UNC Chapel Hill vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin ($10,154 vs. $17,942).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 6.9% lower than at The University of Texas at Austin ($13,804 vs. $14,828).
• The University of Texas at Austin is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $2,694 more per year; $11,688.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at UT Austin than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $3,705 more per year; $44,908.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Austin than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (42% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 30.2% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($17,814 vs. $13,681).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin and UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 80 points higher than at UT Austin (1380).
• Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UT Austin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
• UT Austin has a higher acceptance rate (26.6%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill and UT Austin? 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $5,771 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($16,479 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($170 vs. $230).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.