Livingstone College
#2 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 26% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,600 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $13,479 C+
- 21% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 59% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $18.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $937,995.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 26% — 54% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Livingstone College
Livingstone College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 924
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HBCU · 24
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Culinary & Personal Services, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Livingstone College
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
Competitive — admits about 59% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,479 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,600 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college, against $31,125 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.90 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Livingstone College serves a diverse group of students, particularly those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice, Computer Science & IT, and Psychology. With an enrollment of 924 students and an acceptance rate of 59%, it offers a supportive environment that can feel intimate while still providing a range of academic options. The college emphasizes personal growth and community, making it a fitting choice for those who thrive in smaller settings and seek a close-knit campus experience.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $32,600 after ten years in the workforce. This figure gives a glimpse into the potential return on investment for students, especially when paired with the college's commitment to affordability. With 82% of students receiving Pell Grants, Livingstone College aims to make education accessible, which is crucial for many families looking to balance quality education with financial considerations.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid stands at $13,479, while the median debt for graduates is $31,125. This means that students can graduate with manageable debt levels, especially considering the support many receive through grants. Those who tend to thrive here are often individuals who appreciate a community-oriented atmosphere and are determined to make the most of their educational journey despite potential challenges.
Rankings
- #2 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #4 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #4 Best Colleges for Cross-Class Networks
- #5 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #5 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #11 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Mathematics
- #11 Most Affordable Online Master's in Mathematics
- #12 Best Online Bachelor's in Mathematics
Can I Get In?
How selective Livingstone College 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 Livingstone College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 59% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 14. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 59%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- ACT Midpoint
- 14
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,732
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.24
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 4,074
- Admitted
- 2,598
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 Livingstone College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Livingstone College is $18,296, 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 $13,479. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,860 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,125 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $18,296
- Out-of-State
- $18,296
- Avg Net Price
- $13,479
- Median Debt
- $31,125
- Pell Grant Rate
- 82%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 78%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,860
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,056
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,028
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,018
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 Livingstone College — 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 Livingstone College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Livingstone College report median earnings of $32,600, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $24,024
- 8 Years
- $28,272
- 10 Years
- $32,600
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.95x
- Earning > $25K
- 32%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (80)
- 18%
- 100% (80)
- 18%
- 100% (80)
- 18%
- 100% (80)
- 18%
How Livingstone 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 Livingstone College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Livingstone College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,479/year ($53,916 total). Graduates earn $32,600 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $991,911 in total earnings — a net gain of $937,995 (18.4× your investment). The median debt is $31,125, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 26% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $53,916
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $991,911
- Net Return
- $937,995
- ROI Multiple
- 18.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,479
- Median Debt
- $31,125
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $6,000,013
- Investment Income
- $81,028
Top Programs
The fields Livingstone College 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 25% $29,935 early-career
- Humanities 10%
- Culinary & Personal Services 9%
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $29,935 early-career
- Psychology 7%
- Criminal Justice 7% $38,867 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Education 2%
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 Livingstone College'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Livingstone College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Salisbury, North Carolina, Livingstone College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 59% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 14. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Livingstone College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Livingstone College is $18,296, 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 $13,479. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,860 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,125 in federal student loans.
Is Livingstone College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Livingstone College report median earnings of $32,600, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Livingstone College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Livingstone College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.90, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.11), 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 Livingstone College.
- Stillman CollegeTuscaloosa, AL · Close peer32% grad $35,421 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo, MS · Close peer33% grad $34,724 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Edward Waters UniversityJacksonville, FL · Close peer28% grad $34,782 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC · Close peer21% grad $34,409 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southern University at New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer16% grad $34,042 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Rust CollegeHolly Springs, MS · Close peer17% grad $32,275 earn 49% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Livingstone College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Livingstone College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.90, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.11), 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