North Carolina A & T State University
North Carolina A & T State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
North Carolina A & T State University at a Glance
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public, historically black, land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System.
1891
135 years old
$202M
$202 million (2024)
15,275
900
200 acres
Identity
How to Apply to North Carolina A & T State University
Official admissions page$60
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is North Carolina A & T State University Worth It?
North Carolina A & T State University offers moderate value at $10,846/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $44,440, which is 17% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 56% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With median debt of $27,000 representing 61% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
How North Carolina A & T State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #22 of 78 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #4 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #5 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #6 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #22 | North Carolina A & T State University | 58 | $10,846 | $44,440 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of North Carolina A & T State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at North Carolina A & T State University
The highest-earning program at North Carolina A & T State University is Mechanical Engineering at $65,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Sociology at $21,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Mechanical Engineering graduate from North Carolina A & T State University earns $65,400, while a Sociology graduate earns $21,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Mechanical Engineering graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $35,558 for Sociology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,846/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $65,400 | $65,400 | $27,000 |
| Computer Science | $62,800 | $62,800 | $27,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $62,800 | $62,800 | $28,750 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $56,700 | $56,700 | $18,568 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $56,000 | $56,000 | $29,970 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,900 | $54,900 | $27,000 |
| Architectural Engineering | $49,900 | $49,900 | $27,000 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $46,000 | $46,000 | $31,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,600 | $41,600 | N/A |
| Marketing | $39,000 | $39,000 | $31,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $38,600 | $38,600 | $27,198 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $37,900 | $37,900 | $31,000 |
| Economics | $34,800 | $34,800 | $35,000 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $32,300 | $32,300 | $31,000 |
| Biology, General | $29,200 | $29,200 | $29,428 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,500 | $27,500 | $31,000 |
| Psychology, General | $25,700 | $25,700 | $28,963 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $25,500 | $25,500 | $28,200 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $24,500 | $24,500 | $30,750 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $24,200 | $24,200 | $30,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $24,000 | $24,000 | $31,000 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $23,100 | $23,100 | $31,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $22,600 | $22,600 | $28,469 |
| Social Work | $21,700 | $21,700 | $27,574 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $21,500 | $21,500 | $29,137 |
| Sociology | $21,000 | $21,000 | $35,558 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
- Student Body
- 12,182 students
- Admission Rate
- 50%
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,846
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $44,440
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000