The chief administrator of North Carolina Central University, Chancellor Charlie Nelms, is responsible for the administration and management of the campus.  As chancellor, he is an officer of the University of North Carolina system of 17 constituent institutions.

The NCCU Board of Trustees and its individual members serve as advisors to the chancellor concerning policies, management and development of the institution.  The chancellor reports to the president of the UNC system, Thomas Ross.  Charged with electing the system president, the Board of Governors of the UNC system is the statewide policy-making body responsible for all affairs of the 17 constituent UNC institutions. The 32 voting members of the Board of Governors are elected by the North Carolina legislature for four-year terms.