Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in North Carolina by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree program in North Carolina ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in North Carolina

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$493,619

Across all North Carolina programs

Average Annual Cost

$39,769

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Law.	+$2,835,004	$200,300	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	+$2,020,964	$159,598	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
3	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,553,584	$124,417	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,317,124	$124,406	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Gardner-Webb University Grad rate: 56.7%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$775,348	$90,530	$48,813	N/A	Full ROI →
6	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$696,804	$81,578	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Winston-Salem State University Grad rate: 49.1%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$626,320	$77,785	$22,345	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Wingate University Grad rate: 50.6%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$540,280	$80,570	$57,780	N/A	Full ROI →
9	University of North Carolina Wilmington Grad rate: 72.5%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$530,588	$73,712	$25,913	N/A	Full ROI →
10	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$528,924	$73,184	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
11	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Finance and Financial Management Services.	+$474,664	$70,471	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Western Carolina University Grad rate: 59.8%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$456,472	$68,635	$19,057	N/A	Full ROI →
13	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$444,864	$68,981	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
14	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Grad rate: 57.9%	Education, General.	+$432,828	$67,567	$19,628	N/A	Full ROI →
15	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$425,164	$67,996	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
16	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Grad rate: 91.7%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$405,316	$67,302	$25,181	N/A	Full ROI →
17	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Theological and Ministerial Studies.	+$393,424	$78,221	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
18	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Marketing.	+$384,704	$65,973	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Biomedical/Medical Engineering.	+$371,304	$77,115	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Strayer University-North Carolina	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$339,240	$58,962	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Gardner-Webb University Grad rate: 56.7%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$304,488	$66,987	$48,813	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$278,564	$72,478	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
23	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Grad rate: 68.8%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$241,784	$58,496	$22,034	N/A	Full ROI →
24	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Grad rate: 57.9%	English Language and Literature, General.	+$210,348	$56,443	$19,628	N/A	Full ROI →
25	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Educational/Instructional Media Design.	+$166,484	$55,062	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
26	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Medicine.	+$140,004	$65,550	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
27	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Grad rate: 57.9%	Nutrition Sciences.	+$79,468	$49,899	$19,628	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Duke University Grad rate: 96.2%	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.	+$54,764	$61,288	$82,749	N/A	Full ROI →
29	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Grad rate: 57.9%	Music.	+$42,488	$48,050	$19,628	N/A	Full ROI →
30	East Carolina University Grad rate: 63.6%	Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.	+$14,764	$47,476	$23,689	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Appalachian State University Grad rate: 74.1%	Student Counseling and Personnel Services.	-$15,436	$45,759	$22,654	N/A	Full ROI →
32	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Grad rate: 68.8%	Special Education and Teaching.	-$16,276	$45,593	$22,034	N/A	Full ROI →
33	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Grad rate: 68.8%	Student Counseling and Personnel Services.	-$103,296	$41,242	$22,034	N/A	Full ROI →
34	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Grad rate: 68.8%	Education, Other.	-$167,996	$38,007	$22,034	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.