University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 75.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Mount Olive (UMO) in North Carolina scores 29 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 17.7-year payback period is the defining metric - graduates take nearly two decades on average to recoup their investment. This reflects both modest earnings ($38,000 median at 6 years) and a meaningful net price of $18,853. Repayment rate at the 1-year mark is just 45.6%, meaning more than half of borrowers have not made progress on their loans one year after entering repayment. Completion rate is 51.8% - half of enrolled students do not finish. Median debt of $27,209 is high for an institution producing $38,000 median earnings. The strongest programs are in health and agriculture: Registered Nursing (11 graduates, $81,493 year-one, B+ grade) and Agricultural Business (20 graduates, $70,219 year-four, B+ grade). Business Administration (62 graduates) is the largest program by volume but earns a D grade ($48,751 year-one, debt-to-earnings 0.728 with $35,500 median debt - the highest debt load in the program catalog). Human Resources Management earns an F grade. Teacher Education (67 graduates) earns a D grade. UMO is a Free Will Baptist institution with a strong agricultural heritage that is a genuine differentiator for the eastern North Carolina region.
The data raises concerns about University of Mount Olive
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period17.7 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
University of Mount Olive
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,366/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,366/yr |
| Average net price | $18,853/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $75,412 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,139 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,209 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $288 |
| Estimated payback period | 17.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,796 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $27,366/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,853/year, or roughly $75,412 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $18,227/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,498/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $27,209 in federal loans, which works out to about $288 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $47,139 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.72, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $18,227 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,066 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,923 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,250 |
| $110,001+ | $21,498 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $18,227 per year at UMO - $72,908 over four years if completed. But only 51.8% complete, and the 1-year repayment rate of 45.6% indicates most borrowers are not reducing their debt in the first year after graduation. Low-income students face the most acute financial risk: non-completion with debt is the worst outcome, and the data suggests this is common.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $20,923 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $15,250 - an unusual inversion that suggests the aid model disproportionately rewards higher middle-income families. At $20,923 per year, middle-income students face $83,692 in total net price if they complete in four years. Against $38,000 median 6-year earnings, this is a long payback for most program tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $21,498 - near the institutional average net price. High-income families choosing UMO are typically doing so for the faith community, agricultural connections, or geographic preference - not for financial ROI. The economics at this income level are similar to the aggregate and do not improve meaningfully.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Mount Olive with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $47,411 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,436 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $61,758 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,800 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $45,671 | D |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $70,219 | B+ |
| Accounting | $59,952 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $51,250 | C |
| Human Resources Management | $62,841 | F |
| Biology | $53,986 | 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 UMO's best-performing program: 11 graduates, $81,493 year-one, $93,698 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.332 (ROI grade B+) with $27,094 median debt. The small cohort limits statistical reliability but the directional signal is strong. Rural North Carolina has significant nursing shortages, and UMO graduates entering eastern NC health systems face strong demand. This is the clearest value-for-cost program the institution offers.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business (20 graduates) shows $70,219 year-four earnings with a B+ grade and debt-to-earnings of 0.317 against $22,237 median debt. Year-one earnings are not reported. UMO's Free Will Baptist agricultural heritage and eastern NC location connect graduates directly to agribusiness networks in the region. This is a program where institutional context and regional employment align well.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (62 graduates) is UMO's largest program and earns a D grade: $48,751 year-one, $60,436 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.728 with $35,500 median debt - the highest debt load in UMO's catalog. The debt load for this program is a red flag: $35,500 median debt against $48,751 year-one earnings is a tight ratio. Students considering this program should explore whether the same credential could be obtained at lower cost through community college or a public NC university.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (67 graduates) earns a D grade: $37,409 year-one, $47,411 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.961 with $35,963 median debt. Nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings is a difficult starting position for beginning teachers in rural NC, where salaries are below the state average. Students committed to teaching in eastern NC should compare UMO's costs against NCCU, ECU, or Fayetteville State, where education programs and net prices may be more favorable.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 45.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 50.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 51.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Mount Olive’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.8% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 1,796 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,025 |
At 75.8% admission with no SAT data reported, UMO is broadly accessible. ACT 18-24 reflects middle-range preparation. The more pressing concern for prospective students is not admission odds but the 51.8% completion rate - roughly half of those who enroll do not finish. Students should ask what specific factors correlate with completion and what support services UMO provides for students at financial risk.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UMO's peers include Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Eckerd College, Atlantic University, and Lindsey Wilson College. Among NC-based peers, Barton College (Wilson, NC) is a close comparable - similar size, similar mission, similar ROI challenges. UMO's 29 ROI score places it in the bottom quartile nationally. Students in eastern NC evaluating regional privates should also benchmark against East Carolina University (much larger, stronger ROI, lower cost for in-state students).
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mount Olive (this school) | 29 | $18,853 | $47,139 |
| Eckerd College | 31 | $38,071 | $51,819 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
Who Thrives Here
UMO admits 75.8% of applicants. SAT data is not reported by Scorecard. ACT composite mid-range is 18-24. Enrollment is 1,796. Pell grant rate of 44.7% indicates high financial need across the student body. UMO serves a rural North Carolina population with strong ties to agriculture, faith, and regional employment. Students targeting nursing, agricultural business, or teaching for rural NC schools fit the institutional context; students seeking broader career optionality or metro employment pipelines will find limited support.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at University of Mount Olive are a real concern. With a net cost of $18,853 per year and the typical graduate earning only $47,139 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 17.7 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 51.8% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,209 against $47,139 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Mount Olive: Common Questions
Is University of Mount Olive worth it?
In our view, the numbers are a real concern - for most students the financial return does not justify the cost. University of Mount Olive scores 29/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,853 a year after aid against $47,139 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 17.7 years.
How much does University of Mount Olive cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $18,853 a year, or roughly $75,412 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Mount Olive graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,139 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,339 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Mount Olive?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 17.7 years for University of Mount Olive. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do University of Mount Olive graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $27,209, against $47,139 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Mount Olive?
The six-year graduation rate is 51.8%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.