UNC Chapel Hill achieves strong return on investment, ranking at the 80.6th percentile nationally with well above average performance. Graduates earn $11,657 more than peers from similar institutions, with median earnings of $72,200 compared to the peer median of $60,543. This earnings advantage reflects the university's academic quality and career preparation effectiveness. Student debt remains exceptionally controlled at $14,000 median, $6,000 below peer institutions, resulting in a favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19. The combination of strong earnings and low debt creates excellent financial sustainability for graduates, with loan payments representing less than one-fifth of annual income. Despite earnings falling $20,275 below demographic expectations, the university's comprehensive liberal arts mission produces graduates prepared for diverse career paths and graduate study continuation, supporting long-term career flexibility and advancement potential.
UNC Chapel Hill graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $57,057 six years after enrollment to $65,584 at eight years and $72,200 at ten years, representing 26.5% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 3,415 graduates, providing high confidence in reported figures. Graduates earn $11,657 more than the peer median of $60,543, placing UNC Chapel Hill well above typical outcomes for similar institutions. The earnings performance ranks at the 88th percentile nationally, indicating strong long-term career advancement. Low-income graduates earn $70,200, just $2,000 below the overall median, suggesting effective support for students from diverse economic backgrounds. Earnings span from $48,337 at the 25th percentile to $112,339 at the 75th percentile, with the gap reflecting program diversity across liberal arts, business, and STEM fields. Approximately 25% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Earnings outcomes at UNC Chapel Hill reflect the institution's comprehensive program portfolio. The gap between the 25th percentile ($48,337) and 75th percentile ($112,339) represents substantial variation based on field of study and career trajectory. Computer Science graduates lead with median earnings of $107,225, while Business Administration graduates earn $105,246, demonstrating strong performance in high-demand technical and professional fields. Applied Mathematics graduates earn $104,439, ranking #4 nationally in the major. Liberal arts programs show more moderate earnings, with Biology graduates earning $41,546 and English graduates earning $48,296, reflecting different career pathways and graduate school preparation focus. The 26.5% earnings growth between six and ten years indicates consistent career advancement as graduates establish themselves professionally.
Financial justification for the investment.
Earnings distribution at UNC Chapel Hill spans from $48,337 at the 25th percentile to $112,339 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles. Low-income graduates earn $70,200, just $2,000 below the overall median, demonstrating strong mobility potential across economic backgrounds. This earnings spread reflects program diversity and career path variations, with technical and business programs generating higher earnings while liberal arts programs emphasize graduate school preparation and career flexibility.
Approximately 25% of UNC Chapel Hill graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on high-confidence program mix analysis. This substantial graduate school continuation rate reflects the university's strength in pre-professional preparation and research opportunities, supporting students pursuing advanced degrees in law, medicine, and academic fields.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Computer Science leads earnings outcomes at $107,225, ranking #41 nationally, while Business Administration produces graduates earning $105,246 and ranking #6 nationally. Applied Mathematics achieves exceptional performance with $104,439 earnings and #4 national ranking. These high-earning programs balance the university's comprehensive liberal arts mission, which includes programs like Biology ($41,546) and English Literature ($48,296) that emphasize graduate school preparation. Communication and Media Studies demonstrates the university's strength in professional programs, ranking #6 nationally with $59,487 earnings and serving 598 graduates. This program diversity supports different career trajectories while maintaining overall strong return performance, reflecting UNC Chapel Hill's ability to combine academic excellence with practical career preparation across multiple disciplines.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Earnings distribution at UNC Chapel Hill spans from $48,337 at the 25th percentile to $112,339 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles. Low-income graduates earn $70,200, just $2,000 below the overall median, demonstrating strong mobility potential across economic backgrounds. This earnings spread reflects program diversity and career path variations, with technical and business programs generating higher earnings while liberal arts programs emphasize graduate school preparation and career flexibility.
