Chowan University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Chowan University charges a net price of $14,086/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $56,344. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,412, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Chowan University does not clear its cost — it ranks #58 of 115 North Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,086/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $56,344 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,412 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,948/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $29,491 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$255,304 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Chowan University's own numbers. Net price $14,086 × 4 years = $56,344 total. Median earnings $38,412 fall $9,948 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $56,344 bill in about 5.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Chowan University students graduate with?
A median $29,491 in federal loans among completers, or 77% of the $38,412 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Chowan University students graduate?
30% finish their degree — 70% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $56,344 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $187,813 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Chowan University expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $14,086 net price runs $3,240 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $12,960 more across the full degree.