Compare 13 General Studies. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $36,614.
With top graduates earning $55,964, General Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $19K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with General Studies graduates earning $55,964, well above the $36,614 average across 13 programs. William Peace University follows at $46,347, demonstrating that strong outcomes aren't limited to research universities—program-specific factors drive success.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. NC State graduates borrow $20,121 and face just an 8.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. With a 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates can pay off their entire student debt with less than five months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $55,964
Strong outcomes with 97% acceptance
8.3% payment burden | Good
19.1% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $55,964 | 27 | $20,121 | Good | $23,000 | Challenging | |
| #2 | William Peace UniversityPrivate | $46,347 | 15 | $22,250 | Manageable | $40,688 | High |
| #3 | Belmont Abbey CollegePrivate | $41,133 | 18 | $26,000 | Challenging | $38,303 | High |
| #4 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $40,587 | 251 | $22,750 | Manageable | $19,710 | High |
| #5 | $37,786 | 178 | $27,000 | Challenging | $20,004 | High | |
| #6 | $37,709 | 34 | $14,000 | Manageable | $25,072 | High | |
| #7 | $37,527 | 60 | $22,987 | Challenging | $8,791 | High | |
| #8 | $37,419 | 144 | $22,858 | Challenging | $14,638 | High | |
| #9 | $32,477 | 48 | $25,000 | High | $12,030 | High | |
| #10 | Livingstone CollegePrivate | $31,814 | 23 | $31,125 | High | $25,088 | High |
| #11 | $28,552 | 19 | $20,500 | High | $20,305 | High | |
| #12 | $28,522 | 17 | $28,250 | High | $19,245 | High | |
| #13 | $20,140 | 11 | $20,231 | High | $21,919 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
