Head-to-head · 2026
Johnston Community College vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Compare average net price ($1,776 at Johnston Community College; $11,655 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), ROI score (52.52 vs 15.49), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($37,310 vs $72,200), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Johnston Community College; 15.3% at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Johnston Community College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 52.52 ✓ | 15.49 |
| Avg net price | $1,776 ✓ | $11,655 |
| 4-year avg net price | $7,104 ✓ | $46,620 |
| In-state tuition | $2,756 | $8,994 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $8,900 | $41,203 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $37,310 | $72,200 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 15.3% |
| Graduation rate | 36.6% | 91.2% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 66.8% | 96.6% ✓ |
| Median debt | — | $14,000 |
| Enrollment | 3,453 | 20,752 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 1439 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Johnston Community College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,743 ✓ | $2,004 |
| Family income $30–48k | $986 ✓ | $3,918 |
| Family income $48–75k | $2,495 ✓ | $8,538 |
| Family income $75–110k | $1,684 ✓ | $16,415 |
| Family income $110k+ | $5,814 ✓ | $24,396 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Johnston Community College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 27.7% | 0.5% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4.4% | 1.2% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 2.9% | 2.2% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 4.5% | 0.4% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 1.3% | 1.7% |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 1.4% | 0.5% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Johnston Community College reports the lower average net price by $9,879 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $39,516 difference over four years ($7,104 vs $46,620).
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports $34,890 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($72,200 vs $37,310). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 66.8% at Johnston Community College and 96.6% at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
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Frequently asked
Johnston Community College vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Johnston Community College is cheaper — average net price $1,776 per year vs $11,655 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The annual difference of $9,879 adds up to about $39,516 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $72,200 vs $37,310 at Johnston Community College. The gap in the federal data is $34,890. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.