North Carolina Central University (NCCU) saw an increase of 13.56% in enrollment, comparing spring 2024 to spring 2025. That is the largest increase among the 17 University of North Carolina System institutions.
Nor is this the first time. The university saw a 7.71% increase comparing fall 2023 to fall 2024.
There are currently 8,065 students enrolled at NCCU.
"NCCU's brand is just resonating in the market where students are looking for institutions like ours," said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ontario. S. Wooden, Ph.D.
Wooden suggests several factors could have contributed to the increase in enrollment. Those include NCCU Online and collaboration with nonprofit Project Kitty Hawk, offering a large number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, offering hands-on experience in research to undergraduates and even attention garnered by winning the 2022 Celebration Bowl.
The university also engages in intentional recruiting efforts.
"The Undergraduate Admissions Office is committed to expanding access to higher education for North Carolina residents by strategically focusing recruitment efforts across the state's 100 counties," said Sharon Oliver, Ed.D., associate vice chancellor for enrollment management.
Undergraduate programs with the highest growth rate from last spring include:
- Business management and marketing
- Homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting
- Computer and information sciences
- Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness and kinesiology
- Psychology
