North Carolina Center University (NCCU) is an acclaimed public institution constantly ranked among the top historically black universities. It is also ranked #47 under Best regional universities by US News & Report, 2021. With an acceptance rate is 68%, the university is not highly selective in its admission. NCCU has a total enrolment of 8,207 out of which 6,434 are undergraduate students and 1,773 are graduate and professional students seeking to study in the USA. Over 81 programs out of which 32 are bachelor's programs, 27 master's programs, 20 certificate programs, and one doctoral program are offered by the university.

North Carolina Center University follows a semester-based academic calendar and accepts applications for its fall and spring semesters. The deadlines for PG admission varies as per course, candidates can apply for the undergraduate spring semester till September 1. The average SAT score of NCCU students ranges from 890-1050 and 16-19 for the ACT. Around 21,759 USD and 41,410 USD for UG and PG respectively are the cost of attendance. International students are required to complete the application process as early as possible as it affects their admission decision process. The Office of International Affairs (OIA) assists and advises international students in their admission process and visa regulations of the US and the university.

Highlights 

University Type Public
Application Mode Online
Application Fee 50 USD
Intake Sessions Fall and Spring
Degrees Offered Undergraduate, Graduate, Certificate
Acceptance Rate 68%
Application Deadline Rolling Basis
International Financial Aid Not Available
On-Campus Housing Available
Undergraduate Admission Helpdesk admissions@nccu.edu
Graduate Admission Helpdesk gradadmissions@nccu.edu
Official Website www.nccu.edu

North Carolina Center University Admission Deadlines

Even though NCCU graduate programs have different deadlines, it is generally April 1 for the fall semester and September 1 for the spring semester; same as undergraduate programs. The admission is on a rolling basis. For priority consideration, undergraduate students should apply by the following date-

Sessions Undergraduate Graduate
Fall Semester April 1 Varies
Spring Semester September 1 Varies

To check the application deadlines of top US Universities Click here

North Carolina Center University International Admissions 

International candidates are advised international graduate applicants to apply by March 1 for the fall semester for priority consideration. All admissions materials must be received by the relevant admissions office three months ahead of the student's anticipated enrolment. International applicants are required to pay expenses related to transcript evaluation before admission.

Students are required to submit a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript. The university provides SpanTran service to its international students. NCCU international students can get their transcripts evaluated at a discounted rate through SpanTran's customized application.

Required Documents:

  • Completed application form
  • Application fee of 50 USD
  • Official transcripts from the previous academic institution
  • Standardized test scores for some programs
    • SAT/ACT score for UG
    • GRE/GMAT for PG
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Valid passport copy
  • Immunization and health insurance
  • Professional CV/ Resume for some graduate programs
  • Personal statement
  • Financial documentation/ Bank statement with sufficient funds to cover university’s cost of attendance

Undergraduate admission queries are handled on this contact info - 919-530-6298 or admissions@nccu.edu.
Graduate admission queries are handled on this email - gradadmissions@nccu.edu.

English Language Proficiency Score Requirements 

English proficiency is required for all international students to get admission at NCCU. These testing scores should be directly submitted from the testing agency to the admission office. English waiver is available for students whose native or first language is English. Students whose medium of instruction in the previous academic institution was English may also be exempted from the exam to study in the USA. The minimum scores accepted by the university are:

Tests Undergraduate Graduate
TOEFL iBT 61 79
TOEFL PBT 500 550
IELTS Not Considered 6.0
SAT I (critical reading) 450 Not Considered
Redesigned SAT 25 Not Considered

Visa Process for International Students 

NCCU requires an F-1 student visa for its international students. To qualify for the F-1 visa, students need to have an acceptance letter from NCCU, enrolled as a full-time student, strong ties to the home country, financial sufficiency proof, and proficiency in the English language.

For the F-1 visa, the documents required to submit are:

  • Valid passport
  • Two standard photographs
  • SEVIS fee payment proof
  • I-20 form and DS-160 form
  • Proof of finances
  • Documents to prove previous academic qualifications (Transcripts, Diplomas, Standardized Test Scores)
  • University Acceptance Letter
  • Proof of health insurance

Steps to Apply for Visa

  • Get the admission documents from NCCU
  • Apply online through the DS-160 form
  • Pay the application fee of 160 USD and the SEVIS fee of 200 USD
  • Make a visa interview appointment
  • Submit file along with the required above-mentioned visa documents
  • Attend the visa interview

Try to make the appointment for the interview early to complete the process in due time. The questions will mostly be regarding the applicant’s reason for study in USD. Students need to convince the interviewer about their intention to return to their home country. They should present proof of their ties to their home country and reasons to return. After all these required steps are completed without any discrepancy, the student visa is approved.

North Carolina Center University Undergraduate Admissions

North Carolina Central University offers undergraduate degrees in the fields of Sciences, Education, Law, Business, Nursing, and Arts in majors like Jazz Studies, Mass Communication, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Business Administration, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The process of admission for UG programs of NCCU is detailed below:

Where to Apply: The Online Portal
Application Fee: 50 USD

Admission Requirements:

  • Completed application
  • Official high school or secondary school transcripts
  • Sufficient and satisfactory grades
  • A financial statement along with a notarized bank statement (37,230 USD)
  • English proficiency scores- IELTS/TOEFL
  • SAT/ACT scores
  • Residency permit
  • Immunizations
  • Health insurance

Students are required to demonstrate the courses and grades of High School. There should be four courses unit in English, four courses units in Maths, three courses units in Science, two courses units in Social Science, and a minimum of two courses unit in one foreign language.

North Carolina Center University Graduate Admissions 

Students for NCCU graduates programs can take admission in two ways- Conditional and unconditional. Unconditional admission is provided when applicants meet all minimum requirements of a specified program. Conditional admission is provided if applicants don’t meet minimum criteria, have insufficient course work, or do not provide sufficient official information. Conditionally admitted students are admitted for a trial period to NCCU to examine and exhibit their academic performance to the required criteria. They also need to provide full official information to get admission to the university.

Where to Apply: Graduate Admission Application
Application Fee: 50 USD

Admission Requirements:

  • Completed Graduate Application Form
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA
  • Residency permit
  • Official university or college transcripts
  • Personal statement of purpose
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • GRE/GMAT for some programs
  • ELP score- IELTS/TOEFL
  • Financial eligibility certificate
  • Notarized bank statement
  • Resume and writing samples for some programs

The major requirements to get admission in the popular graduate programs of North Carolina Central University are tabulated below:

Details MBA MA in History MA in English MIS (Informative Science)
Deadline for Fall Deadline for Spring April 1 September 1 July 30 September 1 April 1 September 1 July 30 September 1
Minimum GPA 3.0 2.9 2.75 2.75
Resume/CV Required Not Required Not Required Required
Recommendation Letters 2 Required 2 Required 2 Required 2 Professional Required
GRE/GMAT Required GRE Required GRE Required Not Required
Work - Experience Optional Not Required Not Required Optional
Writing Sample Not Required Required Required Not Required
Interview Recommended Not Required Not Required Not Required
Personal Statement Required Required Required Required
Essay/Statement of Purpose Not Required Required Required Required

Undergraduate students can check their application status by logging into EaglePromise Portal. Graduate students can go to the graduate application portal to check their applications. Writing skills are taken into consideration while evaluating international applicants. Applicants should write precisely and concisely in the personal statement, writing sample, and statement of purpose to give a favourable impression. The information obtained from the writing section of the SAT/ACT is also useful for placement and advising purposes in the future if students get accepted.

FAQs

Ques. Can I provide another individual’s account to prove financial sufficiency?

Ans. A notarized letter of sponsorship from the account holder is necessary if the money or funding comes from a different person’s account.

Ques. Can I get my application fee back in case I don’t get admitted to NCCU?

Ans. The admission application fee is non-refundable. Nor it can be waived off.

Ques. Can the Immunizations requirement be waived off for international students?

Ans. Immunizations are required for general admission to the United States and are mandated by North Carolina law. They cannot be waived. Students are required to submit their immunization records to Student Health Services within 30 days. Student Health Services will revoke the applicant’s registration in case they fail to fulfill the requirements.

Ques. What are internationally preferred and popular UG and PG majors?

Ans. The top undergraduate majors are psychology, criminal justice, business administration. The top graduate majors are law, MA in Social work, and MPA (Public Administration).

Ques. What should be the structure writing sample for graduate programs?

Ans. It should be 7 to 10 pages long. The writing sample showcasing the applicant's ability to create a critical literary analysis using MLA textual citations to sources is key to a good impression on the evaluation committee.

Ques. What are some prompts to write the Statement of purpose to give a favourable impression to the admission committee?

Ans. The statement of purpose should be roughly 700–800 words or 2–3 pages long. Applicants should elaborate on the following details and things in it:

  • Their personal, academic, and professional experiences prompting to apply for the program they are applying to.
  • Their professional goals
  • Their plan and path to achieve long-term goals or professional goals.
  • Their expected and positive contribution in the applied field.

Ques. Is NCCU selective in admissions?

Ans. The acceptance rate of NCCU is 68% making it selective in admissions. Applicants must carefully complete all the required admission steps and meet the minimum required criteria to get admission to NCCU.

Ques. What are some NCCU recommended credential evaluation agencies?

Ans. NCCU highly recommends Educational Credential Evaluations (ECE), International Education Evaluations (IEE), and Educational Perspectives. Some other credential evaluation agencies are AACRAO International Education Services, Education Evaluators International, International Education Research Foundation, and World Education Services.

Ques. What options do I have in case I can’t obtain and provide official transcripts?

Ans. When original documents can’t be obtained and provided to the university by the international applicants, properly notarized copies can be considered for evaluation.

Ques. What are SAT/ACT undergraduate admission codes of NCCU?

Ans. NCCU SAT College Board code number is 5495; ACT code number is 3132.