Admit rate has ranged 74%–80% over the last 5 years. 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.
High Point University is a private liberal arts institution in North Carolina that has rapidly gained attention for its lavish campus amenities, career-focused academics, and near-perfect job placement rates. With a 75% acceptance rate and an average SAT score of 1280 for admitted students, HPU attracts a predominantly female (62%) student body drawn to its business, engineering, and design programs. The university's 'extraordinary education' ethos—backed by a 99.2% career outcomes rate—comes at a steep price: $71,429 in total annual costs before aid.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
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
5,129
In-state tuition
$45,312
Out-of-state tuition
$45,312
Greek Orgs
17
Acceptance Rate
75%
4-Year Grad Rate
67%
Total Annual Cost
$71,429
Career Outcomes Rate
99.2%
Avg Financial Aid Package
$26,086
Median Earnings (6 Years)
$50,955
Student Body Gender Ratio
62% female, 38% male
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$61,389
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.6×
Median debt at graduation
$24,575
Graduation rate
74%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
70%
Pell (lower-income) share
25%
First-generation share
15%
Endowment / student
$34,560
Financial health
3.0 / 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.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
14
Per 1,000 students
2.73
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
103
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
35°F
Annual rain
45.6"
Annual snow
4.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
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
103
Scholarly works
2,925
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.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.7%
Bottom → top quintile
21%
From bottom quintile
8%
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at High Point University?
High Point University's acceptance rate is approximately 75% (High Point, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for High Point University?
Admitted students at High Point University typically score 1110–1320 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does High Point University cost?
At High Point University, the average net price (after aid) is about $38,707 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend High Point University?
High Point University enrolls approximately 5,129 undergraduate students.
Where is High Point University located?
High Point University is located in High Point, NC.
Admissions
High Point University admits about three-quarters of applicants (75% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. per US News), making it moderately selective. The incoming class averages a 3.52 unweighted GPA and 1280 SAT/27 ACT, with 68.33% of applicants admitted according to College Board data. Notably, 61% come from public high schools versus 39% from private schools, and the gender skew is pronounced: 62% female to 38% male. Unlike many peers, HPU doesn't publish a Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare., which some interpret as strategic opacity around admissions metrics.
HPU offers 64 undergraduate majors and 74 minors, with business, recreation/leisure studies, and engineering among the most popular. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, with standout programs in graphic design (B.A.) and mechanical engineering (B.S.). Small class sizes foster close professor-student relationships, a feature repeatedly highlighted in student reviews. The Princeton Review notes HPU's 'broad spectrum of academic coursework,' including 20+ graduate programs, though the undergraduate experience remains the core focus.
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.
Campus culture leans energetic and supportive, with 17 Greek organizations (including Alpha Chi Omega and Pi Kappa Alpha) anchoring social life. The university actively cultivates a 'caring campus culture,' per student testimonials, while basketball games—especially during March Madness—fuel school spirit. Residential life is central, with Tier 1 housing bundled into the $71K comprehensive cost. TikTok tours showcase amenities like a steakhouse-style dining hall, reflecting HPU's reputation for luxury-infused undergrad experiences.
HPU's 99.2% career outcomes rate (Class of 2024) is its crown jewel, verified by NACE as the highest in North Carolina. Median earnings six years post-graduation sit at $50,955, though one-year post-grad earnings average $36,427. The 67% four-year graduation rate outpaces many regional peers, and 98% of 2021 graduates secured jobs or further education within six months—14 points above the national average. ROI critiques exist (EDsmart notes a -68.7% return rate), but the near-guaranteed job placement resonates with career-focused families.
At $71,429 annually (tuition, fees, premium housing, and food), HPU positions itself as a high-touch, high-cost institution. The average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid drops to $43,578, with 43.51% of students receiving financial aid averaging $26,086 per package. Merit scholarships are a key lever—the Business Fellows program is particularly competitive—but the sticker price remains daunting. The university's net price calculator helps families estimate true costs, though the premium pricing reflects HPU's bet that families will pay for guaranteed outcomes.
HPU has engineered a distinctive model: part liberal arts college, part career accelerator, with country-club-caliber amenities. Its 99.2% job placement rate—nearly unmatched nationally—justifies the premium price for many families, while the 17:1 student-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention. The campus vibe blends Southern charm with aspirational luxury (think steak dinners and resort-style housing), creating a culture where students expect both academic rigor and concierge-level support. For those who can stomach the cost, HPU delivers on the promise of a near-guaranteed ROI in today's competitive job market.
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