North Carolina Wesleyan University provides meaningful educational access for first-generation and low-income students in a supportive small college environment.
The university demonstrates commitment to student success through completion, though families should carefully consider long-term financial outcomes when making enrollment decisions.
North Carolina Wesleyan University is a small private nonprofit institution in Rocky Mount that serves a diverse student body with nearly 47% receiving Pell Grants and 47% being first-generation college students. While the university provides strong access for underrepresented students, the financial outcomes present challenges that families should understand clearly. Graduates earn a median of $45,873 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the bottom quartile nationally for long-term earnings among similar colleges.
The university's mobility quadrant designation as "Under-Resourced Institutions" reflects this tension between access and outcomes. Students from low-income backgrounds earn about $34,300 ten years out, which is below what similar students achieve at many peer institutions. However, the small college environment does provide intensive support, with completion rates for Pell students actually exceeding those of the general student body at 50% over eight years compared to 40% overall.
For families considering North Carolina Wesleyan, the key consideration is whether the personalized attention and community of a small private college justifies the financial investment given the modest earnings trajectory. The university does demonstrate a commitment to supporting first-generation and low-income students through completion, but the long-term economic outcomes require careful evaluation against the costs and debt levels involved.
North Carolina Wesleyan's program portfolio reflects a focus on practical, career-oriented fields, though earnings outcomes across all majors remain below national averages for college graduates. Business Administration dominates the university's offerings with 177 graduates annually, producing median earnings of $40,222 that represent the institution's strongest financial outcomes. The program's large scale makes it the economic engine of the university, though even these earnings lag behind business programs at peer institutions.
Corrections Administration, with 81 graduates, represents a unique specialization but shows concerning earnings outcomes at just $31,133 median income. Psychology, enrolling 68 students, produces similar earnings around $31,773, reflecting the challenges that liberal arts graduates face in the job market. The university's newest addition, Artificial Intelligence with 30 graduates, shows the highest individual earnings at $42,123, suggesting potential for growth in technology-related fields.
The overall pattern across programs indicates that while North Carolina Wesleyan provides education in relevant career fields, the earnings outcomes consistently underperform national benchmarks. Students should consider whether the specialized programs and small college environment justify the financial investment given the limited earning potential across the university's academic portfolio.
North Carolina Wesleyan University graduates face significant financial challenges in the years following college. With median earnings of $45,873 ten years after enrollment, graduates earn substantially less than peers at most similar institutions, placing the university in the bottom 20% nationally for long-term financial outcomes. The earnings trajectory shows modest growth from $38,939 at six years to the ten-year mark, suggesting limited upward mobility in the early career years.
The university's strongest financial outcomes come from Business Administration, which graduates 177 students annually with median earnings around $40,222. Artificial Intelligence, though a smaller program with 30 graduates, shows the highest individual earnings at $42,123. However, even these top-performing programs produce earnings that lag behind similar majors at peer institutions. Corrections Administration, the second-largest program with 81 graduates, shows particularly concerning outcomes with median earnings of just $31,133, while Psychology graduates earn around $31,773.
The overall pattern suggests that while North Carolina Wesleyan provides educational access, the long-term financial returns are limited across most program areas. Students considering the university should weigh the value of the small college experience against the reality that earnings will likely remain below national averages for college graduates, potentially making debt repayment more challenging over time.
North Carolina Wesleyan University's affordability picture is mixed, with relatively reasonable net prices but concerning debt levels given the earnings outcomes. Low-income students pay about $15,574 annually after aid, while middle-income families face costs around $17,786 per year. High-income families see net prices rise to $25,749, which reflects the university's effort to provide need-based assistance to lower-income students.
However, the debt burden creates significant long-term challenges. Typical graduates leave with $25,000 in federal student loan debt, and families often take on an additional $11,267 in Parent PLUS loans. While these amounts might seem manageable in isolation, they become problematic when considered alongside the university's below-average earnings outcomes. With median graduate earnings of $45,873, the standard loan payments represent a higher percentage of income than is typically considered sustainable, potentially creating financial stress for years after graduation.
North Carolina Wesleyan University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
