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Wingate University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Wingate, NC · 2,668 students

The verdict

Wingate University charges a net price of $20,748/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,992. Graduates earn a median $52,649 ten years after entry, $4,289/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 19.3 years — a 20-year net return of $2,788, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Wingate University's 19.3-year payback ranks #1,053 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 18% of them, and #17 of 115 in North Carolina.

Better ROI than 18% of US colleges#1,053 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$20,748
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$52,649
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
19.3 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
91%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Wingate University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$20,748/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$82,992our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$52,649Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$4,289/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback19.3 yrsour math
20-year net return$2,788our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Wingate University's own numbers. Net price $20,748 × 4 years = $82,992 total. Median earnings $52,649 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,289 a year of premium. $82,992 ÷ $4,289 = 19.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $2,788. 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 Wingate University students graduate with?

A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $52,649 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Wingate University students graduate?

46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,992 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $180,417 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Wingate University expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?

Its $20,748 net price runs $9,902 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $39,608 more across the full degree.

Wingate University: frequently asked questions

Is Wingate University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Wingate University charges $20,748/yr after aid ($82,992 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $52,649 ten years out — $4,289/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 19.3 years and returns $2,788 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Wingate University degree take to pay off?
About 19.3 years. We divide the $82,992 four-year net cost by the $4,289/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Wingate University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $20,748/yr — about $82,992 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Wingate University compare to other North Carolina colleges?
It ranks #17 of 115 North Carolina colleges we track by payback. Its $52,649 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $20,748 net price is above the national median of $16,902.