

Louisburg, NCprivate nonprofitlouisburg.edu
Admit rate has ranged 32%–86% 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.
Louisburg College, North Carolina's only two-year residential college, offers a tight-knit academic community with a focus on preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions. With an acceptance rate hovering around 40-56%, it provides accessible pathways to higher education through eight specialized degree programs, though its 33% graduation rate reflects the challenges typical of open-access institutions. The college distinguishes itself with strong student support services and a residential experience that fosters personal growth.
Test-blind — scores not considered
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
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.
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
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.
Louisburg College maintains a moderately selective admissions process, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 32.04% to 56% across different reporting sources. The college considers a broad range of applicants, with typical ACT scores falling between 13-19 and SAT scores between 770-990. Unlike institutions with open admission policies, Louisburg evaluates applicants holistically, placing particular emphasis on high school performance over standardized test scores. Recent data shows 998 applications resulted in 557 acceptances and 402 enrollments, suggesting a YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. rate of about 72% among admitted students.
The college offers eight focused degree paths: Agricultural Studies, Business, Environmental Science, General College, General Science, Health Science, Liberal Arts, and specialized transfer programs. Liberal Arts and Humanities dominates as the most popular major (42 graduates), followed by Business (36) and Biology (19). With a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, Louisburg emphasizes personalized attention, though its academic offerings remain limited compared to four-year institutions. The curriculum is designed explicitly for students planning to transfer, with over 90% of graduates continuing their education elsewhere.
As North Carolina's only two-year residential college, Louisburg fosters an immersive campus experience. The college promotes its "supportive and close-knit community" through intentional programming in residence life, student engagement, and spiritual life. Research suggests students living on campus report more positive experiences, though specific housing statistics aren't provided. The small size enables frequent faculty interaction, while offerings like dining services, health/wellness resources, and campus safety aim to create a comprehensive living-learning environment.
Louisburg's graduation rates present a mixed picture: reported figures range from 22% to 39%, with the college's official scorecard citing 33% (slightly above the 30% midpoint for two-year schools). The institution emphasizes its transfer mission, noting most graduates continue at four-year colleges. Early-career outcomes show modest median earnings ($34,818 at six years post-graduation), though data is limited. Notably, 73.35% of students persist beyond their first year, suggesting stronger retention than graduation rates might indicate.
After aid, 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. stands at $25,326, with students receiving approximately $10,587 in financial assistance on average. The college offers various funding options including Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. (via FAFSA), merit scholarships emphasizing academic performance, and athletic awards. Their net price calculator helps families estimate costs, though officials caution it's not a formal aid application. At $15,000 average annual cost after aid, Louisburg sits above the $9,000 midpoint for two-year schools, reflecting its residential model.
Louisburg occupies a unique niche as North Carolina's sole two-year residential college, blending community college accessibility with traditional campus life. Its 90%+ transfer rate to four-year institutions demonstrates effective preparation for baccalaureate study, while the 15:1 faculty ratio ensures personalized attention rare at public two-year schools. The college's historic focus on student support—from residence life to spiritual programming—creates an unusually cohesive environment for a non-selective institution. However, its higher-than-average costs and middling graduation rates suggest students must actively engage to maximize the value.