UNC Chapel Hill vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; William & Mary 12:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary ($10,154 vs. $19,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 14.7% lower than at William & Mary ($13,804 vs. $16,182).
• William & Mary is 188.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $16,920 more per year; $25,914.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.9% higher at William & Mary than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $9,835 more per year; $51,038.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William & Mary than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (43% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William & Mary students is 29.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($23,144 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 10 points higher than at UNC Chapel Hill (1460).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill and William & Mary? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's (89%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $3,021 lower median loan debt than William & Mary graduates ($16,479 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William & Mary graduates ($170 vs. $201).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 82%)

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.