Carolina University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It enrolls 460 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorTransnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes4
Value7
Affordability54
Selectivity89
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 39.5%, Carolina University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
39.5%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Carolina University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carolina University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,828 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,828
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$17,575
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,400
Books & Supplies
$2,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$32,680
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,738
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,560
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,993
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,597
Over $110,000
$24,152
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,287Medianpercentile
$16,12575%percentile
$25,95090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,635
↓ $7,652
No Pell $7,500
↓ $12,787
Dependent students $10,250
↓ $10,037
Independent students $16,500
↓ $3,787
Female students $9,500
↓ $10,787
Male students $12,635
↓ $7,652
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,417, less than completers ($20,287), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
13% of full-time students who enrolled at Carolina University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
13%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carolina University earn a median of $32,864 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,864
Earning > $25K
54%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.6 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Carolina University is home to 460 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
460
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
International 33.5%154
White 28.3%130
Black 18.0%83
Hispanic 12.0%55
Other 6.3%29
Asian 2.0%9
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carolina University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential225 beds on campus
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Carolina University offers
a varied set of programs:
17 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carolina University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$2.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$46,169
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
29 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
5
17%
$56,400
Assistant Professors
20
69%
$44,558
Lecturers
4
14%
$41,437
Pros & Cons of Carolina University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carolina University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Carolina University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carolina University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carolina University.
Is Carolina University hard to get into?
Carolina University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 39.5%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Carolina University?
Carolina University has an acceptance rate of 39.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Carolina University cost?
The average net price after aid at Carolina University is $20,828 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carolina University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,864 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,828 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carolina University known for?
Carolina University is best known for its programs in Theology, Business Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carolina University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carolina University are $32,864, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carolina University accredited?
Yes. Carolina University is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.
How many students attend Carolina University?
Carolina University enrolls 460 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carolina University?
Carolina University graduates 13% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carolina University a public or private college?
Carolina University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Carolina University located?
Carolina University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
What programs does Carolina University offer?
Carolina University offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Theology, Business Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carolina University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carolina University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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