Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #50 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $81,033 four years after enrollment, placing University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the 86.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #99 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn about $8,469 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 83.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a signal that graduates consistently outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. Paired with a strong return on investment ranking and above-average median earnings, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill delivers durable financial outcomes that hold up well across the range of programs its graduates pursue.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prices meaningfully below its published cost of attendance for families who qualify for need-based aid. Low-income families pay approximately $2,004 per year, middle-income families see annual net costs around $8,538, and higher-income families pay closer to $24,396. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #103 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between the published cost of attendance of $26,055 and what most families actually pay reflects the university's substantial need-based aid reach — a pattern worth understanding before assuming the sticker price is the real price, as the net price illusion explains. Need-based aid drives the affordability story at UNC Chapel Hill. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and its Carolina Covenant program commits to meeting demonstrated financial need for qualifying low-income students. Aid packages typically combine grants, work-study, and limited loans, with the grant component doing the heaviest lifting for families in the lower income bands. Middle-income families see meaningful but more modest aid reductions from sticker price, and higher-income families pay closer to the full published cost. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual packages vary based on family financial circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,072; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $81,033, median federal debt of $14,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $158 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, public policy, business, and health-related fields who want a large public research university experience in NC with a track record of delivering strong post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $81,033, placing University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the 86.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and earn about $8,469 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 83.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure rewards Pell-eligible and first-generation applicants. 20.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.9% are first-generation students, and University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill sits in the 92.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — a signal that students from lower-income backgrounds have converted access here into meaningful long-run financial outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15.3% of applicants, making it selective, and its program mix is concentrated in Social Sciences and related disciplines. Students whose academic interests align with those fields and who can navigate the competitive application process will find the earnings trajectory and access outcomes among the strongest available at a public research university.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #50 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill enrolls roughly 20,752 undergraduates. Retention is 96.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 91.2%, placing the institution among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #99 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $81,033, and graduates earn about $8,469 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the 83.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Social Sciences, but strength extends across a broad portfolio — Social Sciences accounts for 15% of degrees, and programs like Business Administration deliver earnings at 1.99× the national benchmark for that field. The composite is shaped by a narrower access profile. University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15.3% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls (20.0% Pell, 19.9% first-generation). Access sits in the 91.8 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, while affordability sits in the 92.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility, however, remains a relative strength at the 94.5 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes for the low-income students who do enroll.
Computer Science
432 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
332 graduates
Applied Mathematics
211 graduates
Health and Medical Administrative Services
47 graduates
Economics
449 graduates
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, with Social Sciences accounting for 15% of graduates, Business representing 6%, and other STEM fields contributing 3%. The largest program by cohort is Communication and Media Studies with 560 graduates, followed by Biology, General (558 graduates) and Behavioral Sciences (490 graduates).
Computer Science combines strong enrollment with competitive earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes. Across 46 programs serving roughly 6,450 students annually, 37 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad portfolio for a flagship public research university.
The strongest national ranks cluster in applied and quantitative fields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #30 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 432 graduates earning $137,047.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #4 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $135,874, and Azimuth ranks Applied Mathematics #6 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 211 graduates earning $119,839. Among the most popular programs, Azimuth ranks Biology, General #57 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $62,047 — a strong result given its large cohort of 558 graduates.
Azimuth ranks Economics #24 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 449 graduates earning $103,846, as described in [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Several of University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill's high-earning programs feed directly into the national labor market — particularly Computer Science, Economics, and Nursing, where four-year earnings reflect strong employer demand and direct-to-workforce pathways.
Programs like Communication and Media Studies and Computer Science are more likely grad-school-dependent, where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to professional or doctoral programs. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context for how these program families align with national wage trends and hiring demand. ```
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Elon University Higher acceptance rate (48.6 percentage points higher) and located 29 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NC | 67% | $74,545 | Compare |
North Carolina State University At Raleigh Higher acceptance rate (21.1 percentage points higher) and located 23 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NC | 40% | $68,758 | Compare |
Hampden-Sydney College Higher acceptance rate (31.4 percentage points higher) and located 97 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 50% | $67,640 | Compare |
The Catholic University Of America Higher acceptance rate (65.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | DC | 84% | $73,250 | Compare |
William & Mary Higher acceptance rate (14 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 33% | $73,490 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuny Lehman College Similar quality tier (#2106 ranked) | NY | 57% | $58,013 | #2106 | Compare |
California State University-Dominguez Hills Similar quality tier (#2104 ranked) | CA | 93% | $57,162 | #2104 | Compare |
Montclair State University Similar quality tier (#2110 ranked) | NJ | 88% | $61,415 | #2110 | Compare |
San Francisco State University Similar quality tier (#2103 ranked) | CA | 96% | $68,077 | #2103 | Compare |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Similar quality tier (#2111 ranked) | CA | 31% | $90,768 | #2111 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prices meaningfully below its published cost of attendance for families who qualify for need-based aid. Low-income families pay approximately $2,004 per year, middle-income families see annual net costs around $8,538, and higher-income families pay closer to $24,396.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #103 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between the published cost of attendance of $26,055 and what most families actually pay reflects the university's substantial need-based aid reach — a pattern worth understanding before assuming the sticker price is the real price, as the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) explains.
Need-based aid drives the affordability story at UNC Chapel Hill. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and its Carolina Covenant program commits to meeting demonstrated financial need for qualifying low-income students.
Aid packages typically combine grants, work-study, and limited loans, with the grant component doing the heaviest lifting for families in the lower income bands. Middle-income families see meaningful but more modest aid reductions from sticker price, and higher-income families pay closer to the full published cost.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual packages vary based on family financial circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,072; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $81,033, median federal debt of $14,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $158 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn median earnings of $81,033 four years after enrollment, placing University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the 86.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $8,469 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the 83.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill #99 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill reflects a broad but analytically oriented program mix. Social Sciences is the dominant program family, accounting for 15% of degrees, followed by Business at 6% and other STEM fields at 3%.
The Communication and Media Studies program graduates 560 students annually with median earnings of $70,240 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #11 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Biology, General ranks #57 among nonprofit four-year institutions with 558 graduates earning median earnings of $62,047, while Economics ranks #24 among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning median earnings of $103,846 and Computer Science ranks #30 among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning median earnings of $137,047.
