Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs Cabarrus College of Health Sciences: which has better ROI?

Public, Chapel Hill NC · vs · Private nonprofit, Concord NC

The verdict

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $46,620 in 2 years versus 3.4 years at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, on median earnings of $72,200 vs $58,708 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillCabarrus College of Health Sciences
Net price / yr$11,655$17,618
Total net cost$46,620$35,236
Median earnings, 10 yrs$72,200$58,708
Median debt$14,000$16,000
Payback2 yrs3.4 yrs
20-year net return$430,180$171,724

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, at $11,655 a year after aid versus $17,618 — a gap of $5,963 a year, or $11,384 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences graduates earn more?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates report a median $72,200 ten years after entry, $13,492 more than the $58,708 at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. 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, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $16,000 at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, a difference of $2,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

91% of students finish at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, against 71% at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. 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.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs Cabarrus College of Health Sciences: frequently asked questions

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences a better value?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It clears its $46,620 net cost in about 2 years versus 3.4 years at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, on median earnings of $72,200 vs $58,708 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: $11,655/yr net price after aid versus $17,618/yr at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences — a difference of $5,963 a year, or about $11,384 over four years.
Do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Cabarrus College of Health Sciences graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates earn a median $72,200 ten years after entry, versus $58,708 at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences — a $13,492 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.