Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Carolina University #773 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,633 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Carolina University in the 12.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Carolina University #717 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Carolina University #773 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Winston-Salem, NC, Carolina University enrolls roughly 460 undergraduates. Retention is 56.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 21.6%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Carolina University draws strength from its distinctive mission and program portfolio. 37.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.7% are first-generation college students, anchoring the institution's access profile. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,812, and Carolina University sits in the 12.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Carolina University #717 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program mix centers on Theology, a field that shapes both its identity and its graduate outcomes. As a smaller, mission-driven institution, Carolina University offers the personalized educational environment typical of master's universities while maintaining competitive earnings outcomes relative to peer institutions. Affordability sits in the 66.9 percentile and access in the 54.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, positioning the institution as a values-aligned choice for students seeking strong academic outcomes within a faith-rooted educational community.
Carolina University's published cost of attendance is $32,680. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $17,738, middle-income families pay around $22,993, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,152. Azimuth ranks Carolina University #473 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Carolina University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through the FAFSA and institutional processes. The difference between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated need through grants and scholarships. Families should review the net price illusion to understand how sticker price and actual out-of-pocket cost diverge. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,287, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,554; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,812, median federal debt of $20,287 projects to a monthly payment of about $229 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Carolina University is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in NC and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks Carolina University #771 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,812, placing Carolina University in the 12.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,633 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 12.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $32,680. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $17,738, middle-income families pay around $22,993, higher-income families pay approximately $24,152. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Carolina University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Carolina University's published cost of attendance is $32,680. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $17,738, middle-income families pay around $22,993, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,152.
Azimuth ranks Carolina University #473 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Carolina University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through the FAFSA and institutional processes. The difference between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated need through grants and scholarships.
Families should review the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how sticker price and actual out-of-pocket cost diverge. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,287, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,554; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,812, median federal debt of $20,287 projects to a monthly payment of about $229 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Carolina University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,812, placing the institution in the 12.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,633 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Carolina University in the 12.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Carolina University #717 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Carolina University's concentration in Theology.
Bible/Biblical Studies is the largest program with 39 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $56,995, representing 1.3x the national benchmark for the field. Business Administration and Criminal Justice follow as substantial program clusters, with Interdisciplinary Studies rounding out the core academic portfolio.
This focused program mix — anchored in Theology — drives the institution's distinctive earnings profile and long-term financial outcomes for graduates.
Bible/Biblical Studies
39 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
31 graduates
Carolina University's program mix is anchored in theology and religious studies — a signature aligned with the institution's identity as a private faith-based university. Bible/Biblical Studies is the largest program with 39 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 92 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in Theology and applied professional fields.
Bible/Biblical Studies leads with median earnings of $56,995 four years after enrollment, with 39 graduates. Bible/Biblical Studies, the largest program, generates median earnings of $56,995 four years after enrollment, anchoring the institution's economic profile through scale and consistent outcomes.
The program distribution — with Business representing 30% of degrees and Education at 4% — reflects Carolina University's positioning as a faith-centered institution with a portfolio extending into education, business, and health-related fields. Several of these programs serve grad-school-dependent pathways, particularly within theology and religious studies, where four-year earnings reflect early-career outcomes before many graduates pursue advanced theological or pastoral education.
Programs in education and business represent more direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Carolina University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Appalachian State University Higher acceptance rate (50.6 percentage points higher) and located 80 miles away; similar median earnings four years after completion | NC | 90% | $54,010 | Compare |
Greensboro College Same state (25 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | NC | 70% | $51,898 | Compare |
Johnson C Smith University Similar admission rate (5.7 percentage points difference); located 68 miles away | NC | 45% | $46,511 | Compare |
William & Mary 52.3% higher median earnings four years after completion with similar cost | VA | 34% | $80,445 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro 47.4% lower net price with nearly identical earnings; located 25 miles away | NC | 89% | $51,594 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sweet Briar College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $52366 versus $52812; same region (Southeast) | VA | 76% | $52,366 | #1091 |
Wesleyan College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $52803 versus $52812; same region (Southeast) | GA | 59% | $52,803 | #901 | Compare |
Kentucky Christian University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $52466 versus $52812; same region (Southeast) | KY | 61% | $52,466 | #1332 | Compare |
Salem College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $49227 versus $52812; same region (Southeast) | NC | 77% | $49,227 | #915 | Compare |
Brescia University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $51492 versus $52812; same region (Southeast) | KY | 35% | $51,492 | #668 | Compare |
