Mathematics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill's mathematics program hits a financial sweet spot that's rare in higher education: graduates start at a solid $53,402, then see their earnings surge 64% by year four—reaching $87,301. Among North Carolina's 44 math programs, this places in the 80th percentile, trailing only Duke's powerhouse program. For a flagship state university with in-state tuition options, that trajectory suggests employers value UNC's brand and rigor.

The debt picture reinforces the value case. At $14,500, graduates carry about a third of the national median for math majors and nearly $7,500 less than the NC average. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27—manageable by any standard. Within months of landing that first job, most graduates could reasonably tackle the entire balance. The combination of low debt and strong earning potential puts this firmly in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability.

For families weighing UNC against NC State or other in-state alternatives, the math is straightforward: UNC graduates earn roughly double their Wolfpack counterparts by year four, with comparable debt burdens. The 19% admission rate means not every student will get in, but those who do are positioning themselves for one of the strongest returns on investment available in North Carolina public higher education.