Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Livingstone College #1144 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,924 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 18.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Livingstone College #1424 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Livingstone College #1144 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone College enrolls roughly 924 undergraduates. Retention stands at 70.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 28.2%, reflecting the institution's commitment to student completion. Livingstone College serves a student body with significant economic and first-generation representation. 82.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.2% are first-generation college students, positioning the institution as a meaningful access point for students from lower-income and non-college-educated backgrounds. Graduates earn about $10,924 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Livingstone College in the 18.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Livingstone College #1436 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength centers on mobility outcomes for its student population. Livingstone College sits in the 3.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the university's ability to move graduates into sustainable career pathways despite modest starting earnings. With Business as the dominant program family, Livingstone College anchors its academic portfolio in fields with direct labor-market alignment. Affordability and access remain important dimensions of the composite, positioning Livingstone College as a value-oriented choice for students seeking a private education with meaningful financial aid and strong support for upward mobility.
Livingstone College's published cost of attendance is $28,305. Net price by income band varies across the student population: low-income families pay approximately $13,860, middle-income families pay around $11,028, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,018. Azimuth ranks Livingstone College #681 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. Livingstone College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college works with families to bridge the gap between sticker price and what students actually pay through a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $31,125, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,088; 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 the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $37,280, median federal debt of $31,125 projects to a monthly payment of about $352 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Livingstone College is a good fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private nonprofit college experience in Salisbury, NC. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $37,280, placing Livingstone College in the 1.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,924 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 18.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 82.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.2% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Livingstone College in the 4.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 59.2% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors business fields over STEM or health-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a supportive environment at Livingstone College.
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 Livingstone College 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.
Livingstone College's published cost of attendance is $28,305. Net price by income band varies across the student population: low-income families pay approximately $13,860, middle-income families pay around $11,028, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,018.
Azimuth ranks Livingstone College #681 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.
Livingstone College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The college works with families to bridge the gap between sticker price and what students actually pay through a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $31,125, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,088; 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 the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $37,280, median federal debt of $31,125 projects to a monthly payment of about $352 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 Livingstone College earn median 4-year earnings of $37,280, placing Livingstone College in the 1.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,924 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Livingstone College in the 18.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Livingstone College #1436 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and applied professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 20 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,328, performing at 0.6x the national benchmark for the field. The Social Work program graduates 18 students earning $46,945, while Kinesiology with 17 graduates earns $41,765.
These programs reflect Livingstone College's concentration in Business, which anchors the institution's earnings profile and connects graduates to stable career pathways in business, management, and related professional fields.
Social Work
18 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
17 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
9 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
20 graduates
Biology, General
16 graduates
Livingstone College's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready education. Business Administration is the largest program with 20 graduates, followed by Social Work, Kinesiology, Biology, General, and Criminal Justice.
Across 9 programs, the institution concentrates on fields that lead directly into workforce entry and professional advancement. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional-services fields.
Social Work graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,945 with 18 graduates, representing the institution's highest-earning pathway. Kinesiology graduates earn $41,765, while Artificial Intelligence delivers median earnings of $41,458.
These programs reflect Livingstone College's strength in preparing students for immediate labor-market entry in fields with stable demand and clear career progression. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories.
Business represents the dominant concentration, positioning Livingstone College as an applied-professional institution aligned with regional employer needs in North Carolina. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with current labor-market demand and wage trends.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Talladega College Higher acceptance rate (25.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | AL | 99% | $32,229 | Compare |
Alabama State University Higher acceptance rate (21.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | AL | 96% | $34,502 | Compare |
Carolina University Same state (32 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | NC | 34% | $32,864 | Compare |
Bennett College Same state (48 miles away) (earnings difference: 12.4%); same institution type | NC | 34% | $36,654 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts Same state (31 miles away) (earnings difference: 17.7%) | NC | 33% | $38,357 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwestern University Similar quality tier (#32766 ranked) | TX | 43% | $56,878 | #32766 | Compare |
Alfred University Similar quality tier (#32762 ranked) | NY | 74% | $54,897 | #32762 | Compare |
Cornerstone University Similar quality tier (#32761 ranked) | MI | 78% | $47,314 | #32761 | Compare |
University Of Lynchburg Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32759 ranked) | VA | 43% | $56,380 | #32759 | Compare |
Bridgewater College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32776 ranked) | VA | 92% | $53,453 | #32776 | Compare |
