Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Charlotte #98 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $65,370 four years after enrollment, placing University of North Carolina At Charlotte in the 70.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of North Carolina At Charlotte sits in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $3,298 more than similar students at comparable institutions. --- Students at University of North Carolina At Charlotte earn meaningfully more than similar students at other institutions, a pattern that holds across the university's broad program mix anchored by business and professional fields. Graduates achieve median earnings that place the institution well above the midpoint among nonprofit four-year institutions, with the earnings-beyond-expectations advantage reinforcing that the return on investment here outpaces what raw earnings alone suggest.
University of North Carolina At Charlotte's published cost of attendance is $23,010, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,357, middle-income families pay around $13,690, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,761. Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Charlotte #384 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 university, University of North Carolina At Charlotte benefits from in-state tuition structures that keep sticker prices lower than at many private institutions, and need-based aid narrows the gap further for qualifying families. The spread between what low-income and higher-income families pay reflects the university's aid reach across the income spectrum — a meaningful signal for families weighing the net price illusion between published and actual costs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, compared with a peer median of $19,976. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,809; 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 $65,370, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 At Charlotte is a strong fit for students drawn to business, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university experience in Charlotte, NC, with clear pathways into one of the Southeast's fastest-growing job markets. Graduates earn median $65,370 four years after enrollment, placing University of North Carolina At Charlotte in the 70.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and earn about $3,298 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 33.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.4% are first-generation — and delivers low-income graduate earnings that place University of North Carolina At Charlotte in the 71.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. For cost-sensitive families, median student debt at graduation is $21,500, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $21,761. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes; and students seeking a highly research-intensive or nationally selective environment may want to compare options, as University of North Carolina At Charlotte is broadly accessible with an admission rate of 79.6%.
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 North Carolina At Charlotte hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Charlotte #98 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Charlotte, NC, University of North Carolina At Charlotte enrolls roughly 24,453 undergraduates. Retention stands at 85.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 69.0%, reflecting solid degree completion relative to the institution's broad-access profile. What anchors University of North Carolina At Charlotte in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 95.9 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by meaningful enrollment of low-income and first-generation students — 33.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.4% are first-generation. Business is the dominant program family, and the university's program mix channels graduates into career pathways across Charlotte's diversified regional economy. Affordability reinforces the composite, sitting in the 73.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar — Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Charlotte #525 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 64.6 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,370, and earn about $3,298 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of North Carolina At Charlotte in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The admission rate of 79.6% reflects a broad-access posture that prioritizes scale and opportunity over selectivity, and access sits in the 87.6 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of North Carolina At Charlotte's published cost of attendance is $23,010, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,357, middle-income families pay around $13,690, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,761.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina At Charlotte #384 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 university, University of North Carolina At Charlotte benefits from in-state tuition structures that keep sticker prices lower than at many private institutions, and need-based aid narrows the gap further for qualifying families. The spread between what low-income and higher-income families pay reflects the university's aid reach across the income spectrum — a meaningful signal for families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) between published and actual costs.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, compared with a peer median of $19,976. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,809; 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 $65,370, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 North Carolina at Charlotte earn median 4-year earnings of $65,370, placing University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 70.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,298 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 71.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of North Carolina at Charlotte #525 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Computer Science reports 593 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $93,037, ranked #99 nationally in its major. Psychology, General reports 396 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $50,507, ranked #163 nationally in its major.
Finance and Financial Management Services reports 380 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $74,965, ranked #88 nationally in its major. Health and Medical Administrative Services reports 354 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $52,400, ranked #46 nationally in its major.
Computer Engineering
75 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
103 graduates
Computer Science
593 graduates
Physics
16 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
175 graduates
University of North Carolina At Charlotte's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 19% of graduates — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. Engineering represents 8% of degrees and Social Sciences accounts for 6%, giving the university an applied-professional orientation typical of large urban public research universities.
Across 59 programs serving roughly 6,019 students annually, 50 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad portfolio that reflects Charlotte's role as a major financial and healthcare employment center. Computer Science combines the largest cohort with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to the institution's aggregate return.
Azimuth ranks Computer Science #77 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 593 graduates earning $93,037. The Psychology, General program graduates 396 students with median earnings of $50,507, and the The Finance program graduates 380 students earning $74,965.
Azimuth ranks Finance #73 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #88 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $70,654.
Several of University of North Carolina At Charlotte's strongest programs feed directly into Charlotte's financial-services and technology sectors — high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce immediately and four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes. Programs like Health Administration and Communication and Media Studies, with 354 and 311 graduates respectively, serve students who may pursue graduate study or enter applied roles where career trajectories build over a longer horizon.
The supply-demand map for college graduates provides context for how the institution's business-heavy program mix aligns with regional and national employer demand, and the program-ranking methodology explains how Azimuth evaluates individual programs.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Utah Similar quality tier (#4211 ranked) | UT | 86% | $67,170 | #4211 | Compare |
University Of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Similar quality tier (#4213 ranked) | OK | 77% | $63,126 | #4213 | Compare |
College Of Staten Island Cuny Similar quality tier (#4208 ranked) | NY | 92% | $53,501 | #4208 | Compare |
North Carolina State University At Raleigh Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4217 ranked) | NC | 42% | $68,758 | #4217 | Compare |
University Of Georgia Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4218 ranked) | GA | 38% | $68,726 | #4218 | Compare |
