PrivateUrban

North Carolina Wesleyan University

Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804

Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Business-focusedTight-knitUrban

Known for business — close-knit campus

North Carolina Wesleyan University is a private institution in Rocky Mount with particular strength in business and health sciences.

A small campus of 1.2K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

40% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $45,873 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,165.

Established

1956

Motto

Wisdom and Courage through Christian Education

Type

Private university

Division

Division III

Plan Your Visit

78%Acceptance

—SAT Avg

1,169Students

13:1Student:Faculty

40%Grad Rate

$45,873Earnings 10yr

$18,165Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate78.0%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$35,536

Room & Board$12,794

Books & Supplies$300

Total Cost of Attendance$48,263

Average Net Price$18,165

Median Debt at Graduation$25,000

Monthly Payment (10yr)$265

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,574

$30–48K$17,630

$48–75K$17,786

$75–110K$17,785

$110K+$25,749

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

37.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.0%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,531

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

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 (30)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

65%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads

1,169

Gender Split

51% / 49%

Women / Men

First Generation

47%

Pell Grant Recipients

47%

Race & Ethnicity

White 24%

Black 43%

Hispanic 3%

Asian 1%

Two+ 4%

Int'l 14%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate40.4%

Freshman Retention65.5%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$38,939

10 Years$45,873

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Battling Bishops

Tennis

History & Fun Facts

•The college was officially chartered by the State of North Carolina on October 25, 1956.
•Braswell heirs of Rocky Mount, and four years later 92 students enrolled in the first class at North Carolina Wesleyan College.
•In 1964, 33 students received their degrees at the college's first Commencement.
•In 2015, Wesleyan added its first two master's programs.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

99Average

Estimated from NC state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Raleighpop. 470K

51 mi(88 min)

Charlottepop. 880K

181 mi(314 min)

Washingtonpop. 690K

204 mi(354 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

RDU Raleigh-Durham58 mi

RIC Richmond106 mi

CLT Charlotte186 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA566 mi · ~16h 21m drive

New York, NY383 mi · ~11h 4m drive

Hartford, CT482 mi · ~13h 55m drive

Providence, RI527 mi · ~15h 13m drive

Albany, NY506 mi · ~14h 37m drive

Syracuse, NY493 mi · ~14h 15m drive

Rochester, NY493 mi · ~14h 15m drive

Buffalo, NY478 mi · ~13h 49m drive

Philadelphia, PA307 mi · ~8h 52m drive

Pittsburgh, PA328 mi · ~9h 29m drive

Harrisburg, PA298 mi · ~8h 37m drive

Newark, NJ380 mi · ~10h 59m drive

Washington, DC204 mi · ~5h 54m drive

Baltimore, MD235 mi · ~6h 47m drive

Atlanta, GA406 mi · ~11h 44m drive

Charlotte, NC181 mi · ~5h 14m drive

Raleigh, NC51 mi · ~1h 28m drive

Miami, FL723 mi · ~20h 53m drive

Orlando, FL558 mi · ~16h 7m drive

Tampa, FL621 mi · ~17h 56m drive

Nashville, TN503 mi · ~14h 32m drive

New Orleans, LA826 mi · ~23h 52m drive

Richmond, VA107 mi · ~3h 5m drive

Chicago, IL666 mi · ~19h 14m drive

Detroit, MI519 mi · ~15h drive

Minneapolis, MN1020 mi · ~29h 28m drive

St. Louis, MO705 mi · ~20h 22m drive

Kansas City, MO943 mi · ~27h 15m drive

Indianapolis, IN525 mi · ~15h 10m drive

Columbus, OH394 mi · ~11h 23m drive

Cleveland, OH433 mi · ~12h 31m drive

Milwaukee, WI725 mi · ~20h 57m drive

Dallas, TX1106 mi · ~31h 57m drive

Houston, TX1107 mi · ~31h 59m drive

Austin, TX1219 mi · ~35h 13m drive

San Antonio, TX1285 mi · ~37h 7m drive

Los Angeles, CA2277 mi · ~65h 47m drive

San Francisco, CA2446 mi · ~70h 40m drive

San Diego, CA2243 mi · ~64h 48m drive

Seattle, WA2393 mi · ~69h 8m drive

Portland, OR2406 mi · ~69h 30m drive

Denver, CO1500 mi · ~43h 20m drive

Phoenix, AZ1946 mi · ~56h 13m drive

Salt Lake City, UT1864 mi · ~53h 51m drive

Honolulu, HI4831 mi · ~139h 34m drive

Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

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