Fayetteville State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It enrolls 5,762 students (a large 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes32
Value91
Affordability93
Selectivity21
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82.2%, Fayetteville State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
890 – 1090
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 19
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Fayetteville State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fayetteville State 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 $7,892 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,892
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
57%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
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 (in-state)
$4,353
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,353
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,449
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,449
Books & Supplies
$372
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,784
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,784
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,652
Application fee: $50 (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
$6,233
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,908
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,983
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,354
Over $110,000
$14,112
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.
$3,80010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$22,987Medianpercentile
$29,27975%percentile
$40,05790%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 $16,844
↓ $6,143
No Pell $12,500
↓ $10,487
Dependent students $15,607
↓ $7,380
Independent students $16,029
↓ $6,958
Female students $16,241
↓ $6,746
Male students $14,868
↓ $8,119
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,596, less than completers ($22,987), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Fayetteville State University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fayetteville State University earn a median of $40,144 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,144
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
25.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 55% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fayetteville State University is home to 5,762 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,762
Part-Time
24%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 64.1%3,692
White 13.9%803
Hispanic 9.8%565
Other 7.2%415
International 1.3%77
Asian 1.2%71
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fayetteville State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityFayetteville, North Carolina
Housing
Partly residential1,485 beds available
Adult Learners
38%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Fayetteville State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
43 distinct programs across
17 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 Fayetteville State University is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,639
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$31M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$80,617
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
251 instructional faculty across 6 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
78
31%
$91,531
Associate Professors
72
29%
$79,575
Assistant Professors
39
16%
$87,434
Instructors
4
2%
$64,875
Lecturers
38
15%
$65,759
No Rank
20
8%
$62,597
Pros & Cons of Fayetteville State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fayetteville State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Fayetteville State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fayetteville State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fayetteville State University.
Is Fayetteville State University hard to get into?
Fayetteville State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Fayetteville State University?
Fayetteville State University has an acceptance rate of 82.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fayetteville State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fayetteville State University scored between 890 and 1090 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Fayetteville State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fayetteville State University scored between 15 and 19 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Fayetteville State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fayetteville State University is $7,892 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fayetteville State University worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,144 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,892 per year. That's roughly 5.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fayetteville State University known for?
Fayetteville State University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fayetteville State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fayetteville State University are $40,144, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fayetteville State University accredited?
Yes. Fayetteville State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Fayetteville State University?
Fayetteville State University enrolls 5,762 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fayetteville State University?
Fayetteville State University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fayetteville State University a public or private college?
Fayetteville State University is a Public institution.
Where is Fayetteville State University located?
Fayetteville State University is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
What programs does Fayetteville State University offer?
Fayetteville State University offers 43 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fayetteville State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fayetteville State University is 19:1, 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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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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$7,892 Lowest Net
$20,713 Avg Net
89 UCD Score
$101,817 Top Earn
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