North Carolina Colleges Whose Grads Make The Most Money

Students attending Duke University know that when they graduate, their degree will help them find a good paying job. But, you can also make a good living by graduating elsewhere in North Carolina.

The U.S. Department of Education offers a College Scorecard that provides would-be attendees many of the resources they need in deciding where to apply and, ultimately, where to attend.

Below is a list of schools in North Carolina, ranked top to bottom, whose graduates make the most money after leaving. The numbers are based on the average earnings of students 10 years after they enrolled. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Charlotte — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Federal officials say the College Scorecard is intended to be a resource for choosing colleges, helping students to broaden their college search and compare their top-choice schools. "By using the College Scorecard to compare costs and outcomes with their future degrees, students are better equipped to make these critical life decisions," according to the site.

The website also provides each school's annual average cost and its graduation rates. The site allows you to sort the colleges to determine who leads and trails in each of these categories. If you click on a school, you'll also get additional information on the school's population and SAT and ACT scores.

Here are the top 20 schools in North Carolina based upon their earning potential:

• Duke University, Durham, $76,700
• Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, $59,800
• Davidson College, Davidson, $51,800
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, $51,000
• Strayer University -- North Carolina, Morrisville, $49,200
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, $47,600
• Carolinas College of Health Sciences, Charlotte, $47,500
• Elon University, Elon, $46,500
• Campbell University, Buies Creek, $42,600
• University of North Carolina, Charlotte, $41,500
• Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, Concord, $40,700
• University of North Carolina at Wilmington, $39,400
• East Carolina University, Greenville, $39,000
• Montreat College, Montreat, $38,800
• Methodist University, Fayetteville, $38,800
• University of Mount Olive, Mount Olive, $38,100
• Queens University of Charlotte, $37,800
• Wingate University, Wingate, $37,800
• Guilford College, Greensboro, $37,500
• High Point University, High Point, $37,100

Click here to find the full list of North Carolina colleges and more information from College Scorecard

— Includes reporting by Patch Editor Tom Davis

Photo via Shutterstock
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