University of North Carolina Wilmington
#3 Best Nursing Colleges in North CarolinaBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.5 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Nursing Colleges in North Carolina.
Every $1 spent returns $16.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,247,700.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 35% above the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $16.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
Why University of North Carolina Wilmington Matters
University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public research university in Wilmington, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 14,922
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose University of North Carolina Wilmington
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 64% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1230–1340. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,109 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,967 ten years after enrolling — 35% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 91% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.49 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is a great fit for those looking for a balanced college experience. It serves students who are interested in popular fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Psychology. The acceptance rate of 64% means that there’s a good chance of getting in, making it accessible for a wide range of applicants.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $54,967 within ten years, which is a solid starting point for many. While we don’t have specific mobility data, the graduation rate of 71% suggests that most students are successfully completing their degrees and moving into their careers. Affordability plays a role here, too, with many students receiving Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden.
In terms of the bottom line, the net price after financial aid is about $20,109, which is manageable for many families. With a median debt of $19,500, graduates are leaving with a reasonable amount of student loans, especially when compared to their earning potential. This environment tends to thrive for those who are motivated and willing to engage with their studies, making it a good choice for students ready to take charge of their education and future.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of North Carolina Wilmington is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of North Carolina Wilmington? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Wilmington, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Wilmington admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 64%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,287. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 71%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Carolina Wilmington? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending University of North Carolina Wilmington, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,152 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,109 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,778 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Carolina Wilmington earn a median of $54,967, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of North Carolina Wilmington delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,109/year ($80,436 total). Graduates earn $54,967 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,328,136 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,247,700 (16.5× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of North Carolina Wilmington Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of North Carolina Wilmington is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.71%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.6% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $106,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of North Carolina Wilmington produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 8 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of North Carolina Wilmington awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of North Carolina Wilmington's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of North Carolina Wilmington? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Wilmington, North Carolina, University of North Carolina Wilmington admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 64%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,287. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Carolina Wilmington? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of North Carolina Wilmington, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $24,152 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,109 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,778 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,500.
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of University of North Carolina Wilmington earn a median of $54,967, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does University of North Carolina Wilmington Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
University of North Carolina Wilmington is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.71%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.6% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $106,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of North Carolina Wilmington? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of North Carolina Wilmington, with an economic connectedness score of 1.49 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of North Carolina Wilmington? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of North Carolina Wilmington, with an economic connectedness score of 1.49 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note