University of North Carolina School of the Arts — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of North Carolina School of the Arts charges a net price of $14,906/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $59,624. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,357, 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, University of North Carolina School of the Arts does not clear its cost — it ranks #61 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) | $14,906/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $59,624 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,357 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$10,003/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,870 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$259,684 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of North Carolina School of the Arts's own numbers. Net price $14,906 × 4 years = $59,624 total. Median earnings $38,357 fall $10,003 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 $59,624 bill in about 6.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of North Carolina School of the Arts students graduate with?
A median $23,870 in federal loans among completers, or 62% of the $38,357 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 School of the Arts students graduate?
78% finish their degree. Spread the $59,624 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $76,441 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of North Carolina School of the Arts expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $14,906 net price runs $4,060 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $16,240 more across the full degree.