Head-to-head comparison
Appalachian State University vs University of North Carolina Wilmington: which has better ROI?
Option A Boone, NC
Appalachian State University
- Net price / year
- $16,836
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,836
- Payback
- 19.4 yrs
Option B Wilmington, NC
University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Net price / year
- $20,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,967
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
University of North Carolina Wilmington has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,436 in 12.2 years versus 19.4 years at Appalachian State University, on median earnings of $54,967 vs $51,836 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Appalachian State University | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,836 | $20,109 |
| Total net cost | $67,344 | $80,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,836 | $54,967 |
| Median debt | $20,231 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 19.4 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $2,176 | $51,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Appalachian State University or University of North Carolina Wilmington?
Appalachian State University, at $16,836 a year after aid versus $20,109 — a gap of $3,273 a year, or $13,092 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Appalachian State University or University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates report a median $54,967 ten years after entry, $3,131 more than the $51,836 at Appalachian State 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Appalachian State University or University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina Wilmington: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $20,231 at Appalachian State University, a difference of $731. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Appalachian State University, against 71% at University of North Carolina Wilmington. 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.