Charlotte, North Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Charlotte, North Carolina shows: median public in-state tuition $18,882 (+242.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,481 (+5.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 84.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,000 (+34.0% vs U.S.) 44,804 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 16 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 44,804 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $18,882 (+242.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $57,481 (+5.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 84.7% (-3.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $21,964 (+120.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $18,000 (+34.0% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 61.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 72.7%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against North Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Charlotte vs North Carolina & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $18,882 | $21,964 | $18,000 | 61.3% | 44,804 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $2,613 | $6,820 | $20,000 | 51.2% | 422,418 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Charlotte, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $57,481 | 84.7% | 72.7% | 4.5% | — | 68.4% | 0.40 |
| North Carolina (state median) | $47,139 | 86.0% | 72.7% | 6.8% | — | 64.7% | 0.54 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in North Carolina (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $18,882 | $21,964 | $18,000 | 61.3% | 44,804 | $57,481 | 84.7% |
| Raleigh | $17,217 | $22,068 | $20,000 | 44.8% | 52,098 | $49,091 | 85.2% |
| Greensboro | $18,484 | $16,932 | $25,804 | 46.0% | 31,003 | $46,566 | 85.7% |
| Wilmington | $5,012 | $21,215 | $12,708 | 37.9% | 24,864 | $54,967 | 85.0% |
| Wilmington | $5,012 | $21,215 | $12,708 | 37.9% | 24,864 | $54,967 | 85.0% |
| Winston-Salem | $17,575 | $16,503 | $20,894 | 52.1% | 17,760 | $44,992 | 82.9% |
| Fayetteville | $6,906 | $19,909 | $15,917 | 41.0% | 17,539 | $44,097 | 83.0% |
| Fayetteville | $6,906 | $19,909 | $15,917 | 41.0% | 17,539 | $44,097 | 83.0% |
| Durham | $6,699 | $13,589 | $13,875 | 69.2% | 16,578 | $70,384 | 85.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 69.0%, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 61.3%, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 34.3%, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 85.3%, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 84.1%, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 81.8%, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 45.2%, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 62.1%, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 79.6%, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,479, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $73,445, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $37,906, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $97,109, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $94,719, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $51,371, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,812, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,170, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,478, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,208, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,415, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $35,892, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,673, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,289, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $42,680, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $333,809, Chamberlain University-North Carolina
Chamberlain University-North Carolina
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $189,842, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $118,664, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $82,966, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $15,435, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, Net Price, $20,894, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $30,857, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
Top 10 colleges in Charlotte, North Carolina by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 85.0%, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 74.1%, Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 71.3%, Johnson C Smith University
Johnson C Smith University
In-state tuition: Charlotte, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Charlotte, North Carolina median in-state tuition is $18,882, +242.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Charlotte, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Charlotte, North Carolina is $18,000 (+34.0% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Charlotte, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina center around $57,481 (+5.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Charlotte, North Carolina vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 84.7% at the median Charlotte, North Carolina campus (-3.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Charlotte, North Carolina median public in-state tuition is $18,882, about +242.6% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +278.2%.
Median graduate debt is $18,000 (+34.0% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Charlotte, North Carolina are $57,481, about +5.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 84.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-3.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 72.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 68.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of North Carolina at Charlotte (85.3%), Queens University of Charlotte (84.1%), Johnson C Smith University (81.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Charlotte, North Carolina is 61.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Charlotte?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 16 campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Charlotte?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Charlotte is $18,882 and median net price is $21,964. For North Carolina overall, medians are $2,613 and $6,820; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Charlotte?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Charlotte is $57,481 vs $47,139 for North Carolina and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Charlotte colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Charlotte is $18,000 vs $20,000 for North Carolina and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Charlotte?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of North Carolina at Charlotte (graduation) and Queens University of Charlotte (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Charlotte?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 16 campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Johnson C Smith University; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Presbyterian Church (USA) (1).
Sources & related
- North Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON