Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Memphis #224 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,507, placing University of Memphis in the 32.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Memphis sits in the 51.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how consistently graduates outperform what similar students earn at comparable institutions. Earn about $1,563 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the University of Memphis delivers stronger financial outcomes for its graduates than institutional characteristics alone would predict. Azimuth ranks University of Memphis #183 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Memphis #224 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Memphis, TN, University of Memphis enrolls roughly 12,701 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 50.9%, figures that reflect the realities of a large, broad-access urban research institution serving a diverse student population. What anchors University of Memphis in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 87.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 41.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.8% are first-generation college students. That combination of broad enrollment and meaningful post-graduation outcomes for lower-income graduates is the engine behind the composite position. Business is the dominant program family, and the university admits about 72.0% of applicants, reinforcing its role as an accessible pathway into professional careers across the Memphis metro and beyond. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks University of Memphis #878 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 40.7 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $57,507, which sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions. Graduates earn about $1,563 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Memphis in the 51.2 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect TN's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $31,130, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 78.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access in the 90.5 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of North Carolina Wilmington's published cost of attendance is $25,169. Net price by income band reveals a meaningful affordability advantage for lower-income families: low-income families pay approximately $10,607, while middle-income families pay around $13,923, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,691. Azimuth ranks University of Memphis #310 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public regional university, UNCW's tuition structure keeps headline costs accessible compared with private institutions. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students, with financial aid reducing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The affordability advantage is especially pronounced for low-income families, where institutional aid and federal grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,300, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,393; 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 $57,507, median federal debt of $23,300 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 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 Wilmington is a strong fit for students drawn to health, nursing, and applied professional fields who want a public university experience in coastal TN with solid long-term financial outcomes. Graduates earn in the 32.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Memphis sits in the 51.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $1,563 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad. 41.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.8% are first-generation students, with a completion rate for Pell-eligible students of 50.3% — figures that reflect an institution genuinely serving cost-sensitive and first-generation families, not just credentialing students who would succeed anywhere. Median debt at graduation is $23,300, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $18,691. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the dominant program concentration in Business means students whose interests align with health sciences, nursing, and related applied fields will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing highly specialized STEM or research-intensive paths may find a narrower program portfolio. The admission rate of 72.0% makes University of Memphis accessible to most qualified applicants, which broadens the pool but also means outcomes vary meaningfully by major choice.
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 Memphis hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Science
71 graduates
Computer Engineering
23 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
48 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
21 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
49 graduates
University of Memphis's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 17% of graduates — the largest concentration by field. Engineering represents 5% of degrees and Arts accounts for 5%, giving the university an applied-professional orientation with breadth across health and liberal-arts fields.
Across 47 programs serving roughly 3,125 students annually, 39 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad portfolio among nonprofit four-year institutions. The strongest earnings come from health and technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #227 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 296 graduates earning $75,444. Digital Marketing ranks #109 among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning $67,468, and Azimuth ranks Finance #173 among nonprofit four-year institutions with 102 graduates earning $65,132.
Among the largest programs, Kinesiology program graduates 433 students annually with median earnings of $50,126, while The Nursing program graduates 296 students earning $75,444 four years after enrollment. Several of University of Memphis's largest programs — including Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, General — feed directly into regional workforce demand in education, health, and social services, where four-year earnings reflect local labor-market conditions.
Higher-earning fields like Business Administration and Biology, General, with graduates earning $65,045 and $53,784 respectively, represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with broader wage trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale and earnings outcomes.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Similar quality tier (#9097 ranked) | PR | 57% | $48,992 | #9097 | Compare |
Clemson University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#9611 ranked) | SC | 38% | $71,513 | #9611 | Compare |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Similar quality tier (#9612 ranked) | IL | 98% | $56,346 | #9612 | Compare |
University Of Delaware Similar quality tier in Southeast (#8573 ranked) | DE | 71% | $72,950 | #8573 | Compare |
Fashion Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#9622 ranked) | NY | 60% | $62,696 | #9622 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of North Carolina Wilmington's published cost of attendance is $25,169. Net price by income band reveals a meaningful affordability advantage for lower-income families: low-income families pay approximately $10,607, while middle-income families pay around $13,923, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,691.
Azimuth ranks University of Memphis #310 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public regional university, UNCW's tuition structure keeps headline costs accessible compared with private institutions. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students, with financial aid reducing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
The affordability advantage is especially pronounced for low-income families, where institutional aid and federal grants substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,300, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,393; 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 $57,507, median federal debt of $23,300 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 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 Memphis earn median earnings of $57,507 four years after enrollment, placing University of Memphis in the 32.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $1,563 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 51.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to TN's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,130 — the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
Azimuth ranks University of Memphis #878 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 17% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 5% and Arts at 5%.
Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Kinesiology #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 433 graduates earning median earnings of $50,126 — 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Nursing program graduates 296 students with median earnings of $75,444, and Azimuth ranks Interdisciplinary Studies #40 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 235 graduates earning median earnings of $49,707. Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the top programs, with Azimuth ranking them #248 and #134 respectively for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
