North Carolina Central University

  • 3/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • Durham, NC
  • 5.0 1 review
#15 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

Overview

Total enrollment

8,579
North Carolina Central University overview
North Carolina Central University overview
  • Size Mid-size
  • Status Non-profit
  • Housing Yes
  • Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

North Carolina Central University (NCCU), located in Durham, North Carolina, sits three miles from downtown Durham and is part of the Research Triangle region alongside Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill. Founded in 1910 as a private institution for religious training, NCCU became the nation's first state-supported liberal arts college for African American students and now operates as a public historically black university within the University of North Carolina System. The university's 135-acre campus features Georgian-style architecture and maintains strong academic programs in business, criminal justice, and its nationally recognized law school, which remains one of the few HBCU law schools in the country. NCCU requires most first-year students to live in one of its seven residence halls, and the university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Eagles in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

North Carolina Central University is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) primarily serving the African-American community. Explore all HBCUs

Ratings

North Carolina Central University is rated within the lower 25% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 3 out of 10.

  • Overall Rating
    3 out of 10
  • Academics
    2 out of 10
  • Resources
    6 out of 10
  • Outcomes
    2 out of 10
  • Value
    2 out of 10

Admissions

Admission Standards

Extremely Easy
North Carolina Central University admission standards
  • SAT (enrolled mid-50) 980/1100
  • ACT (enrolled mid-50) 17/18
  • GPA 3.27

Acceptance Rate

87%
North Carolina Central University applications overview
  • Applications Due Aug 1, 2027
  • Enrollment Rate 11%
  • Application Fee $50

Applicant Competition Very Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

North Carolina Resident Tuition

$6,699

Out of State Resident Tuition

$19,735

Breakdown

In State Costs for North Carolina Central University
  • Tuition $6,699
  • Books and Supplies $1,500
  • Other Fees $2,971
  • Room and Board $13,450
  • Budget for Other Expenses $6,416
  • Total One Year Cost $31,036

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$35,200 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

38% within 6 years

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at North Carolina Central University are Business, Work and Family Studies, and Health Professions. 15% of students major in Business, 11% in Work and Family Studies, and 10% in Health Professions.

  • Business 15%
  • Work and Family Studies 11%
  • Health Professions 10%
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting 9%
  • Psychology 8%

More Colleges to Consider

Students considering North Carolina Central University are frequently interested in these similar colleges.

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=199157.

GPA calculator: North Carolina Central University GPA calculator.

Last updated: August 2026