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University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC 14,922 Undergrads 73.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,547
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,109
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,925
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,109
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$61,925
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate73.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
64.2%
SAT Avg
1,287
SAT Reading
25th: 62064075th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 61063075th: 660
ACT Composite
25th: 242675th: 29
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$551k
+$84k
+$67k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$479k
+$12k
-$6k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$456k
-$11k
-$29k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-8%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-30%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return42%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-40%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$22,987
Earnings (4yr)
$33,461
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,750
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$19,555
Earnings (4yr)
$75,512
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$99,380
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$16,400
Earnings (4yr)
$65,982
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,315
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,964
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,980
Earnings (4yr)
$88,219
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,514
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,956
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,812
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,008
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$34,184
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,479
Earnings (4yr)
$42,192
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$22,995
Earnings (4yr)
$60,414
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$23,421
Earnings (4yr)
$86,654
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,786
Earnings (4yr)
$46,072
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,707
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,196
Earnings (4yr)
$66,941
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,527
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$20,125
Earnings (4yr)
$50,241
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3899
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,597
Natl Median: $46,083
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,564
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,258
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,932
Earnings (4yr)
$49,609
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$21,458
Earnings (4yr)
$60,722
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,128
Earnings (4yr)
$86,606
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,696
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$26,264
Earnings (4yr)
$37,968
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,289
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,587
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,591
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,039
Earnings (4yr)
$52,494
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,632
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,024
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$118,289
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,355
Earnings (4yr)
$99,106
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,873
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dispute Resolution
MastCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,311
Natl Median: $74,725
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,746
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,227
Earnings (4yr)
$56,340
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$30,854
Earnings (4yr)
$61,981
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,997
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,153
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$334k
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$388k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
MastCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$99,698
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,961
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,402
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
MastCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,362
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$29,717
Earnings (4yr)
$72,403
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$30,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,816
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$28,810
Earnings (4yr)
$106,699
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$52,194
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,246
Earnings (4yr)
$59,108
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$50,098
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$243k
Doctoral Degrees
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
DocCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$63,635
Earnings (4yr)
$89,829
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.