UNC Chapel Hill vs. UVA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Virginia Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Virginia Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UNC Chapel Hill (15.3% admitted vs 16.8%). Typical SAT 1460 vs 1480.
  • Cheaper after aid: UNC Chapel Hill. Average net price is $10,154 vs $18,427 at UVA.
  • Graduation: UNC Chapel Hill 89% vs UVA 94%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UNC Chapel Hill $66,100 vs UVA $77,200 (median).
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Key differences

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Virginia Main Campus
Acceptance rate
UNC Chapel Hill more selective
UNC Chapel Hill15.3%
UVA16.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UVA higher
UNC Chapel Hill1390-1530
UVA1410-1540
Average net price
UNC Chapel Hill $8,273 less
UNC Chapel Hill$10,154
UVA$18,427
In-state tuition
UNC Chapel Hill $12,809 less
UNC Chapel Hill$8,994
UVA$21,803
Out-of-state tuition
UNC Chapel Hill $18,309 less
UNC Chapel Hill$41,203
UVA$59,512
Graduation rate
UVA +5 pts
UNC Chapel Hill89%
UVA94%
Median earnings (10 years)
UVA +$11,100
UNC Chapel Hill$66,100
UVA$77,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • UVA 33
  • Average high school GPA
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical high school grades
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • UVA A
  • Admissions standards
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • UVA Very High
  • SAT range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390-1530
  • UVA 1410-1540
  • ACT range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28-34
  • UVA 32-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • UVA Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027
  • UVA
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & board
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average net price
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average grant aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • UVA $28,715
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%
  • UVA 39%
  • Graduation rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170
  • UVA $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Location
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • UVA Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • UVA #58

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than UVA based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 26,409 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 6.7% lower than at University of Virginia Main Campus ($13,804 vs. $14,800).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.4% higher at UVA than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $18,309 more per year; $59,512 vs. $41,203).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Virginia Main Campus than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (39% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 61.2% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($28,715 vs. $17,814).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at UVA than at UNC Chapel Hill (33 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UNC Chapel Hill and UVA.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UVA average a 3.85 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 40% at UVA.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $3,021 lower median loan debt than UVA graduates ($16,479 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UVA graduates ($170 vs. $201).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 82%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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