Fayetteville State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Fayetteville State University charges a net price of $7,892/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $31,568. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,144, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Fayetteville State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #46 of 115 North Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,892/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $31,568 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,144 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$8,216/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,987 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$195,888 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Fayetteville State University's own numbers. Net price $7,892 × 4 years = $31,568 total. Median earnings $40,144 fall $8,216 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $31,568 bill in about 3.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Fayetteville State University students graduate with?
A median $22,987 in federal loans among completers, or 57% of the $40,144 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Fayetteville State University students graduate?
38% finish their degree — 62% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $31,568 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $83,074 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Fayetteville State University expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $7,892 net price runs $2,954 below the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, and $11,816 less across the full degree.