North Carolina Central University vs. SWU

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

North Carolina Central University SWU
Location Durham, NC Central, SC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,553 1,175
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #940 #826
Religious Affiliation - Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu edu.
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Carolina Central University SWU
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $26,520
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $26,520
Room & Board $11,864 $9,650
Avg Net Price $13,708 $17,639
Avg Grant Aid $16,168 $19,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

North Carolina Central University SWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,423 846
Admitted 7,107 433
Acceptance Rate 84.4% 51.2%
Enrolled % 15.2% 34.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 4.0
Typical High School Grades B A/A+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/23 19/23
SAT Range 810/1130 1013/1160
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 SWU
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 (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

North Carolina Central University SWU
Graduation Rate 38% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $279

Diversity

North Carolina Central University SWU
% Men 30% 33%
% Women 70% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 6% 63%
% Black 81% 28%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

North Carolina Central University SWU
% In-State 65% 58%
% Out-of-State 29% 42%

Campus

North Carolina Central University SWU
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 SWU based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 1,175 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. SWU Cost Comparison

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

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 611.4% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.2% higher at SWU than North Carolina Central University ($26,520.00 vs. $16,764.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than SWU ($13,708 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 22.9% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($9,650 vs. $11,864)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than North Carolina Central University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 21.4% larger than aid received North Carolina Central University ($19,636 vs. $16,168)

North Carolina Central University vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.73 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at North Carolina Central University (3.27)
  • North Carolina Central University has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than SWU (51.2%)

North Carolina Central University vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SWU is higher than North Carolina Central University (42% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $9,600 more per year than North Carolina Central University graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $35,200)
  • Southern Wesleyan University students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $31,000)
  • SWU graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than North Carolina Central University graduates. ($279 vs. $320)
  • More SWU 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/