Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, North Carolina · Public · 82.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 19/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Fayetteville State University receives a CampusROI score of 19 (Below Benchmark tier) under our methodology, alongside a 38.5% completion rate. Published tuition is $4,353 in state and $8,353 out of state, and the average net price is $7,892 per year, or $31,568 over four years of attendance (a cost figure, not a debt figure). The net price is higher than published tuition because it measures the full cost of attendance after grant aid, not tuition alone. Median debt at graduation is $22,987 against average earnings of $27,500 six years after entry, a 0.836 debt-to-earnings ratio, and median earnings reach $40,144 ten years after entry. Our model estimates a 33.4-year payback period. Three years after leaving, 37.8% of borrowers were making progress on repayment. Outcomes vary widely by program and by student, and these institution-level figures describe past cohorts rather than any individual result. Figures are from the 2024-2025 College Scorecard release.
How Fayetteville State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score19/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate38.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period33.4 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Fayetteville State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $4,353/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $8,353/yr |
| Average net price | $7,892/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $31,568 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,144 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,987 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 33.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 38.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,762 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $4,353/year ($8,353/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $7,892/year, or roughly $31,568 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $6,233/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,112/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,987, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($27,500) and comes to 0.84, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,233 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,908 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,983 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,354 |
| $110,001+ | $14,112 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 report an average net price of $6,233 per year, about $24,900 over four years. Institutional and outside aid can change this figure significantly for individual students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families earning $30,001-$48,000 report an average net price of $6,908 per year, families earning $48,001-$75,000 report $8,983, and families earning $75,001-$110,000 report $13,354.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 report an average net price of $14,112 per year, about $56,400 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fayetteville State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $43,358 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $88,701 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $48,094 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,660 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $45,610 | D |
| Accounting | $40,056 | D |
| Sociology | $43,889 | D |
| Biology | $48,881 | D |
| Social Work | $46,119 | F |
| Fire Protection | $73,969 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Psychology
Psychology has 157 graduates in the Scorecard program cohort and a D grade under our methodology. Median earnings are $31,217 in the first year and $43,358 by year four, against median debt of $27,000 (a 0.865 debt-to-earnings ratio).
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing has 146 graduates in the Scorecard program cohort and a B+ grade under our methodology. Median earnings are $73,448 in the first year and $88,701 by year four, against median debt of $22,052 (a 0.3 debt-to-earnings ratio).
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration, Management, and Operations has 127 graduates in the Scorecard program cohort and a D grade under our methodology. Median earnings are $30,944 in the first year and $48,094 by year four, against median debt of $28,786 (a 0.93 debt-to-earnings ratio).
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice and Corrections has 87 graduates in the Scorecard program cohort and a D grade under our methodology. Median earnings are $29,016 in the first year and $46,660 by year four, against median debt of $26,000 (a 0.896 debt-to-earnings ratio).
Fire Protection
Fire Protection has 37 graduates in the Scorecard program cohort and an A grade under our methodology. Median earnings are $67,586 in the first year and $73,969 by year four, against median debt of $15,777 (a 0.233 debt-to-earnings ratio).
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 28.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 37.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 34.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 43.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Fayetteville State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 82.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-540 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-550 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-19 |
| Enrollment | 5,762 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 56.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,421 |
Fayetteville State admits 82.2% of applicants. SAT middle-50% ranges are 430-540 math and 460-550 reading; the ACT composite range is 15-19. The completion rate of 38.5% measures the share of first-time, full-time students who finish within 150% of normal time.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville State University (this school) | 19 | $7,892 | $40,144 |
| Virginia State University | 21 | $15,840 | $45,543 |
| Norfolk State University | 20 | $15,282 | $44,666 |
| Lincoln University | 18 | $14,977 | $43,167 |
| North Carolina Central University | 17 | $15,359 | $42,968 |
| West Virginia State University | 17 | $11,139 | $40,492 |
Who Thrives Here
With 5,762 students and a 56.6% Pell Grant rate, Fayetteville State is a public institution based in Fayetteville, NC. Fayetteville State is one of North Carolina's public historically Black universities. Median debt at graduation ($22,987) is below average earnings six years after entry ($27,500). Students relying heavily on loans should compare the net price for their income bracket using Fayetteville State's net price calculator.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Fayetteville State University scores 19/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $7,892 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $40,144 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 33.4 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 38.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 37.8% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,987 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $27,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Fayetteville State University: Common Questions
Is Fayetteville State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Fayetteville State University scores 19/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $7,892 a year after aid against $40,144 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 33.4 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Fayetteville State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $7,892 a year, or roughly $31,568 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Fayetteville State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $40,144 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Fayetteville State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 33.4 years for Fayetteville State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Fayetteville State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,987, against average earnings of $27,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Fayetteville State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 38.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.