Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 62.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 49/100 · Below Average Value
Queens University of Charlotte earns a 49 ROI score (Below Average Value). Sticker tuition is steep at $45,846, but average net price drops to $30,857 thanks to substantial discounting--total four-year cost lands around $123,428. Median earnings of $42,200 at six years rise to $57,673 at ten--respectable for a small private liberal-arts school in a strong regional economy. Median debt of $25,000 produces a $265/month payment and a 0.592 debt-to-earnings ratio, with an 11.6-year payback period (52 sub-score). The 61.3% completion rate (62 sub-score) is mid-range for a small private institution. The 0.184 earnings premium (37 sub-score) is the persistent drag--Queens grads earn modestly more than typical high-school graduates but not dramatically so. Charlotte's banking and healthcare economy provides a structural tailwind for the school's strongest programs (finance, nursing, business), but the headline ROI math is weighed down by smaller liberal-arts cohorts that don't earn enough to justify the private-college premium.
Queens University of Charlotte
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $45,846/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $45,846/yr |
| Average net price | $30,857/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $123,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,673 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,211 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Queens University of Charlotte is $45,846/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $30,857/year, or roughly $123,428 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $22,792/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $40,426/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $57,673 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.59 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,792 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,593 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,435 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,159 |
| $110,001+ | $40,426 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families at $0-$30,000 pay $22,792 net and $30,001-$48,000 pay $20,593--a clearly inverted pattern where the poorest tier pays more than the next-up tier. Both still produce four-year totals in the $82K-$91K range, which is challenging on Pell-eligible incomes. Pell, NC state aid, and Queens institutional grants all stack here, and prospective students should run the price calculator carefully--the inversion suggests aid awards depend heavily on individual circumstances.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$48,001-$75,000 households pay $26,435 and $75,001-$110,000 pay $30,159. Total four-year cost lands $106K-$121K. For middle-income families, the math only works if the student lands in finance, accounting, business, or nursing. Other majors don't justify the private-school premium versus UNC Charlotte's much lower in-state cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $40,426 (~$162K over four years). At full-pay levels, Queens competes with Davidson, Wake Forest, and the UNC system. Davidson and Wake offer dramatically stronger long-run earnings; UNC system offers far better dollar-value. Higher-income families choosing Queens are usually prioritizing fit, religious affiliation, or specific programs over headline ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Queens University of Charlotte with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,586 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $82,572 | B |
| Biology | $29,163 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $94,719 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $65,985 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $54,170 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $41,303 | C |
| Accounting | $88,292 | - |
| Design and Applied Arts | $52,870 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the largest cohort at 88 graduates with a B grade. First-year earnings of $73,479 climb to $79,586 by year four against $31,757 median debt (0.432 ratio). Charlotte's hospital systems--Atrium Health, Novant--absorb graduates strongly. The debt load is meaningfully higher than at NC public alternatives, but earnings outcomes are equivalent, so this is a defensible path for students who want the small-school experience.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business management posts a B grade with 48 graduates. First-year earnings of $54,032 rising to $82,572 by year four against $23,250 debt (0.43 ratio) reflects Charlotte's banking-and-finance hiring market. For students with banking ambitions, the location plus the program produces real outcomes. Stronger than typical small-private business programs.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is the school's strongest earnings program, with $94,719 median four-year earnings--exceptional for a small private. Just 18 graduates per cohort, but the placement into Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Truist, and other Charlotte-headquartered financial firms is real. For students entering with finance intent, this is an outstanding ROI path despite the school's mediocre overall score.
Biology
Biology pulls 27 graduates with a D grade. First-year earnings of $29,163 against $26,949 debt produces a 0.924 debt-to-earnings ratio. As at most schools, biology functions as a pre-health pipeline; without medical/dental/PA school enrollment, the bachelor's alone significantly under-earns the private-college cost. Students should plan that pathway clearly before committing.
Communication and Media Studies
Communications posts a D grade with 18 graduates. First-year earnings of $36,279 rising to $65,985 by year four against $27,000 debt (0.744 first-year ratio) reflects the wide variance in early-career communications outcomes. Strong placements exist in Charlotte media, but the median grad spends years recovering the debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 62.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,211 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,748 |
Queens admits 62.1% of applicants, the most selective school in this batch outside the Texas A&M system. SAT mid-ranges of 580-670 math and 560-670 reading and ACT 20-27 indicate genuinely competitive academic preparation--well above regional public norms. The combination of moderate selectivity and 61% completion rate is consistent: students who arrive academically prepared and committed generally finish, even if outcomes are concentrated in a few strong departments.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among peers, Queens compares favorably to Barton College and Belmont Abbey College on completion rate and earnings--both are smaller and weaker on those dimensions. Alma College and Lawrence University are similarly priced small private liberal-arts schools in the Midwest with comparable profiles. Dominican University New York shares the small-private-Catholic-or-Methodist heritage profile. None of these is a high-ROI standout; Queens is mid-pack within a cluster where the value proposition is small classes and personal attention rather than dollar-for-dollar return.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queens University of Charlotte (this school) | 49 | $30,857 | $57,673 |
| Lawrence University | 52 | $23,401 | $55,789 |
| Alma College | 50 | $20,694 | $54,742 |
| Dominican University New York | 43 | $41,832 | $61,171 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
Who Thrives Here
Queens fits Charlotte-region students who value a small-private experience and have specific interests in the strong programs--finance, business, nursing, and communication. Enrollment of 1,211 is genuinely small. Pell rate of 24% reflects a more middle-to-upper-middle-class profile than at most regional publics. Charlotte's banking sector creates real opportunities for finance and accounting graduates that the data captures ($94,719 four-year earnings for finance grads is exceptional). Students drawn to biology, design, kinesiology, or communication should look hard at the much-cheaper UNC Charlotte alternative before committing here.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Queens University of Charlotte is mixed. At $30,857 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $57,673 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.6 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $25,000 against $57,673 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.