UCLA vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • UNC Chapel Hill

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • UNC Chapel Hill Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • UNC Chapel Hill Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • UNC Chapel Hill Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • UNC Chapel Hill Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • UNC Chapel Hill No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

UCLA vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or UNC Chapel Hill? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than UCLA ($10,154 vs. $14,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 24.9% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($13,804 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 69% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $6,209 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at UCLA than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $8,200 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $41,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (49% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 43.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($25,627 vs. $17,814).

UCLA vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or UNC Chapel Hill? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNC Chapel Hill and UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 40 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming UCLA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); UNC Chapel Hill - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
  • UNC Chapel Hill has a higher acceptance rate (15.3%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

UCLA vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and UNC Chapel Hill? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's (89%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $179 lower median loan debt than UNC Chapel Hill graduates ($16,300 vs. $16,479).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNC Chapel Hill graduates ($168 vs. $170).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.