Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

A $30,739 debt load stands out immediately—substantially higher than both the state median ($22,507) and national median ($23,875) for Peace Studies programs. The estimated first-year earnings of $40,929 put this program roughly at the national average for the field, but that 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would carry debt equal to three-quarters of their first year's salary. At UNC Chapel Hill, the only other NC school with reported data for this major, graduates earn an estimated $44,503—about $3,600 more annually—while typically carrying less debt.

Peace Studies degrees generally lead to nonprofit, advocacy, or public service careers where salaries start modestly. The field attracts students with a service orientation who understand they're not chasing high earnings. But with UNCG's debt load sitting in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of similar programs saddle graduates with less debt), the financial burden here is harder to justify. That extra debt doesn't appear to translate into better outcomes—the earnings estimate matches the national median exactly.

For parents, the question is whether the program's specific offerings at UNCG justify taking on significantly more debt than graduates at peer institutions. The 47% Pell grant rate suggests many students here have limited financial cushion, making that above-average debt more consequential. If your student is committed to this field, understanding why the debt runs higher at UNCG—and whether comparable programs elsewhere in North Carolina offer a lighter load—is essential.