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Johnson C Smith University

#355 in US ranking Charlotte, NC
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Johnson C Smith University award
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Cost

Cost / year
$36,350
Tuition & fees
$21,300
Avg. aid
$16,611
Receiving aid
99%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
45%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
34%
Median salary
$38,253
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Johnson C Smith University?

Johnson C. Smith University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is not the same as accreditation of every individual major or professional program.

Recognized institutional accreditation is important for access to federal student aid and can matter when students seek to transfer credits or pursue further study. It does not, by itself, require another college to accept a particular course. Students considering fields with licensing or certification requirements should separately check the current status of their specific program and the rules of the state where they intend to practice. Those checks are especially important before committing to a graduate or professionally oriented degree.

What are the admission requirements at Johnson C Smith University?

Johnson C. Smith University uses selective rather than open admission for first-year applicants. Applicants should expect to submit an application, a secondary-school transcript, and evidence of high school graduation or an accepted equivalent such as a GED credential.

The university's reported first-year admission criteria include the secondary-school record, GPA, and completion of a college-preparatory program. SAT and ACT scores are listed as neither required nor recommended; applicants should check the policy for their intended entry term before arranging tests solely for this application. Class rank and recommendations are likewise not listed as general requirements. Applicants whose prior education was not in English may need to document English proficiency; TOEFL is identified as a required measure for applicable applicants.

Recent admissions figures show approximately 6,820 first-year applicants and 3,083 admitted, an acceptance rate of about 45%. That rate describes a past applicant pool, not an individual's likelihood of admission. Applicants should confirm current deadlines and any additional requirements for their program or applicant category.

What are the application fees and waivers at Johnson C Smith University?

The reported undergraduate application fee for Johnson C. Smith University is $25. An application fee is charged for review of an application; it is separate from tuition, housing charges, and any deposit due after admission.

Applicants who need a fee waiver should ask the admissions office about eligibility and the method for requesting one before submitting a payment. They should also check the fee shown in the application they actually use, since charges or waiver procedures can differ by applicant category or application route. A fee listed for undergraduate admission should not be assumed to apply to graduate applicants.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Johnson C Smith University?

Johnson C. Smith University students have a reported Army ROTC option through a cooperating host institution rather than an Army ROTC unit operated independently on the JCSU campus. A student interested in joining should confirm the current host, cross-enrollment arrangements, and travel requirements with the university and the host unit.

ROTC participation and an ROTC scholarship are separate matters: joining a course does not automatically provide funding or create the same obligations as accepting a scholarship or contracting for military service. Eligibility, medical and physical standards, scholarship applications, and service commitments are governed by the applicable military program. Applicants should obtain those terms directly from the Army ROTC unit before making an enrollment decision.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Johnson C Smith University?

Johnson C. Smith University accepts transfer applications and generally considers credits from other accredited institutions. Reported transfer entry terms include fall, spring, and summer, but admission and the acceptance of particular courses are separate decisions.

Transfer applicants should be prepared to provide official transcripts from every college attended and to confirm whether their application also requires a high school record. The admissions office can clarify any current GPA or completed-credit threshold. A course's transferability depends on its content, grade, credit value, and applicability to the intended JCSU degree; receiving elective credit does not necessarily satisfy a major requirement.

Before enrolling, students with substantial prior coursework should request an official credit evaluation and ask an academic adviser to map accepted courses against remaining degree requirements. That comparison is more useful for estimating time to completion than a count of transferable credits alone.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Johnson C Smith University?

Students interested in international study should ask Johnson C. Smith University about currently approved study-abroad opportunities and how participation would fit their degree plans. The availability of a trip, exchange, or outside-provider program can vary by term.

Before paying a program deposit, students should seek written approval for how overseas courses will count toward their major and graduation requirements. They should also establish which costs are covered by their aid package, whether a scholarship can be used abroad, and what passport, visa, health, and travel requirements apply. An opportunity arranged through a third-party provider is not necessarily a program operated by the university.

Johnson C Smith University Admissions Factors

Acceptance rate
45%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
45%
North Carolina
75%
US
78%

13% of admitted students enrolled (396 of 3,083)

Johnson C Smith University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 6,820
Admission
Total: 3,083
Enrolled
Total: 396
Women
Men

How to Apply to Johnson C Smith University

Application fee

$25

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Johnson C Smith University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 179
Out-of-state: 210
International: 7

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 396
Transfer: 116

Johnson C Smith University Admission Requirements

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Neither required nor recommended

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

Johnson C Smith University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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