University of North Carolina Wilmington vs Western Carolina University
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 Wilmington Wilmington, NC | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -25% | +10% |
| 10-year net gain | $-21,512 | $5,941 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $51,603 | $51,717 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $37,250 | $38,682 |
| Average net price | $20,109 | $13,315 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,868 |
| Break-even | 13.3 yrs | 9.1 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 71% | 60% |
| Admission rate | 64% | 82% |
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Poor return
$-21,512 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Western Carolina University
Break-even
+$5,941 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.