University of North Carolina at Charlotte vs Central Piedmont Community College: which has better ROI?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,740 in 6.9 years versus not at all at Central Piedmont Community College, on median earnings of $57,289 vs $37,865 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Central Piedmont Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,435 | $3,345 |
| Total net cost | $61,740 | $6,690 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,289 | $37,865 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $7,925 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $116,840 | -$216,590 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina at Charlotte or Central Piedmont Community College?
Central Piedmont Community College, at $3,345 a year after aid versus $15,435 — a gap of $12,090 a year, or $55,050 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 Charlotte or Central Piedmont Community College graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates report a median $57,289 ten years after entry, $19,424 more than the $37,865 at Central Piedmont Community College. 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 Charlotte or Central Piedmont Community College?
Central Piedmont Community College: its completers carry a median $7,925 in federal loans versus $21,500 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a difference of $13,575. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, against 31% at Central Piedmont Community College. 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.