University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill charges a net price of $11,655/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $46,620. Graduates earn a median $72,200 ten years after entry, $23,840/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2 years — a 20-year net return of $430,180, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's 2-year payback ranks #78 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 94% of them, and #1 of 115 in North Carolina.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,655/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $46,620 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $72,200 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $23,840/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $14,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $430,180 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's own numbers. Net price $11,655 × 4 years = $46,620 total. Median earnings $72,200 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $23,840 a year of premium. $46,620 ÷ $23,840 = 2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $430,180. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students graduate with?
A median $14,000 in federal loans among completers, or 19% of the $72,200 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students graduate?
91% finish their degree. Spread the $46,620 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $51,231 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $11,655 net price runs $809 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $3,236 more across the full degree.