University of California-Berkeley vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

On the numbers, University of California-Berkeley comes out ahead: 97/100 to 94/100, a 3-point edge over University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That gap comes from real differences in what each one costs, what its graduates earn, and the debt they leave with.

Start with what you'd actually pay. After aid, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill runs $11,655 a year against $13,481 at University of California-Berkeley - $1,826 more a year, or about $7,304 across four years.

Then look at what that buys. Ten years after enrollment, University of California-Berkeley graduates earn a median $92,446 against $72,200 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The cost earns itself back in 3.4 years at University of California-Berkeley and 5 years at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Finally, the debt you'd carry out. Graduates leave University of California-Berkeley owing a median $13,000 versus $14,000 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their debt-to-earnings ratios are 0.23 and 0.28 - and the rule of thumb is to keep that under 1.0, meaning debt no bigger than a first year's pay.