Human Resources Management and Services at University of Mount Olive

The numbers here reveal a troubling pattern: University of Mount Olive's HR program leaves graduates earning $10,000 less than typical North Carolina HR graduates one year out, while carrying debt that's $14,000 higher than the state median. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.04 means students owe more than an entire year's salary—a burden that roughly half the school's students (many from families receiving Pell grants) will struggle to manage.

There is a silver lining in that 39% earnings jump by year four, bringing graduates closer to their peers at $56,668. Among North Carolina's eight HR programs, this lands at the 25th percentile—below the state median but not rock-bottom. However, starting so far behind means graduates spend their first years just catching up rather than building wealth. For comparison, UNC Chapel Hill's HR graduates start at $52,217 with far less debt.

The fundamental problem is the debt load combined with weak starting earnings. At less selective institutions serving many first-generation college students, taking on $42,000 in debt for a degree that initially pays $41,000 creates real financial stress. Families should seriously explore whether in-state alternatives like Meredith College might offer better starting salaries with comparable or lower debt, or whether this program makes sense only if significant grant aid brings that debt figure down substantially.