Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #1101 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #1176 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for students from a range of backgrounds. --- Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #1101 for overall value on Azimuth's composite, reflecting balanced performance across access, mobility and return on investment. The institution's 34.7 percentile ranking for earnings beyond expectations highlights its ability to support graduates in outperforming peers.
Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #1101 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, North Carolina Wesleyan University enrolls roughly 1,214 undergraduates. Retention stands at 58.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 42.0%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where North Carolina Wesleyan University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #1319 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing North Carolina Wesleyan University in the 34.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business and related fields that lead directly into stable career pathways with solid long-term financial returns. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. North Carolina Wesleyan University sits in the 61.1 percentile for access and the 62.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 49.8% Pell-eligible students and 46.8% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a regional student population. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 20.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students focused on clear, predictable financial outcomes and a business-oriented curriculum in a regional setting, North Carolina Wesleyan University offers a straightforward path to degree completion and early-career earnings growth.
North Carolina Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $49,974. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,114, middle-income families pay around $16,017, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,379. Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #535 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary, and some families in each band pay more or less than the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,146; 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 $48,447, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
North Carolina Wesleyan University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private nonprofit college experience in NC. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $48,447, placing North Carolina Wesleyan University in the 9.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 34.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 49.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 46.8% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place North Carolina Wesleyan University in the 7.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 80.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a clear pathway to post-graduation value.
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 North Carolina Wesleyan 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.
North Carolina Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $49,974. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,114, middle-income families pay around $16,017, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,379.
Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #535 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary, and some families in each band pay more or less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,146; 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 $48,447, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Wesleyan University earn median 4-year earnings of $48,447, placing North Carolina Wesleyan University in the 9.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,448 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing North Carolina Wesleyan University in the 34.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks North Carolina Wesleyan University #1319 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects North Carolina Wesleyan University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 173 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,983, performing at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. The Criminal Justice program graduates 89 students with median 4-year earnings of $43,805, and Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $41,976 across 55 graduates.
These programs anchor the institution's return profile and align with the regional labor market demand in the Rocky Mount area and broader North Carolina employment centers.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allegheny College Similar quality tier (#30617 ranked) | PA | 55% | $62,069 | #30617 | Compare |
Bethany College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30613 ranked) | WV | 59% | $44,512 | #30613 | Compare |
Randolph-Macon College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30619 ranked) | VA | 87% | $58,448 | #30619 | Compare |
Faulkner University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30612 ranked) | AL | 73% | $43,457 | #30612 | Compare |
Oral Roberts University Similar quality tier (#30621 ranked) | OK | 99% | $46,885 | #30621 | Compare |
Computer and Information Sciences, General
33 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
30 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
173 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
8 graduates
Marketing
12 graduates
North Carolina Wesleyan University's program mix centers on business, education, and applied professional fields — a portfolio aligned with the institution's regional mission and career-focused identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 173 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice, Psychology, General, Artificial Intelligence, and Accounting.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 487 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional fields.
Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $53,598 four years after enrollment across 33 graduates, followed by Accounting with $53,327 and Business Administration with $50,983. Teacher Education and Digital Marketing round out the highest-earning programs, each delivering solid mid-career outcomes.
The concentration in Business — representing 43% of graduates — is reflected in these earnings leaders, which cluster in applied business and professional-services pathways. Several of these programs are high-mobility direct-to-workforce fields where graduates enter regional and national labor markets immediately, while others support graduate-school pathways where four-year earnings reflect early-career outcomes before advanced-degree completion.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how North Carolina Wesleyan University's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in North Carolina and beyond.
