University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs Wake Technical Community College
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Poor return |
| 10-year ROI | +333% | -113% |
| 10-year net gain | $172,088 | $-24,711 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $67,381 | $44,718 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $49,219 | $35,478 |
| Average net price | $11,655 | $8,759 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $12,000 |
| Break-even | 2.3 yrs | — |
| Graduation rate | 91% | — |
| Admission rate | 15% | — |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Strong return
+$172,088 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Wake Technical Community College
Poor return
$-24,711 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.