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University of North Carolina School of the Arts

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston Salem, NC · City · 945 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$14,906
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
78%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
63% typical
$38,357
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$39,254 typical
30%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
64% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

As the nation’s first public arts conservatory, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is celebrated for its top-ranked, professional training housed within five distinct conservatories: Dance, Design & Production, Drama, Filmmaking, and Music. The immersive campus culture feels more like a professional arts company than a traditional university, with students spending the majority of their time collaborating in rehearsals, studios, and production shops. What uniquely sets UNCSA apart is its dual identity as a degree-granting institution and a vibrant cultural engine, providing undergraduates with unmatched, real-world industry experience by staging over 300 public performances and screenings annually.


Wikipedia:The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is a public art school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants a high school diploma, in addition to both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina School of the Arts by then-Governor Terry Sanford, it was the first public arts conservatory in the United States. The school owns and operates the Stevens Center in Downtown Winston-Salem and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Location
Winston Salem, NC, 27127-2738 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RDU · Raleigh-Durham
82 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$9,477$27,211
Housing & food (on campus)$13,517$13,517
Books & supplies$1,500$1,500
Cost of attendance$26,470$44,204 est.
Average net price$14,906Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$27,211
In-state: $9,477
Housing & food (on campus)$13,517
Books & supplies$1,500
Cost of attendance$44,204 est.
In-state: $26,470
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $14,906
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$3,165
$30–48k
$7,828
$48–75k
$11,491
$75–110k
$20,173
$110k+
$25,172
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
78%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
74%
Back for yr 2
93%
Transferred
15%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
77% graduated · 17% transferred · 6% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$24,537
10 yrs after entry$38,357
Debt
Median at graduation$23,870
Monthly payment$253
Middle 50% owe$10.3k–$27k
90th percentile$32,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Special focus — arts, music & design: 63% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
30%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1260
R 600–720 · M 540–650
ACT midpoint
25
Comp 22–29 · E 23–31 · M 22–26
SAT middle 50%: 1140–1370
40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If University of North Carolina School of the Arts asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 40%Women 60%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
6 : 1
Pell grant
26%
Family income
$67,704
Independent
7%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
1%
Race & ethnicity
White
54%
Hispanic
13%
Black
9%
Asian
2%
Two or more
7%
Non-resident
4%
Unknown
12%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$24,537
After 10 yrs
$38,357
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft90
Film/Video and Photographic Arts75
Dance34
Music30
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$136M
Full-time faculty
75%
Faculty salary
$8,980/mo
Teaching spend
$26,642
per student
Federal loans
47%
Classification
Carnegie type
Special focus — arts, music & design
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if University of North Carolina School of the Arts is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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