Business programs across North Carolina's 40 institutions produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $30,819 to $101,805, though the state average of $49,388 falls $6,429 below national benchmarks. This variation in program outcomes demonstrates why selecting the right undergraduate business program significantly impacts long-term management careers and median earnings potential.
Leading the list is Wake Forest University, achieving the highest program earnings at $101,805. The top tier includes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill with $96,183 earnings and Elon University at $81,479, demonstrating how premier business degree programs in the state deliver exceptional graduate outcomes that justify their positioning among North Carolina's most competitive offerings.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | Winston-Salem, NC | $132,596 Median Business Earnings | $6,525 | 21.7% | 89.1% |
| #2 | Chapel Hill, NC | $124,290 Median Business Earnings | $2,004 | 15.3% | 91.2% | |
| #3 | Elon UniversityPrivate | Elon, NC | $97,860 Median Business Earnings | $26,523 | 66.3% | 84.0% |
| #4 | Charlotte, NC | $87,012 Median Business Earnings | $22,792 | 62.1% | 61.3% | |
| #5 | Raleigh, NC | $84,037 Median Business Earnings | $6,382 | 41.7% | 84.8% | |
| #6 | Wilmington, NC | $75,512 Median Business Earnings | $10,778 | 64.2% | 70.6% | |
| #7 | High Point UniversityPrivate | High Point, NC | $75,307 Median Business Earnings | $32,763 | 75.3% | 73.7% |
| #8 | Boone, NC | $73,594 Median Business Earnings | $9,325 | 90.1% | 74.5% | |
| #9 | Charlotte, NC | $71,211 Median Business Earnings | $10,357 | 79.6% | 69.0% | |
| #10 | Belmont Abbey CollegePrivate | Belmont, NC | $71,113 Median Business Earnings | $20,610 | 74.7% | 46.7% |
| #11 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | Greenville, NC | $70,643 Median Business Earnings | $10,046 | 89.2% | 62.6% |
| #12 | Wingate UniversityPrivate | Wingate, NC | $69,545 Median Business Earnings | $18,772 | 91.1% | 46.4% |
| #13 | Salem CollegePrivate | Winston-Salem, NC | $68,431 Median Business Earnings | $19,074 | 76.7% | 57.4% |
| #14 | Montreat CollegePrivate | Montreat, NC | $67,034 Median Business Earnings | $23,261 | 69.2% | 50.3% |
| #15 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | Buies Creek, NC | $65,895 Median Business Earnings | $20,751 | 87.2% | 61.0% |
| #16 | Greensboro, NC | $64,119 Median Business Earnings | $8,223 | 49.9% | 57.2% | |
| #17 | Guilford CollegePrivate | Greensboro, NC | $63,261 Median Business Earnings | $18,367 | 80.0% | 45.8% |
| #18 | Methodist UniversityPrivate | Fayetteville, NC | $60,995 Median Business Earnings | $20,371 | 75.1% | 43.5% |
| #19 | Pfeiffer UniversityPrivate | Misenheimer, NC | $60,936 Median Business Earnings | $16,167 | 96.0% | 35.0% |
| #20 | Gardner-Webb UniversityPrivate | Boiling Springs, NC | $60,754 Median Business Earnings | $15,304 | 77.2% | 55.4% |
