Back to Colleges
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC 6,081 Undergrads 52.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,556
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,359
After Aid
Median Earnings
$50,812
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,359
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$50,812
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate52.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients63.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS60.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.0%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: -54075th: -
SAT Math
25th: -50075th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 191875th: 22
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$460k
-$6k
-$24k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$405k
-$62k
-$79k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$365k
-$102k
-$120k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-143%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-125%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-125%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-83%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,048
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,192
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,999
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,375
Earnings (4yr)
$43,230
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,053
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,443
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,054
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$28,375
Earnings (4yr)
$46,136
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,067
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$30,747
Earnings (4yr)
$48,047
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$27,108
Earnings (4yr)
$42,085
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,774
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$30,434
Earnings (4yr)
$42,426
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
BachCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$22,355
Earnings (4yr)
$88,454
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,317
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,160
Earnings (4yr)
$44,053
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$90,760
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,688
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,859
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,856
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,678
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,794
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,124
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Master's Degrees
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$59,393
Earnings (4yr)
$74,724
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$57,887
Earnings (4yr)
$65,600
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$49,707
Earnings (4yr)
$54,659
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$55,965
Earnings (4yr)
$72,023
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$64,318
Earnings (4yr)
$51,714
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$53,309
Earnings (4yr)
$77,440
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$40,625
Earnings (4yr)
$56,291
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$86,964
Earnings (4yr)
$59,513
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
MastCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
MastCIP: 5120
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$76,881
Earnings (4yr)
$57,573
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$62,084
Earnings (4yr)
$65,374
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$44,062
Earnings (4yr)
$57,082
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$49,394
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$80,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,412
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
DocCIP: 2699
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$117,597
Earnings (4yr)
$83,361
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.