Head-to-head comparison
East Carolina University vs University of North Carolina Wilmington: which has better ROI?
Option A Greenville, NC
East Carolina University
- Net price / year
- $15,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,146
- Payback
- 9.3 yrs
Option B Wilmington, NC
University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Net price / year
- $20,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,967
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
East Carolina University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,956 in 9.3 years versus 12.2 years at University of North Carolina Wilmington, on median earnings of $55,146 vs $54,967 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | East Carolina University | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,739 | $20,109 |
| Total net cost | $62,956 | $80,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,146 | $54,967 |
| Median debt | $22,750 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 9.3 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $72,764 | $51,704 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, East Carolina University or University of North Carolina Wilmington?
East Carolina University, at $15,739 a year after aid versus $20,109 — a gap of $4,370 a year, or $17,480 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 East Carolina University or University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates earn more?
East Carolina University graduates report a median $55,146 ten years after entry, $179 more than the $54,967 at University of North Carolina Wilmington. 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, East Carolina University or University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina Wilmington: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $22,750 at East Carolina University, a difference of $3,250. 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?
71% of students finish at University of North Carolina Wilmington, against 63% at East Carolina 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.