Duke University vs North Carolina Central University: which has better ROI?
Duke University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,448 in 2.4 years versus not at all at North Carolina Central University, on median earnings of $97,800 vs $42,968 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Duke University | North Carolina Central University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,612 | $15,359 |
| Total net cost | $118,448 | $61,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $97,800 | $42,968 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $28,250 |
| Payback | 2.4 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $870,352 | -$169,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Duke University or North Carolina Central University?
North Carolina Central University, at $15,359 a year after aid versus $29,612 — a gap of $14,253 a year, or $57,012 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Duke University or North Carolina Central University graduates earn more?
Duke University graduates report a median $97,800 ten years after entry, $54,832 more than the $42,968 at North Carolina Central University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Duke University or North Carolina Central University?
Duke University: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $28,250 at North Carolina Central University, a difference of $15,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
97% of students finish at Duke University, against 42% at North Carolina Central University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.