North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of North Carolina at Charlotte: which has better ROI?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $69,212 in 3.4 years versus 6.9 years at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, on median earnings of $68,758 vs $57,289 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,303 | $15,435 |
| Total net cost | $69,212 | $61,740 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,758 | $57,289 |
| Median debt | $20,121 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $338,748 | $116,840 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of North Carolina at Charlotte?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, at $15,435 a year after aid versus $17,303 — a gap of $1,868 a year, or $7,472 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates earn more?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates report a median $68,758 ten years after entry, $11,469 more than the $57,289 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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, North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of North Carolina at Charlotte?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh: its completers carry a median $20,121 in federal loans versus $21,500 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a difference of $1,379. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at North Carolina State University at Raleigh, against 69% at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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.