North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T State University prices its education accessibly across income levels, with meaningful differentiation by family financial need. Low-income families pay approximately $8,223 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,973, and higher-income families pay closer to $17,311.

Azimuth ranks North Carolina A & T State University #385 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid programs work together to keep costs manageable for students from a range of economic backgrounds, and the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay is a meaningful part of the affordability story at North Carolina A & T State University.

Need-based aid plays a central role in how North Carolina A & T State University prices for lower- and middle-income families. As a historically Black university with a strong Pell-eligible student population, the institution channels substantial federal, state, and institutional aid toward students who need it most, helping close the distance between the published cost of attendance of $20,427 and the net prices families actually face.

Families applying for aid use the FAFSA to establish eligibility, and the university participates in federal Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and state grant programs. For a fuller picture of how [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), Azimuth's analysis walks through the mechanics.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,004; 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 $56,996, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 North Carolina A & T State University earn median earnings of $56,996 four years after enrollment, placing North Carolina A & T State University in the 31.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $4,071 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 40.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to NC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 — the state median earnings of working adults without a college degree.

The degree mix at North Carolina A & T State University is anchored in Engineering, which accounts for 16% of graduates, followed by Business at 12% and Social Sciences at 3%. General Studies combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.

Azimuth ranks General Studies #105 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 162 graduates earning median earnings of $45,367. The Psychology, General program graduates 157 students with median earnings of $45,215, and Azimuth ranks Communication and Media Studies #124 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 145 graduates earning median earnings of $48,804.

Kinesiology and Business Administration round out the top programs, with median earnings of $42,978 and $60,863 respectively.

North Carolina A & T State University's program mix is anchored in Engineering, with depth in business, health, and liberal arts fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's land-grant HBCU identity and its strength in applied STEM disciplines. General Studies is the largest program with 162 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 157 graduates and Communication and Media Studies with 145 graduates.

Across 46 programs serving roughly 2,052 students annually, 35 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Engineering accounts for 16% of degree output, Business accounts for 12%, and Social Sciences accounts for 3%.

The strongest earnings come from health and engineering subfields. Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #218 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 82 graduates earning $85,463.

Azimuth ranks Nursing #260 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 83 graduates earning $81,704. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #279 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 117 graduates earning $60,863.

The General Studies program combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay — Azimuth ranks it #105 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $45,367. Engineering and nursing programs channel graduates into high-mobility career pathways where median four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market outcomes, while Psychology, General and Communication and Media Studies serve broader applied-professional roles with median early-career pay of $45,215 and $48,804 respectively.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how North Carolina A & T State University's engineering and health-sciences concentration aligns with sectors showing sustained national hiring demand. For details on [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), see the methodology overview.