Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,418 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $27,426 D
- 60% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 80% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $994,361.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Matters
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a private college in Charlotte, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,184
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications
Why students choose Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
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 80% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 880–1130. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $27,426 a year after grants and scholarships — 60% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,418 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.44 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,184 students, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a strong fit for those interested in practical, career-oriented education. The school is particularly known for its programs in Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, and Humanities. This broad range means students can find a niche that aligns with their passions and career goals, making it an appealing choice for many.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni after ten years is around $43,418. This figure indicates a solid return on investment, especially when we consider that 52% of students receive Pell Grants, which helps make education more accessible. While the graduation rate sits at 51%, many students still find pathways to success, showing that persistence pays off in this environment.
When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $27,426, and the median debt for graduates is around $26,000. This means that while there is a cost to attending, many students are leaving with a manageable debt load. Those who thrive here often are those who are driven and focused, ready to take advantage of the hands-on learning and supportive community that the university fosters.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,007. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1007
- SAT Range
- 880–1130
- ACT Range
- 16–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,592
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 4,730
- Admitted
- 3,469
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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is $42,419, 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 $27,426. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,414 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $42,419
- Out-of-State
- $42,419
- Avg Net Price
- $27,426
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 52%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 81%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $23,414
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $24,568
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,109
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,680
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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte — 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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte report median earnings of $43,418, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,802
- 8 Years
- $40,078
- 10 Years
- $43,418
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.6x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (209)
- 44%
- 100% (209)
- 44%
- 100% (209)
- 44%
- 100% (209)
- 44%
How Johnson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,426/year ($109,704 total). Graduates earn $43,418 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,104,065 in total earnings — a net gain of $994,361 (10.1× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $109,704
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,104,065
- Net Return
- $994,361
- ROI Multiple
- 10.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,426
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $8,861,183
- Federal Grants
- $7,584,305
- Investment Income
- $-434,582
Top Programs
The fields Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte 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.
- Culinary & Personal Services 58% $35,065 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $54,959 early-career
- Health Professions 2% $38,862 early-career
- Communications 2% $32,850 early-career
- Psychology 1%
- Humanities 0%
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 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte'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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,007. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is $42,419, 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 $27,426. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,414 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte report median earnings of $43,418, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte.
- University of MobileMobile, AL · Close peer56% grad $43,611 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Woods UniversityFulton, MO · Close peer52% grad $42,401 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lasell UniversityNewton, MA · Close peer56% grad $49,705 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk, NC · Close peer43% grad $43,415 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Close peer52% grad $48,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont, NC · Close peer47% grad $47,937 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note