North Carolina Central University vs. Centra College

Should I go to North Carolina Central University or Centra College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Carolina Central University or Centra College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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North Carolina Central University vs. Centra College comparison
North Carolina Central University Centra College College 3 College 4
North Carolina Central University
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Overview

North Carolina Central University Centra College
Location Durham, NC Lynchburg, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 7,553 227
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #940
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu centrahealth.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Carolina Central University Centra College
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $9,240
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $9,240
Room & Board $11,864 $9,406
Avg Net Price $13,708 $28,418
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $6,495
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

North Carolina Central University Centra College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 15
Admitted 7,107 6
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 40%
Enrolled % 15.2% 50%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/23
SAT Range 810/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

North Carolina Central University Centra College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

North Carolina Central University Centra College
Graduation Rate 38% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $12,042
Median Loan Payment $320 $124

Diversity

North Carolina Central University Centra College
% Men 30% 13%
% Women 70% 87%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 6% 65%
% Black 81% 35%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

North Carolina Central University Centra College
% In-State 65% 100%
% Out-of-State 29% 0%

Campus

North Carolina Central University Centra College
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina Central University is larger than than Centra College based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 227 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Carolina Central University or Centra College?

  • Centra College is 147.9% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($9,240.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 81.4% higher at North Carolina Central University than Centra College ($16,764.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than Centra College ($13,708 vs. $28,418)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 26.1% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($9,406 vs. $11,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centra College than North Carolina Central University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina Central University students is 148.9% larger than aid received Centra College ($16,168 vs. $6,495)

North Carolina Central University vs. Centra College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Carolina Central University or Centra College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Centra College or North Carolina Central University .

  • North Carolina Central University has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than Centra College (40%)

North Carolina Central University vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Carolina Central University or Centra College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Centra College and North Carolina Central University.

  • Graduates from Centra College earn on average $9,600 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $35,200)
  • Centra College students graduate with a $18,958 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($12,042 vs. $31,000)
  • Centra College graduates are paying $196 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($124 vs. $320)
  • More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 23%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/