Fayetteville State University
#1 Best HBCUs for Criminal Justice- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,144 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,892 B+
- 54% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 27.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best HBCUs for Criminal Justice.
Every $1 spent returns $27.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $824,706.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.43% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $27.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Fayetteville State University Matters
Fayetteville State University is a public university in Fayetteville, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,762
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Fayetteville State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 890–1090. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,892 a year after grants and scholarships — 54% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,144 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $22,987 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 18% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 5,762 students and an acceptance rate of 82%, Fayetteville State University is a welcoming place for those looking for a diverse and supportive academic environment. This school is particularly attractive to students interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Humanities. The focus here is on practical, career-oriented education that prepares students for the workforce and helps them make meaningful contributions to their communities.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $40,144 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure is encouraging for many, especially when considering the affordability of attending Fayetteville State. With 57% of students receiving Pell Grants, the financial support available can make a big difference. The combination of solid earnings potential and financial aid options helps students transition into their careers more smoothly.
When it comes to the financial picture, the net price after aid sits at about $7,892, which is quite manageable for many families. The median debt for graduates is around $22,987, a figure that is reasonable considering the average earnings post-graduation. Students who tend to thrive at Fayetteville State often embrace the community-focused atmosphere and seek careers that make a difference. The university’s supportive environment can be a great fit for those looking to grow both personally and professionally.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Fayetteville State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fayetteville State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fayetteville State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 959. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 959
- ACT Midpoint
- 17
- SAT Range
- 890–1090
- ACT Range
- 15–19
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,421
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
- Applicants
- 4,116
- Admitted
- 3,344
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fayetteville State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fayetteville State University is $8,353, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,892. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,233 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,987 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,353
- Out-of-State
- $8,353
- Avg Net Price
- $7,892
- Median Debt
- $22,987
- Pell Grant Rate
- 57%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 46%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,233
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,908
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,983
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,112
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Fayetteville State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Fayetteville State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fayetteville State University report median earnings of $40,144, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,831
- 8 Years
- $38,524
- 10 Years
- $40,144
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.57x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (108)
- 23%
- 100% (108)
- 23%
- 100% (108)
- 23%
- 100% (108)
- 23%
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Fayetteville State University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How Fayetteville Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Fayetteville State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Fayetteville State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,892/year ($31,568 total). Graduates earn $40,144 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $856,274 in total earnings — a net gain of $824,706 (27.1× your investment). The median debt is $22,987, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,568
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $856,274
- Net Return
- $824,706
- ROI Multiple
- 27.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,892
- Median Debt
- $22,987
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Fayetteville State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fayetteville State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.43%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 25.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.43%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 25.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $56,248
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $10,557
- Investment Income
- $1,387,338
Top Programs
The fields Fayetteville State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $48,083 early-career
- Health Professions 15% $73,447 early-career
- Psychology 14% $31,588 early-career
- Criminal Justice 12% $82,387 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $35,702 early-career
- Humanities 5% $30,624 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $31,588 early-career
- Education 3% $43,538 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Fayetteville State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fayetteville State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fayetteville State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 959. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fayetteville State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fayetteville State University is $8,353, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,892. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,233 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,987 in federal student loans.
Is Fayetteville State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fayetteville State University report median earnings of $40,144, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Fayetteville State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fayetteville State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.43%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 25.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Fayetteville State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Fayetteville State University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Fayetteville State University.
- Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria, LA · Close peer35% grad $42,205 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith, AR · Close peer37% grad $41,102 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer34% grad $45,872 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, NC · Close peer44% grad $42,968 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NC · Close peer44% grad $43,407 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Fayetteville State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Fayetteville State University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note