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North Carolina Central University

#720 in US ranking Durham, NC
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$27,916
Tuition & fees
$6,699
Avg. aid
$11,314
Receiving aid
95%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
87%
Avg. SAT
1040
ACT range
19–22

Outcomes

Graduation rate
42%
Median salary
$42,377
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of North Carolina Central University?

North Carolina Central University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval of an individual professional program.

NCCU's School of Law has American Bar Association approval, and its master's program in library and information studies has American Library Association accreditation. Applicants to nursing, education, or another profession with licensing rules should confirm the current accreditation and state approval of their specific program, including whether it meets the requirements in the state where they intend to work.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when a student applies to graduate school or seeks to transfer credit. It does not require another college to accept every course, nor does it by itself qualify a graduate for a professional license.

What are the admission requirements at North Carolina Central University?

First-year applicants generally apply to NCCU with a completed application and an official high school transcript or an accepted high school equivalency credential. Admission is not open to every applicant: the university evaluates academic preparation, including the secondary school record and GPA.

Applicants should check NCCU's current first-year admissions criteria and University of North Carolina system requirements for their intended entry term. SAT and ACT scores have not been required of every applicant in the reported admissions data, but testing rules can change and may depend on an applicant's academic record. Among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, the reported median was 1040 on the SAT and 18 on the ACT; only a minority submitted either test, so those medians do not describe the entire entering class.

Recommendations and class rank may be considered but are not generally required. Applicants whose prior education was not in English may need to document English proficiency; international applicants should check the university's accepted tests and any separate document requirements. Nursing, law, graduate study, and other selective programs may have additional admissions steps.

In the reported first-year admissions cycle, NCCU admitted about 87% of applicants. That figure describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's likelihood of admission. Applicants should verify the deadline for their entry term rather than assuming that every program follows the same schedule.

What are the application fees and waivers at North Carolina Central University?

The reported undergraduate application fee is $50. An application fee is charged for processing an application; it is separate from tuition, a possible enrollment deposit, and orientation or housing charges.

Eligible applicants may be able to use an approved fee waiver, such as one associated with financial need or a participating college-application initiative. The accepted waiver method can depend on the application platform and applicant category. Before submitting payment, applicants seeking a waiver should check NCCU's current admissions instructions and arrange for any required counselor verification. Graduate and professional applicants should check their program's application process rather than assuming the undergraduate fee applies.

What types of ROTC programs are available at North Carolina Central University?

NCCU students have Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC participation options. Applicants should confirm the current host-unit arrangement, where instruction takes place, and whether courses require travel or cross-registration; participation in an ROTC program does not necessarily mean that every activity is held on NCCU's campus.

ROTC combines college coursework with military training. Scholarships may be available to eligible participants, but they have separate selection rules and can carry service obligations. A student interested in either branch should review that branch's medical, academic, citizenship, and contracting requirements before treating ROTC funding as part of an enrollment budget.

What are the requirements for transfer students at North Carolina Central University?

NCCU accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credit earned at other accredited colleges. Transfer admission and the acceptance of individual courses are separate decisions: an applicant can be admitted without every previous credit applying to the intended major.

Applicants should submit official transcripts from every college attended. NCCU's transfer criteria take account of completed transferable coursework and college GPA; students with relatively few college credits may also need to meet first-year admission requirements and supply a high school record. Transfer applicants can seek entry for fall, spring, or summer, subject to the deadlines for their term and program.

Before enrolling, students should request an official evaluation showing which courses transfer, which satisfy general education or major requirements, and how many NCCU credits remain. This is particularly important for sequenced majors such as nursing and education. Students arriving from a North Carolina community college should also ask how applicable statewide transfer agreements and NCCU program requirements interact.

What types of study abroad programs are available at North Carolina Central University?

NCCU offers international education opportunities, including study-abroad options that may take the form of faculty-led travel or study through an approved partner. The available destinations and terms can change from year to year.

Interested students should begin with NCCU's international education or study-abroad advising process before committing to a program. Academic approval is important: a course taken overseas may earn college credit without automatically satisfying a particular major requirement. Students should also ask how program charges, scholarships, and their individual financial aid packages would apply, especially when a third-party provider operates the program.

North Carolina Central University Admissions Factors

Avg. SAT
1040
ACT range
19–22
136
Acceptance rate
87%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
87%
North Carolina
75%
US
78%

11% of admitted students enrolled (1,753 of 15,972)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 6-11
ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

North Carolina Central University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 18,368
Admission
Total: 15,972
Enrolled
Total: 1,753
Women
Men

How to Apply to North Carolina Central University

Regular application deadline

July 11

Application fee

$50

Early Decision

No

North Carolina Central University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,251
Out-of-state: 486
International: 1

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,753
Transfer: 624

North Carolina Central University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1040

Median composite ACT score

18

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

20%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

14%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

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

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

North Carolina Central 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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