drug Arrests

8

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (68)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

75%

Negative
  • •75% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
5,400
Gender Split
70% / 30%
Women / Men
First Generation
33%
Pell Grant Recipients
57%

Race & Ethnicity

White 4%
Black 84%
Hispanic 5%
Asian 1%
Two+ 5%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate46.0%
Freshman Retention75.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$35,967
10 Years$42,968

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • •Shepard President 1909 1947 Alfonso Elder President 1948 1963 Samuel P.
  • •Whiting President 1967 1972 Chancellor 1972 1982 LeRoy T.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

RDU Raleigh-Durham9 mi
CLT Charlotte126 mi
RIC Richmond137 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA609 mi · ~17h 36m drive
New York, NY421 mi · ~12h 10m drive
Hartford, CT521 mi · ~15h 3m drive
Providence, RI570 mi · ~16h 28m drive
Albany, NY537 mi · ~15h 31m drive
Syracuse, NY510 mi · ~14h 44m drive
Rochester, NY501 mi · ~14h 28m drive
Buffalo, NY478 mi · ~13h 49m drive
Philadelphia, PA342 mi · ~9h 53m drive
Pittsburgh, PA314 mi · ~9h 4m drive
Harrisburg, PA316 mi · ~9h 8m drive
Newark, NJ417 mi · ~12h 3m drive
Washington, DC227 mi · ~6h 33m drive
Baltimore, MD261 mi · ~7h 32m drive
Atlanta, GA347 mi · ~10h 1m drive
Charlotte, NC121 mi · ~3h 30m drive
Raleigh, NC20 mi · ~35 min drive
Miami, FL710 mi · ~20h 31m drive
Orlando, FL534 mi · ~15h 26m drive
Tampa, FL592 mi · ~17h 6m drive
Nashville, TN440 mi · ~12h 43m drive
New Orleans, LA769 mi · ~22h 13m drive
Richmond, VA135 mi · ~3h 54m drive
Chicago, IL621 mi · ~17h 56m drive
Detroit, MI492 mi · ~14h 13m drive
Minneapolis, MN976 mi · ~28h 12m drive
St. Louis, MO647 mi · ~18h 41m drive
Kansas City, MO885 mi · ~25h 34m drive
Indianapolis, IN475 mi · ~13h 43m drive
Columbus, OH355 mi · ~10h 15m drive
Cleveland, OH410 mi · ~11h 51m drive
Milwaukee, WI684 mi · ~19h 46m drive
Dallas, TX1043 mi · ~30h 8m drive
Houston, TX1046 mi · ~30h 13m drive
Austin, TX1157 mi · ~33h 25m drive
San Antonio, TX1223 mi · ~35h 20m drive
Los Angeles, CA2215 mi · ~63h 59m drive
San Francisco, CA2387 mi · ~68h 57m drive
San Diego, CA2180 mi · ~62h 59m drive
Seattle, WA2342 mi · ~67h 39m drive
Portland, OR2353 mi · ~67h 59m drive
Denver, CO1442 mi · ~41h 39m drive
Phoenix, AZ1883 mi · ~54h 24m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1807 mi · ~52h 12m drive
Honolulu, HI4770 mi · ~137h 48m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Raleigh-Durham (RDU)9 miles
Rental car
14 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
18 min$11-18
Charlotte (CLT)126 miles
Rental car
189 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
252 min$151-252

Deadline Calendar

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Typical Application Requirements

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Decision Notifications

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North Carolina Central University — v2 Preview — TourStack