
Fayetteville, NCpublicuncfsu.edu
Admit rate has ranged 69%–82% 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.
Fayetteville State University, a public HBCU in North Carolina, combines accessibility with strong regional value—accepting over 80% of applicants while ranking among the South's top affordable colleges. Known for its tight-knit, tradition-steeped campus culture and practical programs like nursing and business, FSU serves a predominantly in-state student body with median earnings outpacing many peers at $47K five years post-graduation.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
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.
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.
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.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Fayetteville State maintains an 82% acceptance rate, making it one of North Carolina's more accessible public universities. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 890-1093 on the SAT or 15-19 on the ACT, with 18% of enrollees holding GPAs of 3.75+. Notably, applicants with GPAs between 2.5 and 2.8 must submit test scores. The university enrolled 6,074 undergraduates in recent years, drawing heavily from within the state.
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.
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.
FSU offers 50+ undergraduate programs through colleges like Arts & Sciences and Business & Economics, with nursing, business administration, and criminal justice as the most popular majors. A standout is the 3+2 dual-degree chemistry program, granting both a BS from FSU and a chemical engineering degree from NC State in five years. The university emphasizes structured pathways, publishing four-year degree plans for all majors to guide students toward timely graduation.
Campus life thrives on Bronco pride, with traditions like homecoming and a vibrant Greek scene anchoring social life. Over 60% of students are Black, fostering a strong HBCU identity, while initiatives like the Office of Student Engagement host 200+ annual events—from step shows to leadership workshops. Housing options range from traditional dorms to apartment-style living, with residential communities emphasizing inclusivity and mentorship.
FSU's six-year graduation rate hovers at 35%, with women graduating at higher rates (38%) than men (27%). While below national averages, the university delivers strong ROI: alumni earn $47,162 median salaries five years out, outperforming many regional peers. Recent rankings placed FSU #2 in North Carolina and #7 in the South for value, aided by low debt loads (average $25,988 at graduation vs. national $37,831).
With in-state tuition under $5K/year, FSU is among the South's most affordable four-year schools. 83% of first-years receive aid, averaging $6,166 annually—often covering full tuition for Pell-eligible students. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $6,355 after grants, and employees' dependents qualify for tuition waivers.
FSU carves a niche as a high-access HBCU with military-adjacent advantages—its proximity to Fort Bragg fuels ROTC programs and veteran support. The chemistry/engineering pipeline and #7 Southern value ranking (Research.com) appeal to pragmatic students. Unlike larger UNC system schools, FSU offers tight professor relationships (17:1 ratio) and a campus where 94% know their financial aid officers by name. For North Carolinians seeking low-debt degrees with strong local networks, it's a hidden gem.