North Carolina Central University vs. CSU

Should I go to North Carolina Central University or Charleston Southern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Carolina Central University or CSU 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. Charleston Southern University comparison
North Carolina Central University Charleston Southern University College 3 College 4
North Carolina Central University Charleston Southern University
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Overview

North Carolina Central University CSU
Location Durham, NC Charleston, SC
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 7,553 3,418
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #940 #918
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu csuniv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Carolina Central University CSU
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $29,490
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $29,490
Room & Board $11,864 $11,250
Avg Net Price $13,708 $17,536
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $26,417
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 99%

Admission

North Carolina Central University CSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 4,967
Admitted 7,107 4,309
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 86.8%
Enrolled % 15.2% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 3.24
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/23 18/23
SAT Range 810/1130 940/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

North Carolina Central University CSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

North Carolina Central University CSU
Graduation Rate 38% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $39,800
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $279

Diversity

North Carolina Central University CSU
% Men 30% 36%
% Women 70% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 6% 61%
% Black 81% 26%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

North Carolina Central University CSU
% In-State 65% 76%
% Out-of-State 29% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina Central University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 3,418 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. CSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Charleston Southern University is 691% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.9% higher at CSU than North Carolina Central University ($29,490.00 vs. $16,764.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than CSU ($13,708 vs. $17,536)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 5.5% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($11,250 vs. $11,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Charleston Southern University than North Carolina Central University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 63.4% larger than aid received North Carolina Central University ($26,417 vs. $16,168)

North Carolina Central University vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Charleston Southern University (1030) is 151 points higher than at North Carolina Central University (879)
  • Incoming CSU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at North Carolina Central University (19)
  • Accepted freshman North Carolina Central University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.27) than students at CSU (3.24)
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than North Carolina Central University (84.4%)

North Carolina Central University vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Carolina Central University or CSU? 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 CSU and North Carolina Central University.

  • The graduation rate at North Carolina Central University is the same as at Charleston Southern University (38% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn on average $4,600 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($39,800 vs. $35,200)
  • Charleston Southern University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,000)
  • CSU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($279 vs. $320)
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 23%)

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