Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,184 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
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
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes27
Value7
Affordability55
Selectivity26
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79.9%, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
880 – 1130
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 23
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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
9.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 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 $27,426 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,426
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
81%
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
$42,419
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,200
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,958
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,958
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,022
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
$23,414
$30,001 – $48,000
$24,568
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,109
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,117
Over $110,000
$33,680
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.
$3,66610%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$28,30075%percentile
$37,75090%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 $18,991
↓ $7,009
No Pell $12,500
↓ $13,500
Dependent students $16,502
↓ $9,498
Independent students $15,482
↓ $10,518
Female students $16,750
↓ $9,250
Male students $15,500
↓ $10,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte earn a median of $43,418 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,418
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$38,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,500, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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 ↑
7.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is home to 1,184 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,184
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 41.8%495
White 33.5%397
Hispanic 13.3%158
Other 4.4%52
Asian 1.6%19
International 1.1%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityCharlotte, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential698 beds on campus
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte offers
a varied set of programs:
13 distinct programs across
7 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$29M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$93,803
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
76 instructional faculty across 4 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
18
24%
$113,261
Associate Professors
37
49%
$91,980
Assistant Professors
19
25%
$81,423
Instructors
2
3%
$70,000
Pros & Cons of Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte hard to get into?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte has an acceptance rate of 79.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte scored between 880 and 1130 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte scored between 16 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte cost?
The average net price after aid at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is $27,426 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,418 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,426 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte known for?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is best known for its programs in Culinary Arts, Foods & Nutrition, Entrepreneurship. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte are $43,418, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte accredited?
Yes. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte enrolls 1,184 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte a public or private college?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte located?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
What programs does Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte offer?
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte offers 13 distinct programs. The most popular include Culinary Arts, Foods & Nutrition, Entrepreneurship.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is 12:1, 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.
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Visual & Performing Arts
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