Cost advantage
Affordable public option
In-state tuition in the lower range for public universities.
This school$7.3k
Public 4-yr avg$11k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
University of North Carolina Wilmington at a glance
University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public university in Wilmington, North Carolina with 18,848 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 64% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published in-state tuition is $7,277 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $20,109 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 71% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 36% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $19,500 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Business Administration, master's ($118,289) and Nursing (RN), master's ($106,699) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$7,277
2024-25
Acceptance
64%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
18,848
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$7,277
Out-of-State Tuition
$24,152
Avg On-Campus Living
$14,268
Avg Off-Campus Living
$14,268
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $21,545
Net price (after aid): $20,109
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $10,778
$30k – $48k: $12,572
$48k – $75k: $17,378
$75k – $110k: $24,046
$110k+: $25,573 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $73. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $54,967
Median debt at graduation: $19,500
Est. monthly loan payment: $207
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.8×Graduates earn about 2.8× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 24%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 36%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $65,305, above the $32,616 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in North Carolina.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
71%
Freshman Retention
88%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Strong aid for lower incomes
Reported net price for the $0–30k band runs below average.
Manageable graduate debt
$19.5k below avg
Strong completion rate
71% above avg
Affordability snapshot
In-state tuition
$7.3k
below avg
Out-of-state
$24.2k
below avg
Net price
$20.1k
Pell
24%
Median debt
$19.5k
below avg
Earnings (10y)
$55k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
64%
SAT range
1230 - 1340
ACT range
24 - 29
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Wilmington, NC 28403
Academics
Studying online: a substantial share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 4,363 of University of North Carolina Wilmington's 17,987 students (24%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 7,638 (42%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
University of North Carolina Wilmington reported conferring credentials in 63 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
Similar schools
Worth a closer look if University of North Carolina Wilmington caught your interest.
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Tuition $7,579 90% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.North Carolina A & T State University
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Tuition $6,813 50% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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Tuition $7,661 89% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar size.East Carolina University
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Tuition $7,361 89% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
Tuition $6,699 87% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Same school type.Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC
Tuition $6,536 64% acceptSame state. Similar tuition. Similar acceptance.
Graduate earnings by program
What University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates earn, by program
University of North Carolina Wilmington's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $86,606 four years after graduating, 3% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $74,463; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $15,128 in federal loans at this college (about $160 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $22,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
53 programs at University of North Carolina Wilmington have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN), Bachelor's | $86,606 | $88,910, −3% | $15,128 | $160/mo |
| Business Administration, Bachelor's | $75,512 | $68,257, +11% | $19,555 | $207/mo |
| Business Administration, Master's | $118,289 | $103,485, +14% | $24,000 | $273/mo |
| Psychology, Bachelor's | $49,609 | $50,706, about the same | $20,932 | $222/mo |
| Communication, Bachelor's | $54,315 | $56,359, −4% | $19,000 | $201/mo |
| Nursing (RN), Master's | $106,699 | $120,193, −11% | $28,810 | $328/mo |
| Biology, Bachelor's | $60,750 | $57,214, +6% | $21,000 | $223/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's | $48,024 | $47,382, about the same | $18,250 | $193/mo |
| Public Health, Bachelor's | $60,722 | $58,808, +3% | $21,458 | $227/mo |
| Criminology, Bachelor's | $50,514 | $55,556, −9% | $20,000 | $212/mo |
| Management Science, Master's | — | $124,807 | $20,314 | $231/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's | $46,527 | $55,012, −15% | $21,500 | $228/mo |
Compare what Nursing (RN) pays at other colleges
What the job pays locally
- Nursing (RN) graduates train as registered nurses: median $84,350 in North Carolina.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.
Show 41 more programs
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science, Bachelor's | $88,219 | $107,009, −18% | $23,980 | $254/mo |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Bachelor's | $39,812 | $48,842, −18% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $34,184 | $43,765, −22% | $20,500 | $217/mo |
| Social Work, Master's | $59,108 | $65,123, −9% | $30,246 | $344/mo |
| Social Work, Bachelor's | $47,587 | $51,790, −8% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Teacher Education (by grade level), Master's | $50,098 | $59,916, −16% | $25,375 | $289/mo |
| Education, Master's | $56,340 | $65,824, −14% | $28,227 | $321/mo |
| Accounting, Master's | — | $95,833 | $20,500 | $233/mo |
| Political Science, Bachelor's | $58,258 | $63,293, −8% | $20,625 | $219/mo |
| English, Bachelor's | $46,008 | $48,590, −5% | $22,000 | $233/mo |
| History, Bachelor's | $46,072 | $50,680, −9% | $22,786 | $242/mo |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Bachelor's | $86,654 | $68,245, +27% | $23,421 | $248/mo |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $42,192 | $41,367, about the same | $22,479 | $238/mo |
| International/Globalization Studies, Bachelor's | $54,707 | $59,972, −9% | $17,500 | $186/mo |
| Rehabilitation and Therapy, Bachelor's | $51,696 | $55,792, −7% | $19,500 | $207/mo |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Bachelor's | $50,241 | $50,468, about the same | $20,125 | $213/mo |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Bachelor's | $71,964 | $92,374, −22% | $26,000 | $276/mo |
| Chemistry, Bachelor's | $65,982 | $65,120, about the same | $16,400 | $174/mo |
| Writing and Rhetoric, Bachelor's | $37,968 | $48,471, −22% | $26,264 | $278/mo |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's | $45,289 | $55,000, −18% | $23,250 | $246/mo |
| Psychology, Master's | $72,403 | $64,711, +12% | $29,717 | $338/mo |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Master's | — | $81,651 | — | — |
| History, Master's | $48,402 | $55,360, −13% | — | — |
| Chemistry, Master's | $99,106 | $82,937, +19% | $24,355 | $277/mo |
| Anthropology, Bachelor's | $33,461 | $46,676, −28% | $22,987 | $244/mo |
| Sociology, Bachelor's | $48,591 | $52,657, −8% | $23,250 | $246/mo |
| Writing and Rhetoric, Master's | $52,194 | $55,035, −5% | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Bachelor's | $60,414 | $60,190, about the same | $22,995 | $244/mo |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Master's | $84,961 | $79,463, +7% | — | — |
| Public Administration, Master's | $73,816 | $81,408, −9% | $30,000 | $341/mo |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other, Bachelor's | $42,597 | $46,083, −8% | — | — |
| Special Education, Bachelor's | $52,494 | $50,499, +4% | $19,039 | $202/mo |
| Theatre, Bachelor's | $35,956 | $39,775, −10% | $25,000 | $265/mo |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Master's | $53,362 | $74,607, −28% | — | — |
| Educational Administration, Doctoral | $89,829 | $100,573, −11% | $63,635 | $724/mo |
| Mathematics, Bachelor's | $66,941 | $69,562, −4% | $21,196 | $225/mo |
| Educational Administration, Master's | $61,981 | $71,685, −14% | $30,854 | $351/mo |
| Computer Science, Master's | — | $145,571 | $21,873 | $249/mo |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, Bachelor's | $50,564 | $62,172, −19% | $20,250 | $215/mo |
| Dispute Resolution, Master's | $59,311 | $74,725, −21% | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Master's | $99,698 | $49,079, +103% | $20,500 | $233/mo |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Over the Cap: graduate programs where typical debt exceeds the federal loan limits in force since July 2026. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
About University of North Carolina Wilmington
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is University of North Carolina Wilmington located?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, NC, in the United States.
- What type of institution is University of North Carolina Wilmington?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public university based in NC. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at University of North Carolina Wilmington is approximately 64% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington's published in-state tuition is approximately $7,277 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend University of North Carolina Wilmington?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington reports total enrollment of approximately 18,848 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does University of North Carolina Wilmington actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at University of North Carolina Wilmington is approximately $20,109 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,778 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $25,573. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington reports a graduation rate of approximately 71% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of University of North Carolina Wilmington have?
- Students who borrowed at University of North Carolina Wilmington left with a median of approximately $19,500 in federal loans, and about 36% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of University of North Carolina Wilmington earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $54,967 for students who received federal financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about University of North Carolina Wilmington?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with University of North Carolina Wilmington.
- How much do Nursing (RN) graduates from University of North Carolina Wilmington earn?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $86,606 four years after graduating, 3% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $74,463; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $15,128 in federal loans at this college (about $160 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $22,000 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level). For context, registered nurses in North Carolina are paid a median $84,350 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
- How much do Business Administration graduates from University of North Carolina Wilmington earn?
- University of North Carolina Wilmington's bachelor's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $75,512 four years after graduating, 11% above the $68,257 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $48,369; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $19,555 in federal loans at this college (about $207 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $21,500 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level).
- Which programs at University of North Carolina Wilmington have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 36 programs at University of North Carolina Wilmington with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Business Administration, master's ($118,289); Nursing (RN), master's ($106,699); and Fine and Studio Arts, master's ($99,698) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does University of North Carolina Wilmington get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, University of North Carolina Wilmington's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $65,305, above the $32,616 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in North Carolina, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
The 14 largest of 63 fields University of North Carolina Wilmington reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 953 | Graduate (213 graduate · 740 bachelor's) |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 812 | Graduate (35 graduate · 777 bachelor's) |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 336 | Graduate (335 graduate · 1 certificate) |
| Psychology, General | 318 | Graduate (24 graduate · 294 bachelor's) |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 192 | Bachelor's |
| Biology, General | 184 | Graduate (8 graduate · 176 bachelor's) |
| Communication and Media Studies | 179 | Bachelor's |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 178 | Graduate |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 178 | Graduate (51 graduate · 127 bachelor's) |
| Social Work | 151 | Graduate (83 graduate · 68 bachelor's) |
| Criminology | 122 | Bachelor's |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 113 | Graduate (16 graduate · 97 bachelor's) |
| Data Analytics | 110 | Graduate |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 109 | Graduate (13 graduate · 96 bachelor's) |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. All colleges in North Carolina. North Carolina college costs by family income. Student debt at North Carolina colleges. Computer science in North Carolina. Business in North Carolina. Nursing in North Carolina. Psychology in North Carolina. Engineering in North Carolina.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with University of North Carolina Wilmington before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of University of North Carolina Wilmington are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). University of North Carolina Wilmington, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington
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