University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte at a Glance
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public research university in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. UNC Charlotte offers 24 doctoral, 66 master's, and 79 bachelor's degree programs through nine colleges. It is classified among "R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production."
1946
80 years old
$377M
$376.7 million (2025)
32,207
26,213 undergrad · 5,994 grad
1,553
1,000 acres
Identity
Is University of North Carolina at Charlotte Worth It?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $15,435/year, it's priced 24% below average, while graduates go on to earn $57,289 — 7% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 68% graduation rate means roughly 32% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of North Carolina at Charlotte compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NC
Ranked #14 of 59 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #3 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #6 | Cypress College | 86 | $4,606 | $43,533 |
| #14 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 63 | $15,435 | $57,289 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of North Carolina at Charlotte's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in NC.
Best Programs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The highest-earning program at University of North Carolina at Charlotte is Computer Engineering at $66,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Dance at $16,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of North Carolina at Charlotte earns $66,900, while a Dance graduate earns $16,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $18,354 in median debt vs. $26,766 for Dance.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,435/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $66,900 | $66,900 | $18,354 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $62,800 | $62,800 | $26,125 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,200 | $61,200 | $25,178 |
| Systems Engineering | $60,000 | $60,000 | $21,950 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $57,700 | $57,700 | $22,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $56,400 | $56,400 | $22,850 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $56,100 | $56,100 | $15,863 |
| Computer Science | $56,000 | $56,000 | $23,125 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,400 | $54,400 | $26,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $53,100 | $53,100 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $52,300 | $52,300 | N/A |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $52,000 | $52,000 | $23,519 |
| International Business | $46,400 | $46,400 | $24,251 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,200 | $46,200 | $23,676 |
| Architecture | $45,000 | $45,000 | $30,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $44,800 | $44,800 | $21,803 |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | $40,600 | $40,600 | $29,010 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $40,000 | $40,000 | $26,000 |
| Chemistry | $39,300 | $39,300 | $22,757 |
| Geography and Cartography | $39,300 | $39,300 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $38,100 | $38,100 | $24,844 |
| Marketing | $38,100 | $38,100 | $22,374 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $37,300 | $37,300 | $21,500 |
| Mathematics | $37,100 | $37,100 | $20,772 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,000 | $37,000 | $22,500 |
| Public Health | $37,000 | $37,000 | $25,000 |
| History | $33,500 | $33,500 | $22,707 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,800 | $32,800 | $24,916 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,700 | $32,700 | $23,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,100 | $32,100 | $21,500 |
| Social Work | $31,900 | $31,900 | $28,346 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,300 | $31,300 | $25,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $30,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $29,900 | $29,900 | $19,250 |
| Sociology | $29,500 | $29,500 | $24,436 |
| Biology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $21,250 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $26,800 | $26,800 | $29,750 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,700 | $26,700 | $24,375 |
| Anthropology | $26,700 | $26,700 | $23,250 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $26,600 | $26,600 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | $26,500 | $26,500 | $22,303 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,000 | $26,000 | $24,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $23,900 | $23,900 | $23,250 |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $23,800 | $23,800 | $22,000 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $17,600 | $17,600 | $21,375 |
| Dance | $16,900 | $16,900 | $26,766 |
Similar Colleges in NC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Student Body
- 24,453 students
- Admission Rate
- 80%
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,435
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,289
- Median Student Debt
- $21,500