North Carolina A & T State University

A&T’s academic identity orbits around STEM, with engineering (16% of degrees) and business (12%) dominating enrollment. The engineering program is frequently singled out for its supportive faculty and robust infrastructure, with one Quora reviewer noting: 'The infrastructure the faculty and upperclassmen create for other students is what makes the [engineering] school amazing.' The university has aggressively expanded into cutting-edge fields like AI, offering coursework in machine learning, data visualization, and AI ethics. While STEM steals the spotlight, liberal arts and psychology programs hold their own, comprising 8% of degrees each. A&T’s academic culture leans collaborative, with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio enabling close mentorship—a rarity for a public university of its size.

Life at A&T crackles with energy, thanks to 150+ student organizations and a famously spirited homecoming. Housing options range from traditional dorms to apartment-style living, with the Office of Housing & Residence Life emphasizing community-building through events like 'Aggie Nights.' Students describe the social scene as 'easy to find your group' (per a Reddit thread), with Greek life and intramural sports acting as major hubs. The campus’s HBCU identity fuels a rich cultural tapestry—step shows, jazz ensembles, and the Blue & Gold Marching Machine are institutions unto themselves. Greensboro provides off-campus diversions, from coffee shops to live music venues, though many students say the real action happens on campus.

A&T’s outcomes tell a story of delayed but dramatic ROI. While the four-year graduation rate sits at 36%, it jumps to 53–56% at the six-year mark—common for universities serving large numbers of first-gen?First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and Pell-eligible students. Early-career salaries average $36,638, but Forbes’ 2024 rankings revealed a bombshell: By their early 30s, Aggies earn a median $111,700, placing A&T third among all HBCUs for mid-career pay. This suggests graduates accelerate their earning potential after gaining workplace experience, particularly in engineering and tech fields. The 78% first-year retention rate—higher than many peer institutions—hints at strong student satisfaction early on.

As a public university, A&T offers relative affordability, with financial aid packages often including grants, work-study, and low-interest loans. The net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator helps estimate out-of-pocket costs after aid, though specific figures vary widely by income bracket. Notably, 89% of first-years receive some form of financial assistance, easing the burden for its predominantly lower-income student body. The university actively promotes scholarship opportunities, including merit-based and major-specific awards (particularly in STEM). For context, the average graduate leaves with debt slightly below the national average—a testament to its aid programs.

A&T defies easy categorization: It’s an HBCU with the research muscle of an R2 institution, a public university with the camaraderie of a small college, and a STEM juggernaut that nurtures artists and entrepreneurs alike. Its engineering program—often compared to far pricier schools—delivers Ivy-adjacent outcomes at state-school prices. The campus thrums with a distinctive Aggie pride, where homecoming draws 40,000+ alumni and freshman convocation feels like a family reunion. For students seeking rigorous academics wrapped in unapologetic Black excellence, A&T is a rare find—a university where ‘community’ isn’t a brochure cliché but a daily reality.