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.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $26,055 |
| Tuition and Fees | $41,203 |
| Room and Board | $13,804 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,290 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$14,400 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $11,655 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $2,004 |
| $30–48k | $3,918 |
| $48–75k | $8,538 |
| $75–110k | $16,415 |
| $110k+ | $24,396 |
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 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 .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
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.
