University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs University of Virginia-Main Campus

Side-by-side ROI comparison using U.S. Department of Education data. Which school delivers a better financial return?

Too close to call - both schools are within 3 points

ROI Score Comparison

94
Exceptional Value
Earnings
96(0.80x)
Payback
93(5 yr)
Debt/Earn
95(0.28)
Completion
97(91%)
Repayment
87(85%)
University of Virginia-Main CampusPublic - Charlottesville, VA
95
Exceptional Value
Earnings
93(0.60x)
Payback
96(4.4 yr)
Debt/Earn
93(0.31)
Completion
99(96%)
Repayment
94(89%)

The Financial Comparison

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Virginia-Main Campus are closely matched on financial return. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 94/100 while University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 95/100 - a gap small enough that individual circumstances (major choice, financial aid package, in-state vs out-of-state status) will likely matter more than the overall score difference.

On cost, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill comes in at $11,655 per year (net price after aid) versus $21,565 at University of Virginia-Main Campus - a difference of $9,910 annually, or roughly $39,640 over four years.

Ten years after enrollment, University of Virginia-Main Campus graduates earn a median of $86,863 compared to $72,200 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The payback period is 5 years at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill versus 4.4 years at University of Virginia-Main Campus.

Graduates leave University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a median $14,000 in debt versus $17,500 at University of Virginia-Main Campus. The debt-to-earnings ratios are 0.28 and 0.31 respectively - financial advisors generally recommend staying below 1.0.

Head-to-Head Numbers

MetricUniversity of North Carol...University of Virginia-Ma...
Cost
In-State Tuition$8,994$21,803
Out-of-State Tuition$41,203$59,512
Net Price (avg)$11,655$21,565
Total 4-Year Cost$46,620$86,260
Outcomes
Median Earnings (6yr)$49,900$56,800
Median Earnings (10yr)$72,200$86,863
Graduation Rate91.2%95.6%
Payback Period5 yr4.4 yr
Debt
Median Debt$14,000$17,500
Monthly Payment$148$186
Debt-to-Earnings0.280.31
3yr Repayment Rate85.4%89.0%
5yr Repayment Rate85.3%88.5%
Admissions
Acceptance Rate15.3%16.8%
Enrollment20,75217,597
SAT Range1390-15301410-1540

Net Price by Family Income

Average annual net price after grants and scholarships, by household income bracket.

Family IncomeUniversity of North ...University of Virgin...
$0-$30,000$2,004$8,174
$30,001-$48,000$3,918$9,696
$48,001-$75,000$8,538$13,283
$75,001-$110,000$16,415$20,822
$110,001+$24,396$35,402

Earnings by Major - Head to Head

Median earnings for majors offered at both schools. Green highlights the higher figure.

MajorUniversity of North ...University of Virgin...
Economics$103,846$110,773
Biomedical Engineering$97,992$109,551
Mathematics$101,599$91,236
Registered Nursing$78,585$86,653
Kinesiology and Exercise Science$63,286$81,110
International Relations$72,001$78,310
Communication and Media Studies$70,240$76,243
History$57,952$71,187
Biology$62,047$70,240
Sociology$51,801$68,538
Chemistry$64,981$68,174
Romance Languages$64,570$67,904
Area Studies$65,933$65,970
Natural Resources Conservation$65,337$58,475
Psychology$57,477$62,794

ROI Sub-Score Breakdown

ComponentUniversity of North ...University of Virgin...
Earnings Premium (30%)9693
Payback Period (25%)9396
Debt / Earnings (20%)9593
Completion Rate (15%)9799
Repayment Rate (10%)8794
Overall ROI Score9495
Exceptional Value

The Verdict

These two schools are closely matched on financial outcomes. University of Virginia-Main Campus edges out University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by 1 points (95 vs 94), but the difference is small enough that major choice and individual circumstances will matter more than the school-level ROI difference. Run the numbers for your specific situation using the calculator below.

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94

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Exceptional Value - Full profile and breakdown

95

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Exceptional Value - Full profile and breakdown

Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, as of 2024-2025. Earnings are measured 6 and 10 years after enrollment. Net prices reflect average aid for first-time, full-time students.See full methodology.