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Asheville, NC · Durham, NC
| University of North Carolina Asheville | North Carolina Central University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $12,250/yr | $15,359/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,219/yr | $13,032/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,500 | $28,250 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,735/yr | $13,882/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,570/yr | $17,527/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $15,854/yr | $22,401/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,786/yr | $23,658/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $217/mo | $299/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,992/yr | $13,450/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,992/yr | $11,213/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $1,500/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,250/yr | $6,416/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $21,685/yr | $26,556/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,501/yr | $6,699/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $24,849/yr | $19,735/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 32% | 59% |
| Students taking federal loans | 39% | 63% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 92% | 87% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1170–1360 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1251 | 1050 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 23–29 | 19–22 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 22–30 · Math 20–26 | English 16–21 · Math 17–23 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 5,465 | 14,192 |
| Students accepted | 5,131 | 12,842 |
| Students who enrolled | 630 | 1,465 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 12% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 10% | 1% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 23% | 1% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 54% | 42% |
| Freshmen who come back | 72% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,030/yr | $42,968/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $28,212–$63,894 | $26,776–$60,270 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 62% | 51% |
| White students graduating | 56% | 43% |
| Black students graduating | 42% | 42% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 56% | 45% |
| Asian students graduating | 42% | 100% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $36,947/yr | $35,967/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 64% | 60% |
| Graduate on time | 43% | 26% |
| Pell students who graduate | 49% | 39% |
| First-gen students who finish | 60% | 52% |
| Low-income students who finish | 59% | 50% |
| Students who transfer out | 34% | 33% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $41,255/yr | $38,793/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Visual & Performing Arts 18% · Psychology 14% · Social Sciences 10% | Social Sciences 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 11% |
| Most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 18% of degrees | Social Sciences — 15% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 14% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Social Sciences — 10% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Natural Resources & Conservation — 7% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Engineering, General — $73,410/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $76,142/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 17% | 12% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,910 | 6,081 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 24 | 1,984 |
| Average professor pay | $9,155/mo | $9,555/mo |
| Full-time professors | 83% | 68% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $44,221 | $27,183 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (large) |
| Location | Asheville, NC | Durham, NC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1927 | 1909 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| Men | 41% | 30% |
| Women | 59% | 70% |
| White students | 73% | 3.8% |
| Black students | 6% | 84% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 10% | 5.7% |
| Asian students | 2% | 0.8% |
| Two or more races | 4.2% | 3.9% |
| Other / not reported | 2.9% | 1.2% |
| Special type | None | HBCU |
| First-generation students | 22% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 8% | 12% |
| Students age 25+ | 16% | 15% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,642/yr | $12,526/yr |
| Endowment | $75.6M | $59.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,563 | 3,375 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,130/yr | $9,404/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,888/yr | $5,356/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | No |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I without football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 292 | 282 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.3M | $5.0M |
| Athletics budget | $9.0M | $15.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $9.2M | $15.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $140,645 | $74,862 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.