Head-to-head comparison
University of North Carolina at Charlotte vs University of North Carolina Wilmington: which has better ROI?
Option A Charlotte, NC
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Net price / year
- $15,435
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,289
- Payback
- 6.9 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 at Charlotte has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,740 in 6.9 years versus 12.2 years at University of North Carolina Wilmington, on median earnings of $57,289 vs $54,967 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,435 | $20,109 |
| Total net cost | $61,740 | $80,436 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,289 | $54,967 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $116,840 | $51,704 |
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 Charlotte or University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, at $15,435 a year after aid versus $20,109 — a gap of $4,674 a year, or $18,696 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 Charlotte or University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates report a median $57,289 ten years after entry, $2,322 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, University of North Carolina at Charlotte or University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina Wilmington: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a difference of $2,000. 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 69% at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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.