North Carolina Central University vs. RU

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

 North Carolina Central University RU
Location Durham, NC Radford, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,553 7,718
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #940 #566
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 North Carolina Central University RU
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $8,156
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $20,246
Room & Board $11,864 $10,567
Avg Net Price $13,708 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $9,733
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 96%

Admission

 North Carolina Central University RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 11,442
Admitted 7,107 10,680
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 93.3%
Enrolled % 15.2% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/23 19/23
SAT Range 810/1130 960/1160
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 RU
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 (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

 North Carolina Central University RU
Graduation Rate 38% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $237

Diversity

 North Carolina Central University RU
% Men 30% 33%
% Women 70% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 6% 71%
% Black 81% 13%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 North Carolina Central University RU
% In-State 65% 89%
% Out-of-State 29% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than North Carolina Central University based on total student enrollment (7,718 students vs. 7,553 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. RU Cost Comparison

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

  • Radford University is 118.8% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($8,156.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.8% higher at RU than North Carolina Central University ($20,246.00 vs. $16,764.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than RU ($13,708 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 12.3% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($10,567 vs. $11,864)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina Central University as Radford University (96% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina Central University students is 66.1% larger than aid received Radford University ($16,168 vs. $9,733)

North Carolina Central University vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at North Carolina Central University (3.27)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than North Carolina Central University (84.4%)

North Carolina Central University vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than North Carolina Central University (56% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $12,200 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $35,200)
  • Radford University students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($23,000 vs. $31,000)
  • RU graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($237 vs. $320)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Carolina Central University students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 23%)

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