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
7
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$139,872
Across North Carolina programs
Average Annual Cost
$14,200
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wake Technical Community College
Grad rate: 31.3% |
+$122,322 | $48,956 | $16,798 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Isothermal Community College
Grad rate: 50.9% |
-$122,821 | $36,539 | $13,601 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Durham Technical Community College
Grad rate: 29.7% |
-$123,705 | $36,352 | $10,745 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Pitt Community College
Grad rate: 28.0% |
-$147,807 | $35,400 | $15,807 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Wilkes Community College
Grad rate: 53.5% |
-$167,114 | $34,169 | $10,494 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Central Piedmont Community College
Grad rate: 24.3% |
-$238,031 | $30,646 | $10,951 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Carteret Community College
Grad rate: 38.3% |
-$301,949 | $27,953 | $21,009 | N/A | 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.