University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill— Earnings & Cost Trends

Graduate Earnings
$72,200
in 2021+44% since 2008
Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
$45K$54K$62K$71K$79K20082010201220142021$50K$72K
Net Price (Annual Cost) Over Time
$8K$10K$12K$14K$16K201020122014201620182020202220242025$9K$12K
Graduation Rate Over Time
100%100%100%100%100%19982000200220042006200820102012201420162018202020222024202584%91%

Key Insights

  • Earnings grew 44% since 2008 — graduates are earning more over time
  • Net price increased 26% since 2010 — costs are rising faster than inflation
  • Graduation rate improved by 8 percentage points since 1998

Year-by-Year Data

YearEarningsNet PriceGrad RateDebt
199884%$6,625
199980%$6,411
200080%$6,359
200179%$6,625
200279%$7,500
200380%$8,125
200483%$8,250
200581%$8,875
200684%$9,015
200784%$9,155
2008$50,20083%$9,302
200986%$9,500
2010$51,900$9,23485%$10,673
2011$9,54988%$11,801
2012$50,400$11,55189%$11,875
2013$51,000$12,63489%$12,386
2014$54,100$13,32290%$13,332
2015$55,600$13,24390%$14,000
2016$13,74490%$14,853
2017$13,21091%$15,000
2018$14,16391%$14,786
2019$13,91889%$14,024
2020$12,35291%$13,000
2021$72,200$12,46991%$12,989
2022$13,26392%
2023$12,41491%
2024$12,98392%
2025$11,65591%