University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, North Carolina · Public · 93.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 26/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UNC Pembroke posts a 26/100 ROI score in our Below Benchmark tier. Where the school stumbles is on the back end: earnings of $28,900 six years out climb only to $43,407 by year ten, and median debt of $25,000 against early earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87. The 21.5-year payback period is steep, and the three-year repayment rate of 56.4% is mediocre. The 43.5% completion rate is the structural weakness driving most other metrics - when fewer than half of enrolled students finish in the tracked window, the population-level outcomes degrade substantially. With 5,330 students and a 50.1% Pell rate, UNCP serves a heavily working-class southeast NC population including a significant Lumbee Indian heritage population - UNCP is the historically tribal-affiliated UNC institution. Nursing, computer science, and teacher education programs deliver acceptable outcomes; the broader liberal-arts and pre-professional flow lags.
How University of North Carolina at Pembroke scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score26/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period21.5 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $3,648/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $7,648/yr |
| Average net price | $10,260/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $41,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,407 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 21.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,330 |
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: $3,648/year ($7,648/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,260/year, or roughly $41,040 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 $7,919/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,999/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($28,900) and comes to 0.86, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $7,919 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,892 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,932 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,564 |
| $110,001+ | $15,999 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $7,919 net - an outstanding number reflecting Pell, NC Need-Based Grant, and UNC institutional aid. Across four years that's $31,676 against $28,900 graduate earnings. Pell-eligible NC residents committed to credentialing programs (nursing, teaching, CS) should treat UNCP as a strong value play.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $48,000 bracket pays $8,892, $48,001 - $75,000 pays $10,932, $75,001 - $110,000 pays $14,564 - a clean monotonic progression with no inversions. Middle-income families pay $36,000-$58,000 over four years, manageable against expected earnings for credentialing tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $15,999 - about $63,996 across four years. High-income families paying full freight at UNCP are typically NC residents with regional ties; the financial math is solid for credentialing tracks but the back-end completion rate is a real risk.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of North Carolina at Pembroke with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $62,355 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $55,233 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,382 | D |
| Sociology | $44,935 | D |
| Biology | $48,285 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,669 | F |
| Teacher Education | $49,034 | C+ |
| Psychology | $42,947 | D |
| Social Work | $52,344 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $78,674 | B |
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 UNCP's strongest program: 49 graduates with first-year earnings of $73,906 climbing to $78,674 by year four. Median debt of $29,710 yields a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). Direct pipeline into Fayetteville, Lumberton, and Pinehurst hospital markets. For NC students set on BSN credentials at the cheapest possible price, this program is a clean value play.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Interdisciplinary Studies is UNCP's largest program - 209 graduates with first-year earnings of $39,925 climbing to $62,355 by year four. Median debt of $30,479 yields a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). The four-year recovery is reasonable, though this catch-all major often signals students who pivoted from more focused tracks. Outcomes are noticeably weaker than the nursing or CS pipelines.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin graduates 198 students with first-year earnings of $36,602 climbing to $55,233 by year four. Median debt of $26,675 yields a 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade).
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 146 students with first-year earnings of $35,553 climbing to $50,382 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). Pipeline into NC state law enforcement, federal agencies (Fort Bragg-area opportunities), and corrections roles.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 40 students with first-year earnings of $38,417 climbing to a remarkable $80,579 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade) in the early years that improves substantially with experience. Strong placement into Research Triangle and remote-work tech roles. A surprising sleeper-value pick at UNCP's pricing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 49.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 54.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of North Carolina at Pembroke’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 | 93.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-23 |
| Enrollment | 5,330 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,725 |
UNCP admits 93.3% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT mid-ranges of 480-600 (math) and 490-600 (reading) plus an ACT range of 18-23 indicate a student body arriving with significant academic preparation gaps, primarily from rural southeast NC public schools. The combination of open admission and weak preparation correlates with the 43.5% completion rate. Students with stronger high-school records can extract genuine value at UNCP's exceptional tuition; the population-level math reflects the broader access mission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke (this school) | 26 | $10,260 | $43,407 |
| East Carolina University | 61 | $15,739 | $55,146 |
| Appalachian State University | 58 | $16,836 | $51,836 |
| Columbus State University | 24 | $13,115 | $44,544 |
| Virginia State University | 21 | $15,840 | $45,543 |
| Norfolk State University | 20 | $15,282 | $44,666 |
Who Thrives Here
Outcomes are strong for the small nursing cohort and acceptable for teacher education, computer information sciences, and the surprisingly strong-earning Computer Science program ($80,579 four-year earnings). Larger flows into business administration, criminal justice, sociology, and biology face structurally weaker outcomes.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of North Carolina at Pembroke scores 26/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $10,260 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $43,407 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 21.5 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 43.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 56.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $28,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke: Common Questions
Is University of North Carolina at Pembroke worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of North Carolina at Pembroke scores 26/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $10,260 a year after aid against $43,407 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 21.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of North Carolina at Pembroke cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,260 a year, or roughly $41,040 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of North Carolina at Pembroke graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $43,407 ten years after enrolling, roughly $1,607 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 North Carolina at Pembroke?
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 21.5 years for University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of North Carolina at Pembroke graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $28,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Pembroke?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). 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.