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Is North Carolina Central University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for North Carolina Central, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
North Carolina Central sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $42,968 helps, but median debt of $28,250 plus yearly net price of $15,359 creates a tighter path. For context, North Carolina Central's net price is about 6% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$13,884
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $730 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $3,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$15,359
Median earnings 10 years out
$42,968
Median debt at graduation
$28,250
Graduation rate
44%
At North Carolina Central, a typical graduate carries about $28,250 in student debt and earns roughly $42,968 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $321 per month, or 9% of pre-tax income. That sits at the tighter end of a workable borrower range.
What this means for your family
North Carolina Central is a public four year school in Durham, NC. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Worth-It Score: 73/100
Median net price: $15,435
Public 4-year
East Carolina
Greenville, NC
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $15,739
Public 4-year
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $14,906
Public 4-year
Appalachian State
Boone, NC
Worth-It Score: 70/100
Median net price: $16,836
Public 4-year
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Worth-It Score: 85/100
Median net price: $17,303
Common questions about North Carolina Central
The median net price at North Carolina Central is $15,359 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in North Carolina? See the most affordable public universities in North Carolina →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →