State Report: North Carolina

Note: A school is highlighted blue if NC is its most popular destination.
Sorting alphabetically by school
Employment Score Under-Employment Score Unknown Score Class of 2016 Projected Cost Non-Discounted Monthly Payment10-Year Plan
Appalachian School of Law11% Employed in NC 36.3%* 37.4% 5.5% $193,245 $2,294
Campbell University84.8% Employed in NC 62.1% 13.1% 1.4% $226,213 $2,692
Charlotte School of Law65.8% Employed in NC 35%* 46.2% 1.3% $222,568 $2,648
Elon Law School68.8% Employed in NC 47.3% 39.3% 1.8% $215,876 $2,567
Liberty University6.7% Employed in NC 44.4%* 32.2% 3.3% $177,067 $2,098
North Carolina Central University30.3% Employed in NC 20% 15.2% 45.5% $85,413 (Resident) $992
University of North Carolina46.9% Employed in NC 68.4%* 21.9% 3.1% $149,401 (Resident) $1,764
University of South Carolina11.1% Employed in NC 69.5%* 19.9% 3.1% $141,009 (Resident) $1,663
Wake Forest University46.2% Employed in NC 66.7% 21.2% 0% $217,493 $2,586
Sorting alphabetically by school
School FundedRate Law Firms Public ServiceScore Clerkships Salary ResponseScore
101+ Attorneys 26-100 Attorneys 2-25 Attorneys Federal State/Local
Appalachian School of Law11% Employed in NC 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 24.2% 13.2% 0% 4.4% June 2013
Campbell University84.8% Employed in NC 0% 2.8% 4.8% 41.4% 9% 2.1% 2.8% June 2013
Charlotte School of Law65.8% Employed in NC 17.1% 1.3% 2.6% 20.5% 6.8% 0% 0% June 2013
Elon Law School68.8% Employed in NC 0% 0% 0% 31.3% 8% 0% 4.5% June 2013
Liberty University6.7% Employed in NC 1.1% 2.2% 0% 22.2% 13.3% 0% 4.4% June 2013
North Carolina Central University30.3% Employed in NC 0% 1.8% 1.2% 7.3% 9.7% 0% 0% June 2013
University of North Carolina46.9% Employed in NC 2.3% 16.4% 4.3% 13.3% 10.5% 4.7% 5.5% June 2013
University of South Carolina11.1% Employed in NC 0.4% 8% 3.1% 20.4% 16.4% 2.7% 16.4% June 2013
Wake Forest University46.2% Employed in NC 1.9% 14.7% 12.2% 16.7% 15.4% 4.5% 2.6% June 2013
Sorting alphabetically by school
Fall 2012 (All 1Ls) 2010-2011 Academic Year (FT Only)
LSAT Scores Undergraduate GPA Cost Discounts
25th 50th 75th 25th 50th 75th Median Discount % Receiving Discount
Appalachian School of Law11% Employed in NC 146 2.94 $14,000 16%
Campbell University84.8% Employed in NC 154 3.3 $10,700 38.4%
Charlotte School of Law65.8% Employed in NC 146 2.98 $9,500 81.8%
Elon Law School68.8% Employed in NC 155 3.16 $10,000 81.9%
Liberty University6.7% Employed in NC 150 3.31 $12,527 97.8%
North Carolina Central University30.3% Employed in NC 147 3.22 $6,253 68.4%
University of North Carolina46.9% Employed in NC 162 3.51 $1,550 86.6%
University of South Carolina11.1% Employed in NC 157 3.32 $18,676 59.8%
Wake Forest University46.2% Employed in NC 163 3.63 $18,257 47.4%
Sorting by Non-Discounted Cost (Class of 2016 Projections)

Projected Debt Owed at First Loan Payment

  • The non-discounted cost is the total debt owed when a graduate debt-finances legal education without tuition discounts or other effective discounts
  • Projections assume a modest 3% annual tuition increase and 2% annual indirect cost (room, board, books, etc.) increase from 2011-2012 figures
  • Interest calculations are time-sensitive—based on semester disbursement periods—and use a blended interest rate. (The first 10.25k each semester is weighted at 6.8%, the rest at 7.9%.) Interest accrues upon disbursement and capitalizes six months after graduation when the first loan payment is due.

Notes:

  • Some students will not borrow all that the Department of Education permits: many use savings, receive aid from family, or receive tuition discounts
  • Average debt figures that schools advertise do not include the interest accrued during law school
  • In recent years, roughly 50% of students have paid full sticker for tuition & fees; LST expects this percentage to decline
  • Rely on your own, detailed financial planning tailored to your personal needs. Our goal is to estimate the debt-financed cost of obtaining a J.D. at ABA-approved law schools without discounts and to show how advertised rates and debt levels obfuscate real graduate outcomes for research and advocacy purposes.
Class of 2016 Projections Class of 2017 Projections 2011-2012 Academic Year
Non-Discounted Cost Resident Cost Non-Discounted Cost Resident Cost Non-Discounted Tuition Resident Tuition Indirect
Expenses
Appalachian School of Law $193,245-$198,301-$30,607-$21,176
Campbell University $226,213-$232,055-$33,910-$26,700
Charlotte School of Law $222,568-$228,451-$36,916-$22,619
Elon Law School $215,876-$221,535-$34,550-$23,243
Liberty University $177,067-$181,800-$30,604-$16,800
North Carolina Central University $138,380$85,413$142,101$87,545$24,343$10,415$12,773
University of North Carolina $206,856$149,401$212,318$153,140$34,120$19,012$21,244
University of South Carolina $221,045$141,009$227,094$144,656$42,072$21,026$16,899
Wake Forest University $217,493-$223,344-$38,756-$19,351
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