Head-to-head comparison
University of North Carolina Wilmington vs Cape Fear Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Wilmington, NC
University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Net price / year
- $20,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,967
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Option B Wilmington, NC
Cape Fear Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,610
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,654
- Payback
- No payback
University of North Carolina Wilmington has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,436 in 12.2 years versus not at all at Cape Fear Community College, on median earnings of $54,967 vs $38,654 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina Wilmington | Cape Fear Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,109 | $9,610 |
| Total net cost | $80,436 | $19,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,967 | $38,654 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $51,704 | -$213,340 |
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 Wilmington or Cape Fear Community College?
Cape Fear Community College, at $9,610 a year after aid versus $20,109 — a gap of $10,499 a year, or $61,216 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 Wilmington or Cape Fear Community College graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates report a median $54,967 ten years after entry, $16,313 more than the $38,654 at Cape Fear Community College. 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 Wilmington or Cape Fear Community College?
Cape Fear Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at University of North Carolina Wilmington, a difference of $10,000. 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 34% at Cape Fear Community College. 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.