Rankings / By State
Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina
- 25
- Schools
- $53,690
- Avg. Earnings
- 60%
- Avg. Graduation
- $20,517
- Avg. Net Price
- $23,601
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 25 schools run from $34,409 to $81,400, a 2.4× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill delivers the most for the money: roughly $72,200 in median earnings against $11,655 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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North Carolina A & T State University is the lowest-cost school here at $10,846 a year in net price.
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates 92% of its students, versus a 60% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.19× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($72,200 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Davidson College ($81,400), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- North Carolina A & T State University costs $10,846 a year and Elon University costs $41,555. Yet their graduates earn $44,440 and $74,545, nowhere near the $30,709 price gap.
- On value, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill beats Davidson College: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $52K within a decade, and pr specialist roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill #1 overall | $72,200 ▲ +34% vs avg | $11,655 | 92% | 84 |
| 2 Davidson College #2 overall | $81,400 ▲ +52% vs avg | $17,379 | 91% | 80 |
| 3 Wake Forest University #3 overall | $78,158 ▲ +46% vs avg | $28,719 | 90% | 79 |
| $74,545 ▲ +39% vs avg | $41,555 | 84% | 77 | |
| $51,836 ▼ -3% vs avg | $16,836 | 74% | 74 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina
This analysis ranks 25 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $53,690 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 60% and an average net price of $20,517.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Net Price: $11,655 | Graduation Rate: 92%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — 92% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Davidson College — Median alumni earnings: $81,400
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Humanities & Creative Fields Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the value of a humanities and creative education?
$51,539
Median earnings (10yr)
58%
Median graduation rate
$17,879
Median net price
1.4%
Avg. mobility rate
Arts, communications, and humanities programs draw perpetual skepticism about their payoff. Early earnings do start lower, and the path is less linear. The core skills compound, though. Writing, judgment, persuasion, and creative problem-solving gain value over a career, and they are the abilities automation has been slowest to replicate.
Across the 25 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $51,539 ten years after they first enrolled, about $3,539 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 58%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $17,879 a year, with about $24,222 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 36% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.4%.
What we’re seeing: outcomes in these fields vary widely, and affordability matters most precisely where early earnings start slow. Median earnings of $51,539 ten years after enrollment against a $17,879 net price show why low cost is the lever that turns a humanities degree into a clear win.
The podium
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Full rankings
Chapel Hill, NC · 15% accepted · $11,655 net
Why it ranks #1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lands at #1 with a 84/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (77/100). Graduates earn a median $72,200 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,655 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Davidson College lands at #2 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (91/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (72/100). Graduates earn a median $81,400 a decade after enrolling, 52% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,379 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Wake Forest University lands at #3 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (65/100). Graduates earn a median $78,158 a decade after enrolling, 46% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,719 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Elon University lands at #4 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $74,545 a decade after enrolling, 39% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,555 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Appalachian State University lands at #5 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (65/100). Graduates earn a median $51,836 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,836 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Charlotte, NC · 80% accepted · $15,435 net
Why it ranks #6
University of North Carolina at Charlotte lands at #6 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $57,289 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,435 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Wilmington, NC · 64% accepted · $20,109 net
Why it ranks #7
University of North Carolina Wilmington lands at #7 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $54,967 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,109 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
East Carolina University lands at #8 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $55,146 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,739 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Asheville, NC · 92% accepted · $12,250 net
Why it ranks #9
University of North Carolina Asheville lands at #9 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (61/100). Graduates earn a median $44,030 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,250 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
High Point University lands at #10 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $61,389 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $38,707 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Meredith College lands at #11 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $51,539 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,488 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Greensboro, NC · 89% accepted · $10,965 net
Why it ranks #12
University of North Carolina at Greensboro lands at #12 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $48,160 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,965 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Greensboro, NC · 50% accepted · $10,846 net
Why it ranks #13
North Carolina A & T State University lands at #13 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $44,440 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,846 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Queens University of Charlotte lands at #14 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (37/100). Graduates earn a median $57,673 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,857 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Wingate University lands at #15 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $52,649 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,748 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Catawba College lands at #16 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $48,793 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,879 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Campbell University lands at #17 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $54,886 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,516 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Winston-Salem State University lands at #18 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $45,344 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,479 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
William Peace University lands at #19 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $46,643 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,649 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Barton College lands at #20 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $47,913 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,626 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
North Carolina Central University lands at #21 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $42,968 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,359 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Gardner-Webb University lands at #22 with a 59/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $48,039 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,674 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Shaw University lands at #23 with a 57/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $34,409 a decade after enrolling, 36% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,512 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Montreat College lands at #24 with a 54/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (38/100). Graduates earn a median $45,151 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,061 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Johnson C Smith University lands at #25 with a 53/100 composite, led by social mobility (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $42,680 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,894 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 25 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become PR Specialists and related roles — a field with $67,440 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the PR Specialist career guide →Choosing a communications program in North Carolina can be a pivotal decision for students looking to launch their careers. With 25 colleges in the state offering specialized programs, it’s essential to understand what sets these institutions apart. This list highlights schools that excel in key outcomes, giving prospective students a clearer picture of their options.
What distinguishes the top performers from the rest? Primarily, it comes down to graduation rates, average earnings, and manageable debt levels. We’ve gathered data on each program’s outcomes so you can see which schools are delivering strong results for their graduates. Below, you’ll find a ranking that reflects these critical factors, helping you to make an informed choice about your education.
Let’s take a closer look at two schools on this list: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Elon University. UNC Chapel Hill boasts an impressive $72,200 in average earnings for graduates and a graduation rate of 92%, while Elon University offers $74,545 in earnings but has a lower graduation rate of 84%. This contrast illustrates how the programs can vary significantly, impacting both financial outcomes and completion rates for students.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 22 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.4%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Campbell University leads the group at 3.1%, with Winston-Salem State University (3%) and Shaw University (2.9%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 7.9% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Shaw University enrolls the most, at 30.3%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 22.3% across the list, peaking at 40.3% at Wake Forest University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Elon University is highest at 1.82.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
The data reveals a fascinating trend: while both UNC Chapel Hill and Davidson College rank highly, their strengths lie in different areas. Davidson's graduates earn $81,400, which is significantly higher than UNC Chapel Hill's $72,200, but students at UNC enjoy a higher graduation rate of 92% compared to Davidson’s 91%. This means students might be more likely to graduate from UNC, even if they earn slightly less afterward.
As you sift through these 25 schools, consider your personal priorities. Are you looking for a strong graduation rate, or is potential earning power more important to you? Think about location and campus culture as well. Each of these factors plays a crucial role in finding the right fit for your communications career. Make a checklist of what matters most to you and weigh these outcomes against your own goals.
Ultimately, this data underscores a critical reality: the right college choice can pave the way to a stable life. A family in North Carolina might choose to invest in a program that leads to higher earnings, but if the debt is too high, it could lead to financial strain. Balancing these factors is essential in making a decision that not only impacts education but also long-term financial stability.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina ranking? +
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $72,200 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 92% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Davidson College posts the highest median earnings on this list: $81,400 ten years after enrollment, well above the $53,690 average across the 25 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads: graduates earn a median $72,200 against net price of about $11,655 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 92%, compared with a 60% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $20,517 a year across the 25 ranked schools with cost data. North Carolina A & T State University is among the most affordable at roughly $10,846. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Communications Colleges in North Carolina ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 25 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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