Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in North Carolina by ROI
Colleges in North Carolina ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in North Carolina
55
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$368,589
Across North Carolina programs
Average Annual Cost
$14,914
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Robeson Community College
Grad rate: 26.5% |
-$183,066 | $34,422 | $15,753 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Randolph Community College
Grad rate: 45.6% |
-$216,656 | $32,736 | $15,688 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate: 31.3% |
-$219,506 | $33,447 | $16,798 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Stanly Community College
Grad rate: 44.1% |
-$230,554 | $31,757 | $12,847 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
South Piedmont Community College
Grad rate: 33.6% |
-$233,027 | $32,106 | $12,511 | $7,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Central Piedmont Community College
Grad rate: 24.3% |
-$245,772 | $31,286 | $10,951 | $7,104 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of Mount Olive
Grad rate: 48.1% |
-$253,692 | $34,712 | $35,362 | $27,562 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Pitt Community College
Grad rate: 28.0% |
-$286,436 | $30,241 | $15,807 | $14,550 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Alamance Community College
Grad rate: 31.0% |
-$287,383 | $30,335 | $22,570 | $6,625 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Southwestern Community College
Grad rate: 48.4% |
-$302,413 | $28,896 | $14,429 | $8,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Durham Technical Community College
Grad rate: 29.7% |
-$305,613 | $28,558 | $10,745 | $11,321 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Grad rate: 30.4% |
-$319,182 | $28,096 | $14,666 | $8,719 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Catawba Valley Community College
Grad rate: 33.2% |
-$328,345 | $27,887 | $18,703 | $6,429 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Bladen Community College
Grad rate: 38.5% |
-$329,082 | $26,673 | $11,271 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Surry Community College
Grad rate: 15.2% |
-$329,663 | $27,308 | $14,199 | $5,500 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.