Admit rate has ranged 67%–87% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Chowan University is a small, private Baptist-affiliated institution in rural Murfreesboro, North Carolina, offering a classic, close-knit residential experience. It operates as a practical, accessible option for students seeking a supportive environment, with a focus on undergraduate teaching in fields like business, criminal justice, and sport science. The university's profile is defined by its high acceptance rate, modest costs, and a significant focus on providing financial aid, though it contends with low graduation rates that prospective students must weigh against its community feel and personalized approach.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
603
In-state tuition
$27,910
Out-of-state tuition
$27,910
Graduation Rate
30%
Early Decision Plan
Not reported
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Median Earnings (10yr)
$38,412
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$38,412
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.7×
Median debt at graduation
$29,491
Graduation rate
30%
First-year retention
71%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
31%
Pell (lower-income) share
57%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
37%
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,363
Graphic Communications$35,060
Business Administration, Management and Operations$28,598
Criminal Justice and Corrections$28,366
Social Sciences, General$28,366
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
2
Per 1,000 students
2.96
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
107
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
37°F
Annual rain
45.7"
Annual snow
2.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
21
Scholarly works
133
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Chowan University?
Chowan University's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Murfreesboro, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Chowan University cost?
At Chowan University, the average net price (after aid) is about $14,086 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Chowan University?
Chowan University enrolls approximately 603 undergraduate students.
Where is Chowan University located?
Chowan University is located in Murfreesboro, NC.
Admissions
Chowan University maintains an accessible admissions process characterized as "less selective." The university accepts a significant majority of its applicants, with reported clustering around the high 60s to low 70s percent. Admitted students typically present academic profiles that are modest relative to national benchmarks. The middle 50% SAT score range for admitted students is reported as 880–1085 or 880–1145, and the ACT range is 17–25. The average high school GPA of entering students is approximately 2.89. The university does not have a binding Early Decision plan, and sources indicate that demonstrated interest is "not considered" in the admissions evaluation, as reflected in Section C7. The process is straightforward, with a focus on making higher education attainable for a broad range of students.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$26,121
Biology, General$24,615
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$23,340
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Chowan provides a focused undergraduate curriculum through a limited set of majors and departments, emphasizing personalized attention and academic flexibility. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees. Its academic structure is built around departments including Biology, Business, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Graphic Design, Music, Psychology, and Sport Science. The most popular majors consistently reflect a career-oriented and practical focus:
Business Administration and Management
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
Liberal Arts and Humanities
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
The university touts the benefits of a smaller academic environment, including the ability for students to explore interests before committing to a major, smaller class sizes that foster discussion, and strong faculty advising. This model is presented as an alternative to larger institutions with vast major catalogs, prioritizing mentorship and a supportive learning community over sheer variety.
Life at Chowan is deliberately centered on a close-knit, residential campus community rooted in tradition and connection. The Office of Student Life aims to enhance the student experience through quality programming, activities, and comprehensive leadership development. The campus culture is described as a "safe haven" where students are embraced by a culture of care, collaboration, and community from the moment they arrive. Located in the small town of Murfreesboro, the university's setting is rural but within reach of regional attractions. It's easily accessible, located less than 30 miles from Interstate 95 and about a ninety-minute drive from the Outer Banks. The area offers recreational opportunities like boating, fishing, hunting, and bicycling. The overall vibe is one of a tightly integrated community where building friendships and participating in campus life are central to the experience.
Student outcomes at Chowan University present a significant challenge. The institution has very low graduation rates, which are a defining characteristic in external assessments. The overall six-year graduation rate is reported at 28% or 29%, placing the university in the bottom percentile nationally for completion rates. The four-year graduation rate is even lower. Post-graduation, median earnings for alumni ten years after starting their studies are $38,412. These figures underscore a critical consideration for prospective students: while the university offers accessibility and support, persistence to degree completion is not the norm for the majority of its entering classes.
Chowan University positions itself as an affordable private option, heavily leveraging financial aid to reduce the for students. The university's Financial Aid Department awards over $30 million in aid annually, and it states that 100% of its students receive some type of financial aid. The net price—the average cost after aid and scholarships—is a key selling point. Published figures for this average net price include $15,125 and $15,845. Aid is offered through a combination of scholarships, grants, and loans. The university also provides flexible payment plans to help families manage costs. There is no indication in the provided sources that Chowan has a "no-loan" policy or that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students; aid packages typically include loan components. The focus is on making the stated tuition more manageable through widespread aid distribution.
Chowan University stands out for its unwavering commitment to being a small-scale, supportive, and accessible gateway to higher education. In a landscape increasingly dominated by large, impersonal institutions and hyper-selective admissions, Chowan offers a distinct alternative: a place where nearly all applicants are welcomed, where 100% of students receive financial aid, and where the campus community is intentionally cultivated as a "safe haven." Its identity is not built on prestige or research output, but on providing a second-chance or first-step environment for students who might thrive with more personal attention. This comes with a sobering trade-off, as evidenced by its low graduation rates, which the university must actively work to improve. Ultimately, Chowan's distinctive profile is that of a mission-driven, teaching-focused community college in a private university setting, serving a specific student population that values close relationships and affordability above all else.
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