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University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts at a glance

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public university in Winston Salem, North Carolina with 1,111 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 30% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $9,477 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $14,906 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 78% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 47% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $23,870 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Theatre, bachelor's ($48,664) and Film and Photography, bachelor's ($41,000) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$9,477

2024-25

Acceptance

30%

Fall 2024 applicants

Students

1,111

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Urban

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$9,477

Out-of-State Tuition

$27,211

Avg On-Campus Living

$13,517

Avg Off-Campus Living

$13,517

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $22,994
Net price (after aid): $14,906

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $3,165
$30k – $48k: $7,828
$48k – $75k: $11,491
$75k – $110k: $20,173
$110k+: $25,172

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

At every income level reported here, the average net price is within the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow from the federal government for loans made from 1 July 2026.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $38,357
Median debt at graduation: $23,870
Est. monthly loan payment: $253

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Moderate · 1.6×

Graduates earn about 1.6× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 26%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 47%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

University of North Carolina School of the Arts does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $44,317, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which North Carolina schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

78%

Freshman Retention

93%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Cost advantage

Affordable public option

In-state tuition in the lower range for public universities.

This school$9.5k
Public 4-yr avg$11k
Source: IPEDS 2024

Lower net price

$14.9k below avg

Strong aid for lower incomes

Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.

Strong completion rate

78% above avg

Affordability snapshot

In-state tuition

$9.5k

below avg

Out-of-state

$27.2k

Net price

$14.9k

below avg

Pell

26%

Median debt

$23.9k

Earnings (10y)

$38.4k

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

30%

SAT range

1140 - 1370

ACT range

22 - 29

Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

Winston Salem, NC 27127

Academics

Studying online: no students were enrolled entirely at a distance

In Fall 2023, none of University of North Carolina School of the Arts's 1,074 students were enrolled entirely at a distance, though 158 (15%) took at least one distance course. That is a count of how students enrolled, not a list of what is offered online.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

University of North Carolina School of the Arts reported conferring credentials in 4 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

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Graduate earnings by program

What University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates earn, by program

University of North Carolina School of the Arts's bachelor's graduates in Theatre earned a median $48,664 four years after graduating, 22% above the $39,775 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $21,229; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,500 in federal loans at this college (about $249 a month on a 10-year plan).

7 programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Theatre, Bachelor's$48,664$39,775, +22%$23,500$249/mo
Film and Photography, Bachelor's$41,000$43,765, −6%$26,139$277/mo
Dance, Bachelor's$32,463$39,980, −19%$22,454$238/mo
Music, Bachelor's$34,022$42,892, −21%$22,084$234/mo
Music, Master's$54,140$48,285, +12%——
Film and Photography, Master's$52,310$51,486, about the same$41,000$466/mo
Theatre, Master's$56,064$49,978, +12%——

Compare what Theatre pays at other colleges

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

About University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is University of North Carolina School of the Arts located?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, NC, in the United States.
What type of institution is University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public university based in NC. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
The most recently reported acceptance rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts is approximately 30% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
What is the tuition at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts's published in-state tuition is approximately $9,477 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts reports total enrollment of approximately 1,111 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does University of North Carolina School of the Arts actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of North Carolina School of the Arts is approximately $14,906 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $3,165 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $25,172. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts reports a graduation rate of approximately 78% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of University of North Carolina School of the Arts have?
Students who borrowed at University of North Carolina School of the Arts left with a median of approximately $23,870 in federal loans, and about 47% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $38,357 for students who received federal financial aid at University of North Carolina School of the Arts. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
How much do Theatre graduates from University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts's bachelor's graduates in Theatre earned a median $48,664 four years after graduating, 22% above the $39,775 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $21,229; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $23,500 in federal loans at this college (about $249 a month on a 10-year plan).
How much do Film and Photography graduates from University of North Carolina School of the Arts earn?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts's bachelor's graduates in Film and Photography earned a median $41,000 four years after graduating, 6% below the $43,765 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $24,053; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $26,139 in federal loans at this college (about $277 a month on a 10-year plan).
Which programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 3 programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Theatre, bachelor's ($48,664); Film and Photography, bachelor's ($41,000); and Dance, bachelor's ($32,463) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does University of North Carolina School of the Arts get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, University of North Carolina School of the Arts's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $44,317, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

All 4 fields University of North Carolina School of the Arts reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields University of North Carolina School of the Arts reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft109Graduate (18 graduate · 91 bachelor's)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts97Graduate (26 graduate · 71 bachelor's)
Music53Graduate (33 graduate · 20 bachelor's)
Dance38Bachelor's

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of University of North Carolina School of the Arts are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). University of North Carolina School of the Arts, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-north-carolina-school-of-the-arts

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