University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, NC

Communication and Media Studies

at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC

Strong Value

Solid pick

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $37,726/yr starting out — that's 26% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 7.4 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $12,983/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $57,034 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$25,181/yr

Starting Salary

$37,726

Finish Rate

92.1%

$25,181/yr

Full sticker price — tuition, housing, and fees before any aid

Students on financial aid pay $12,983/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $12,198/yr)

4 Years Total

$100,724

Typical Debt

$14,000

Interest You'd Owe

+$5,102

What You'd Really Pay

$57,034

That's about $159/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$377,260

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$57,034

Pays for Itself In

7.4 yrs

Salary Boost

+26%

Ahead After 10 Years

$320,226

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost40/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed17.5/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost3.4/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate13.8/15

Will you actually finish?

Data from the U.S. Department of Education. Salaries are what recent grads typically earn — yours could be higher or lower.

Costs can change. These numbers don't adjust for where you live, and only cover students who used federal financial aid. Not financial advice.