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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 | University Of Mount OlivePrivate | Mount Olive, NC | $60,747 Median Business Earnings | $18,227 | 75.8% | 51.8% |
| #22 | Catawba CollegePrivate | Salisbury, NC | $60,718 Median Business Earnings | $13,618 | 75.2% | 47.3% |
| #23 | Asheville, NC | $60,191 Median Business Earnings | $8,219 | 91.9% | 54.5% | |
| #24 | Lees-Mcrae CollegePrivate | Banner Elk, NC | $60,108 Median Business Earnings | $23,030 | 76.8% | 42.1% |
| #25 | Greensboro CollegePrivate | Greensboro, NC | $59,215 Median Business Earnings | $13,877 | 70.1% | 46.2% |
| #26 | Greensboro, NC | $58,193 Median Business Earnings | $7,305 | 88.5% | 56.3% | |
| #27 | Mars Hill UniversityPrivate | Mars Hill, NC | $57,743 Median Business Earnings | $17,021 | 67.9% | 44.9% |
| #28 | Brevard CollegePrivate | Brevard, NC | $57,660 Median Business Earnings | $19,294 | 42.2% | 48.8% |
| #29 | Cullowhee, NC | $57,564 Median Business Earnings | $8,816 | 81.8% | 60.3% | |
| #30 | Durham, NC | $57,283 Median Business Earnings | $13,032 | 87.0% | 41.6% | |
| #31 | William Peace UniversityPrivate | Raleigh, NC | $56,173 Median Business Earnings | $15,779 | 94.3% | 44.8% |
| #32 | Barton CollegePrivate | Wilson, NC | $55,125 Median Business Earnings | $19,641 | 94.2% | 45.9% |
| #33 | Charlotte, NC | $54,958 Median Business Earnings | $23,414 | 79.9% | 49.0% | |
| #34 | Chowan UniversityPrivate | Murfreesboro, NC | $54,889 Median Business Earnings | $13,726 | 68.8% | 29.9% |
| #35 | Pembroke, NC | $54,828 Median Business Earnings | $7,919 | 93.3% | 43.5% | |
| #36 | Johnson C Smith UniversityPrivate | Charlotte, NC | $51,371 Median Business Earnings | $19,940 | 45.2% | 34.3% |
| #37 | Rocky Mount, NC | $51,246 Median Business Earnings | $16,114 | 80.2% | 42.0% | |
| #38 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,523 Median Business Earnings | $11,463 | 78.3% | 46.7% | |
| #39 | Shaw UniversityPrivate | Raleigh, NC | $47,401 Median Business Earnings | $16,236 | 80.2% | 21.8% |
| #40 | Elizabeth City, NC | $46,360 Median Business Earnings | $4,246 | 64.2% | 43.5% |
