Head-to-head comparison
University of North Carolina at Charlotte vs Wake Forest University: 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 Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University
- Net price / year
- $28,719
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,158
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Wake Forest University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,876 in 3.9 years versus 6.9 years at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, on median earnings of $78,158 vs $57,289 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Wake Forest University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,435 | $28,719 |
| Total net cost | $61,740 | $114,876 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,289 | $78,158 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $116,840 | $481,084 |
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 Wake Forest University?
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, at $15,435 a year after aid versus $28,719 — a gap of $13,284 a year, or $53,136 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 Wake Forest University graduates earn more?
Wake Forest University graduates report a median $78,158 ten years after entry, $20,869 more than the $57,289 at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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 Wake Forest University?
Completers at both borrow a median $21,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Wake Forest University, 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.