Cost & financial aid brief
North Carolina Central University Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does North Carolina Central University cost after financial aid?
Aid covers about 42% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. The pattern across income bands shows lower average net prices at lower incomes, though the difference is not steep.
The lowest band averages $13,032, while the highest averages $23,658, a spread of $10,626. The middle bands sit between those two ends.
The university's affordability rank of #630 places it near the middle of nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure reduces costs for lower-income families, but the still runs above the peer median.
The published cost of attendance is $26,556, with in-state tuition and fees at $6,699 and room and board at $13,450. Azimuth ranks North Carolina Central University #630 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
After grants and scholarships, the average net price for aid recipients from families earning under $30,000 is $13,032, for those earning $48,001 to $75,000 it is $17,527, and for those earning over $110,000 it is $23,658. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $10,626.
Aid covers about 42% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, a savings of $11,197 against the sticker price. The average net price across all aid recipients is $15,359, which is $1,291 above the median of $14,068 for comparable institutions (same type and size).
Borrowers who complete a degree carry a median of $28,250 in federal student loans. That is $7,021 above the peer median of $21,229 for comparable institutions.
90.3% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. Parents who borrow through the Parent PLUS program hold a separate median of $19,245.
If repaid over ten years, the median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $321 a month.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
One quarter of borrowers who complete finish with $10,250 or less in federal student loans. The median is $28,250, and one quarter finish with $35,500 or more.
That spread shows a wide range of debt levels among those who finish, from modest balances to substantial obligations. The median sits $7,021 above the $21,229 level for comparable institutions (same type and size).
90.3% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. That share reflects how common federal borrowing is.
Parent borrowers are a separate population. The median for that group is $19,245.
Federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $50,812 four years after completing a degree at North Carolina Central University. That earnings level is at the 20th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Graduates earn about $1,364 less than expects for similar students. The gap sits at the 50th percentile.
Earnings scenarios, estimated from the program mix, show a typical outcome of $50,812, a downside of $43,397 and an upside of $74,787. Completers who borrowed hold a median of $28,250 in federal debt, $7,021 above the peer median of $21,229 for comparable institutions (same type and size).
If repaid over ten years, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $321 a month.
For the separate population of parent borrowers, median Parent PLUS borrowing is $19,245. For student borrowers, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $321 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $19,245
- Estimated parent payment
- $245/mo
| Household income | Share of income above basic expenses | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $50,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $75,000 | 14.4% | High pressure |
| $100,000 | 6.5% | Caution |
| $150,000 | 3.1% | Safe |
| $200,000 | 2.0% | Safe |
The 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS balance, as a share of household income above basic expenses ($54,640 a year: 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline for a household of three). No room is High pressure. Open the parent tool for your own numbers. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $28,250
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $19,245
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $321/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $245/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $566/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $50,812, with a $23,940 annual allowance for basic expenses:
14.3% of income above the allowance · Concerning
- Excellent Under 8%
- Good 8–under 12%
- Concerning 12–20% · selected scenario
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $23,940, uses the published framework’s 2026 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.