University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of North Carolina Wilmington — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of North Carolina Wilmington at a Glance
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, or University of North Carolina at Wilmington, is a public research university in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system and enrolled 18,848 undergraduate and graduate students in 2024. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
1947
79 years old
$178M
$178.4 million (2025)
19,895
16,131 undergrad · 3,764 grad
1,012
661 acres
Identity
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington Worth It?
University of North Carolina Wilmington offers moderate value at $20,109/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $54,967, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 71% graduation rate means roughly 29% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of North Carolina Wilmington compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #26 of 43 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 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #4 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #5 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #6 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #26 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 48 | $20,109 | $54,967 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of North Carolina Wilmington's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of North Carolina Wilmington
The highest-earning program at University of North Carolina Wilmington is Computer Science at $61,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $19,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from University of North Carolina Wilmington earns $61,300, while a Anthropology graduate earns $19,300. 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 Science graduates carry $23,809 in median debt vs. $26,000 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $20,109/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 Science | $61,300 | $61,300 | $23,809 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $57,800 | $57,800 | $16,000 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $48,000 | $48,000 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,200 | $40,200 | $20,500 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $38,200 | $38,200 | N/A |
| Special Education and Teaching | $37,800 | $37,800 | $19,597 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,800 | $36,800 | $20,500 |
| Chemistry | $36,000 | $36,000 | $20,368 |
| Mathematics | $35,900 | $35,900 | $21,500 |
| Public Health | $32,100 | $32,100 | $19,990 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $31,800 | $31,800 | $21,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $31,200 | $31,200 | $22,500 |
| Criminology | $30,600 | $30,600 | $21,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,500 | $30,500 | $25,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,400 | $30,400 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,900 | $29,900 | $23,750 |
| Social Work | $29,500 | $29,500 | $21,869 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,800 | $26,800 | $21,500 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $26,800 | $26,800 | $18,616 |
| Biology, General | $25,600 | $25,600 | $22,397 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $25,500 | $25,500 | $18,437 |
| History | $25,300 | $25,300 | $21,750 |
| Psychology, General | $25,200 | $25,200 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,208 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,400 | $24,400 | $21,500 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $24,100 | $24,100 | $20,313 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $23,500 | $23,500 | $22,469 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $22,800 | $22,800 | $20,877 |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other | $21,400 | $21,400 | $25,800 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,300 | $20,300 | $21,875 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $19,400 | $19,400 | $25,250 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,400 | $19,400 | $24,750 |
| Anthropology | $19,300 | $19,300 | $26,000 |
Similar Colleges in NC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
- Student Body
- 14,922 students
- Admission Rate
- 64%
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $20,109
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $54,967
- Median Student Debt
- $19,500