Marketing at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte

Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte's marketing program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground—delivering below-average outcomes at above-average cost. With first-year earnings of $41,544, graduates trail both the national median ($44,728) and North Carolina's median ($43,619) for marketing degrees. That 40th percentile ranking among NC programs puts this squarely in the bottom half of options across the state, notably behind public alternatives like NC A&T and East Carolina.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $26,675, it's higher than state and national medians but still manageable given the 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates are seeing meaningful income growth—19% by year four—which helps justify the investment. Still, even with that progression, four-year earnings of $49,290 barely reach what top NC programs like Elon deliver right out of the gate.

For families weighing this against other North Carolina options, the numbers suggest you're paying private school debt for outcomes closer to what you'd get at less expensive public universities. Unless Johnson & Wales offers specific connections or experiential learning opportunities that translate to better job placement than these figures suggest, there are stronger values available within driving distance.