Public · Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is a public institution in Fayetteville, North Carolina. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.

$7,892
Avg net price / yr
$40,144
10-yr median earnings
36.8%
150%-time completion
82.2%
Acceptance rate

The verdict

Fayetteville State University pairs modest former-student earnings with open admission.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

48th pct.
former-student earnings, US
82.2%
acceptance rate
36.8%
150%-time completion
+6%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Midsize Carnegie: Master's (M)
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Fayetteville State University profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

D
College Value Score
43/100
Fayetteville State University

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings D
$40,144
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price A-
$7,892
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate F
36.8%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$22,987
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment F
37.8%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention D
75.3%
First-year students returning for year two
Fayetteville State University vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$40,144

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$7,892

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

36.8%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 36.8%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Fayetteville State University vs peers

Fayetteville State University positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Fayetteville State University positioned by … Carnegie Classification: Master's (M) Master's (… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $27K $48K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $3K $16K Avg Net Price ($) Fayetteville State University (you are here): $40K earn · $8K net · 37% grad You are here - Fayetteville State… North Carolina Central University: $43K earn · $15K net · 44% grad North Carolina Cen… University of North Carolina at Pembroke: $43K earn · $10K net · 44% grad University of Nort… Pitt Community College: $37K earn · $7K net · 31% grad Pitt Community Col… Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: $36K earn · $12K net · 36% grad Asheville-Buncombe… Forsyth Technical Community College: $34K earn · $7K net · 31% grad Forsyth Technical … Winston-Salem State University: $45K earn · $13K net · 48% grad Fayetteville Technical Community College: $32K earn · $4K net · 22% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Fayetteville State University ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Fayetteville State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$40,144 48th percentile higher than 48% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Fayetteville State University National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $40,144 #2642 of 5103 48th
Average net price $7,892 #777 of 5020 85th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 36.8% #3847 of 4858 21st
Undergraduate enrollment 5,762 #643 of 5462 88th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

5,762
Undergraduate enrollment
82.2%
Acceptance rate
959
SAT average
36.8%
150%-time completion
$40,144
10-yr median earnings
75.3%
First-year retention

How Fayetteville State University ranks in North Carolina

State rank among 147 reporting North Carolina colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Fayetteville State University State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $40,144 #53 of 147 64th
Average net price $7,892 #44 of 146 70th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 36.8% #109 of 142 23rd
Undergraduate enrollment 5,762 #19 of 153 88th

Highest former-student earnings in North Carolina

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Duke University$97,800$29,612
2Chamberlain University-North Carolina$92,405$38,436
3Davidson College$81,400$17,379
4Wake Forest University$78,158$28,719
5Elon University$74,545$41,555
6University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$72,200$11,655
7North Carolina State University at Raleigh$68,758$17,303
8Carolinas College of Health Sciences$64,624-
9Galen Health Institutes-Asheville$61,480$28,602
10High Point University$61,389$38,707
11Cabarrus College of Health Sciences$58,708$17,618
12Queens University of Charlotte$57,673$30,857
53Fayetteville State UniversityThis school$40,144$7,892

Admissions

Admission Rate 82.2%
SAT Average 959
SAT Math (25th-75th) 430 – 540
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 460 – 550
ACT Average 17
ACT (25th-75th) 15 – 19
0%100%82.2%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Fayetteville State University

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Fayetteville State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $4,353
Out-of-State Tuition $8,353
Average Net Price $7,892
56.6%
Pell Grant Rate
46.0%
Federal Loan Rate
$22,987
Median Debt
$244/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Fayetteville State University swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $4,927 to $7,360 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +26.7%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$4,927
Highest year
$7,360
Most recent (2023)
$7,360
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $5,8082014: $6,7942015: $4,9272016: $5,9522017: $5,8242018: $5,8582019: $5,8992020: $6,9692021: $6,6232022: $6,3192023: $7,360
2013 · $5,8082023 · $7,360

Over the same years, enrollment went +8.2% (5,077 → 5,493 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

69.8%
Female
40.9%
First Generation

Outcomes

75.3%
Retention Rate
$37,831
Median Earnings (6yr)
47.5%
Earning Over $25K
37.8%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 36.8%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 75.3%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $37,831
Median earnings 10 years after entry $40,144
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 47.5%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 37.8%
Median federal student debt At completion $22,987
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $244/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Bachelor's 18 1,017 $50,213 $88,701 $23,489
Master's 3 220 $72,722 $94,069 $33,521
Doctoral 1 26 - - -

Top programs at Fayetteville State University by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 165 $94,069 $31,571
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 213 $88,701 $17,599
Fire Protection Bachelor's 38 $73,969 $13,836
Educational Administration and Supervision Master's 9 $71,181 $36,809
Social Work Master's 46 $52,915 $32,182
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's 22 $50,732 $27,000
Biology, General Bachelor's 38 $48,881 $23,490
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 134 $48,094 $24,864
Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's 90 $46,660 $19,674
Social Work Bachelor's 38 $46,119 $29,195
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's 55 $45,610 $29,890
Sociology Bachelor's 44 $43,889 $24,234
Psychology, General Bachelor's 163 $43,358 $19,979
Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's 31 $42,270 $26,283
Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's 28 $38,325 $27,000

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Fayetteville State University?
Fayetteville State University is a public institution in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The acceptance rate is 82.2%. The average SAT score is 959. Undergraduate enrollment is 5,762 students.
How much do Fayetteville State University former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Fayetteville State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $40,144 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $37,831.
How much does Fayetteville State University cost?
The average net price at Fayetteville State University is $7,892. In-state tuition is $4,353 and out-of-state tuition is $8,353. Median student debt at graduation is $22,987.
What is the graduation rate at Fayetteville State University?
Fayetteville State University has a 36.8% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 75.3%.
Is Fayetteville State University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Fayetteville State University is $22,987, while former students earn a median of $40,144 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 57% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 37.8% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $244.

Sources & methodology

Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.

Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Fayetteville State University

Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.