North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is building on its enrollment momentum for fall 2026, with estimated double-digit percentage increases among new first-year, transfer, second-degree, online and graduate and professional students.
Compared with fall 2025 census data, highlights include:
- 15% increase in new undergraduate students, including first-time bachelor’s, transfer and second-degree students.
- 13.2% increase in new online students. NCCU’s Flight Path program ranks No. 3 among historically Black colleges and universities nationwide for online bachelor’s degrees and No. 2 among HBCUs in the state, according to Forbes.
- 16.5% increase in new graduate and professional students, including those pursuing master’s, law and doctoral degrees.
- A stronger academic profile, with the incoming first-year class posting a mean grade point average of 3.31, up from 3.26.
Final enrollment numbers will be available in September 2026.
“Students are choosing NCCU because they see a university that is growing, evolving and creating opportunity,” said Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon. “Our growth is a powerful vote of confidence in our university and our commitment to student success. This is what progress looks like, and we’re not slowing down. We’re building the NCCU of tomorrow, today.”
While 68% of new students are North Carolina residents, NCCU continues to attract students from across the East coast, including New York, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia. The top five intended majors are business administration, pre-nursing, psychology, criminal justice and information technology.
The class also includes 14 Cheatham-White Scholars - an increase of three from the previous year - bringing the total number of scholars on campus in 2026-2027 to 46. Selected for their academic excellence, leadership, character and commitment, scholars receive a full-ride scholarship covering tuition, room and board, fees, and other educational expenses, as well as four summer enrichment experiences that may include international study. Recognizing the program’s impact, the North Carolina General Assembly recently invested $900,000 in recurring funding to support its continued growth and success.
NCCU is housing approximately 32.8% of its students on campus this academic year, continuing to outpace the 24.8% average for public four-year colleges nationwide.
The New Student Induction and Pinning Ceremony will take place 5 – 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at McDougald-McLendon Arena. Alumni and members of the NCCU community will present new students with their class pins, symbolizing their connection to the university’s heritage and legacy.
Students are also invited to participate in Eagle Mania, a series of events organized by NCCU’s divisions of Academic Affairs and Students Affairs, taking place Aug. 14 – 22. The academic and social programs help students become more familiar with NCCU and explore Durham.
A calendar of Eagle Mania events may be found here.