Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to University of North Carolina at Pembroke that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke, North Carolina · Public

$10,260
Net Price
$43,407
Median Earnings (10yr)
93.3%
Acceptance Rate
44.0%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to University of North Carolina at Pembroke

University of North Carolina at Pembroke posts an average net price of $10,260 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with University of North Carolina at Pembroke across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $6,293, achieved by California State University-Los Angeles at $3,967. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s $43,407, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $60,120.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$6,293
Max Savings
15
Better Value Options
74%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Rhode Island College $56k 2. California State University- $57k 3. California State University- $59k 4. Weber State University $56k 5. Utah Valley University $55k Compared to University of North Carolina at Pembroke:$43k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · Public Better Value
$9,478 -$782 $56,318 47.0% 74%
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · Public Better Value
$8,615 -$1,645 $57,162 44.6% 64%
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · Public Better Value
$5,652 -$4,608 $59,009 49.6% 59%
Weber State University
Ogden, UT · Public Better Value
$10,258 -$2 $56,287 44.7% 58%
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public Better Value
$6,376 -$3,884 $55,486 43.1% 58%
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public Better Value
$7,021 -$3,239 $59,115 56.5% 55%
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public Better Value
$9,338 -$922 $64,876 56.1% 54%
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public Better Value
$3,967 -$6,293 $59,211 52.8% 54%
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · Public Better Value
$5,579 -$4,681 $53,501 33.4% 54%
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value
$10,163 -$97 $78,466 62.8% 53%
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public Better Value
$10,229 -$31 $62,908 54.4% 53%
California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA · Public Better Value
$9,849 -$411 $62,152 52.4% 53%
Texas A&M University-Victoria
Victoria, TX · Public Better Value
$8,109 -$2,151 $54,467 26.5% 52%
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public Better Value
$9,492 -$768 $59,649 57.3% 51%
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · Public Better Value
$6,067 -$4,193 $63,188 55.6% 50%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than University of North Carolina at Pembroke are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to University of North Carolina at Pembroke?
We found 15 schools similar to University of North Carolina at Pembroke that cost less. The closest match is Rhode Island College with 74% similarity and a net price of $9,478.
What is the ROI of attending University of North Carolina at Pembroke?
University of North Carolina at Pembroke has an average net price of $10,260. Former students earn a median of $43,407 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.2x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than University of North Carolina at Pembroke for less money?
Yes - 15 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Rhode Island College costs $9,478 (saving $782) with median earnings of $56,318.
What is the cheapest alternative to University of North Carolina at Pembroke?
The most affordable similar school is California State University-Los Angeles at $3,967, saving $6,293 compared to University of North Carolina at Pembroke. It has a 54% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $60,120 compared to University of North Carolina at Pembroke's $43,407. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.