Head-to-head comparison
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs East Carolina University: which has better ROI?
Option A Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Net price / year
- $11,655
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,200
- Payback
- 2 yrs
Option B Greenville, NC
East Carolina University
- Net price / year
- $15,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,146
- Payback
- 9.3 yrs
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 9.3 years at East Carolina University, on median earnings of $72,200 vs $55,146 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | East Carolina University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,655 | $15,739 |
| Total net cost | $46,620 | $62,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $72,200 | $55,146 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $22,750 |
| Payback | 2 yrs | 9.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $430,180 | $72,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or East Carolina University?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, at $11,655 a year after aid versus $15,739 — a gap of $4,084 a year, or $16,336 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or East Carolina University graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates report a median $72,200 ten years after entry, $17,054 more than the $55,146 at East Carolina 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, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or East Carolina University?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $22,750 at East Carolina University, a difference of $8,750. 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?
91% of students finish at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 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.