Johnson C Smith University
JCSU
Charlotte, North Carolina 28216-5398
Data last updated: May 29, 2026
Campus Vibe
Known for business — close-knit campus
Johnson C Smith University is a private institution in Charlotte with particular strength in business and biology.
A small campus of 1K undergraduates with a 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.
34% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $42,680 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $20,011.
Campus Visits
Plan Your Visit
Admissions
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
27.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
2.7%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$20,500
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
8
Peer Average
13
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus security, emergency notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Programs (25)
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
63%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
More About This School
History & Fun Facts
- •Smith University was established on April 7, 1867, as the Biddle Memorial Institute at a meeting of the Catawba Presbytery in the old Charlotte Presbyterian Church.
- •The school was then named after her late husband, Henry Jonathan Biddle, who had died after the Battle of Glendale in 1862.
- •In 1876, the charter was changed by the legislature of the State of North Carolina and the name became Biddle University, under which name the institution operated until 1923.
- •Sanders as the first African-American as president of a four-year institution in the South.
Source: Wikipedia
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from NC state average + large city premium
Climate (School Year)
Nearest Cities
Getting There
Nearest Airports
Distance to Cities
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Nearby Hotels
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