University of North Carolina at Pembroke
#4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina- Graduation Rate
- 44% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,407 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,260 B
- 40% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 93% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.5 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $25.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,006,500.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 44% — 23% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $25.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 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
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,330
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Health Professions
Why students choose University of North Carolina at Pembroke
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 93% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 970–1200. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,260 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,407 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 28% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.98 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 93%, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke is an accessible option for many students seeking a supportive environment. It’s a place where you can dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice, and Health Professions. This diversity in academic offerings makes it a solid choice for students looking to explore various career paths while studying in a friendly, community-oriented setting.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $43,407 within a decade of completing their degree. This figure reflects a decent starting point for many graduates, especially considering the affordability of the school. With a net price of $10,260 after aid, attending Pembroke can be a financially sensible decision, particularly for those who may qualify for financial assistance—50% of students receive Pell Grants.
Looking at the practicalities, the median debt for graduates stands at $25,000, which is manageable for many, especially given the post-graduation earnings. This financial aspect tends to attract students who are conscious of balancing education costs with future earning potential. Those who thrive here often appreciate a close-knit community and the chance to engage in a variety of fields, setting them up for success in their chosen careers.
Rankings
- #4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in North Carolina
- #6 Best Online Business Programs in North Carolina
- #6 Best Online Nursing Programs in North Carolina
- #7 Best Online Computer Science Programs in North Carolina
- #7 Best Online Education Programs in North Carolina
- #7 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in North Carolina
- #11 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Physical Sciences
- #11 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Environmental Science
Can I Get In?
How selective University of North Carolina at Pembroke 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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Pembroke, North Carolina, University of North Carolina at Pembroke admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,056. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1056
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 970–1200
- ACT Range
- 18–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 73%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,725
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 3,420
- Admitted
- 3,069
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of North Carolina at Pembroke is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 11% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 11%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 0%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 0%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 0% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of North Carolina at Pembroke is $7,648, 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 $10,260. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,919 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,648
- Out-of-State
- $7,648
- Avg Net Price
- $10,260
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 50%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 43%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,919
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,892
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,932
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,999
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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke — 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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Carolina at Pembroke report median earnings of $43,407, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,126
- 8 Years
- $40,911
- 10 Years
- $43,407
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.58x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (243)
- 23%
- 100% (243)
- 23%
- 100% (243)
- 23%
- 100% (243)
- 23%
How University 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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of North Carolina at Pembroke delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,260/year ($41,040 total). Graduates earn $43,407 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,047,540 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,006,500 (25.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 44% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,040
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,047,540
- Net Return
- $1,006,500
- ROI Multiple
- 25.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,260
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 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 2.00%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.2% 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 13.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.00%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $86,410
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $53,476
- Investment Income
- $-357,304
Top Programs
The fields University of North Carolina at Pembroke 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 16% $55,038 early-career
- Social Sciences 12% $34,094 early-career
- Criminal Justice 10% $38,120 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $67,904 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $33,013 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $51,090 early-career
- Psychology 4% $29,542 early-career
- Education 3% $43,861 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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke'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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Pembroke, North Carolina, University of North Carolina at Pembroke admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,056. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Carolina at Pembroke? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of North Carolina at Pembroke is $7,648, 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 $10,260. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,919 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of North Carolina at Pembroke Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Carolina at Pembroke report median earnings of $43,407, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does University of North Carolina at Pembroke Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Carolina at Pembroke 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 2.00%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.2% 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 13.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of North Carolina at Pembroke? 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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of North Carolina at Pembroke offer Early Decision?
No. University of North Carolina at Pembroke does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University of North Carolina at Pembroke really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 0% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of North Carolina at Pembroke (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of North Carolina at Pembroke?
About 11% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of North Carolina at Pembroke — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
- The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TN · Close peer54% grad $44,213 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville, AR · Close peer49% grad $41,766 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · Close peer42% grad $44,544 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · Close peer44% grad $47,021 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria, LA · Close peer35% grad $42,205 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA · Close peer48% grad $47,626 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of North Carolina at Pembroke? 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 University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note