North Carolina Central University vs. PAFA

Should I go to North Carolina Central University or Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Carolina Central University or PAFA 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. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts comparison
North Carolina Central University Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts College 3 College 4
North Carolina Central University Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
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Overview

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
Location Durham, NC Philadelphia, PA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 7,553 172
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #940
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu pafa.org
Team Colors                    

Costs

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $40,500
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $40,500
Room & Board $11,864 $17,512
Avg Net Price $13,708 $48,191
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $16,087
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 80%

Admission

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 183
Admitted 7,107 167
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 91.3%
Enrolled % 15.2% 11.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
Graduation Rate 38% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $22,000
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $320 $274

Diversity

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
% Men 30% 31%
% Women 70% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 6% 61%
% Black 81% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

 North Carolina Central University PAFA
% In-State 65% 53%
% Out-of-State 29% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina Central University is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 172 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

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

  • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 986.4% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($40,500.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 141.6% higher at PAFA than North Carolina Central University ($40,500.00 vs. $16,764.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than PAFA ($13,708 vs. $48,191)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina Central University are 47.6% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($11,864 vs. $17,512)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina Central University than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (96% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina Central University students is 0.5% larger than aid received Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($16,168 vs. $16,087)

North Carolina Central University vs. PAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than North Carolina Central University (84.4%)

North Carolina Central University vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than North Carolina Central University (73% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina Central University earn on average $13,200 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($35,200 vs. $22,000)
  • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($26,500 vs. $31,000)
  • PAFA graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($274 vs. $320)
  • More PAFA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 23%)

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