UNC Chapel Hill vs. WCU

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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Western Carolina University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UNC Chapel Hill (15.3% admitted vs 81.8%). Typical SAT 1460 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: UNC Chapel Hill. Average net price is $10,154 vs $13,767 at WCU.
  • Graduation: UNC Chapel Hill 89% vs WCU 50%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UNC Chapel Hill $66,100 vs WCU $39,100 (median).
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Key differences

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Western Carolina University
Acceptance rate
UNC Chapel Hill more selective
UNC Chapel Hill15.3%
WCU81.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UNC Chapel Hill higher
UNC Chapel Hill1390-1530
WCU1080-1270
Average net price
UNC Chapel Hill $3,613 less
UNC Chapel Hill$10,154
WCU$13,767
In-state tuition
WCU $4,364 less
UNC Chapel Hill$8,994
WCU$4,630
Out-of-state tuition
WCU $32,573 less
UNC Chapel Hill$41,203
WCU$8,630
Graduation rate
UNC Chapel Hill +39 pts
UNC Chapel Hill89%
WCU50%
Median earnings (10 years)
UNC Chapel Hill +$27,000
UNC Chapel Hill$66,100
WCU$39,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • WCU 19,742
  • Admitted
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • WCU 16,154
  • Acceptance rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • WCU 81.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • WCU 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • WCU 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • WCU 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • WCU 3.44
  • Typical high school grades
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • WCU Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • WCU
  • SAT range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390-1530
  • WCU 1080-1270
  • ACT range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28-34
  • WCU 19-25
  • Submit test scores
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • WCU $4,630
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • WCU $8,630
  • Room & board
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • WCU $12,354
  • Average net price
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • WCU $13,767
  • Average grant aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • WCU $5,993
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%
  • WCU 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • WCU 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • WCU $39,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • WCU 58%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • WCU $22,010
  • Median loan payment
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170
  • WCU $227
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • WCU 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Location
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • Setting
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • WCU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • WCU 11,686
  • Type
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • WCU #698

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than WCU based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 11,686 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Western Carolina University is in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Western Carolina University 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 10.5% lower than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($12,354 vs. $13,804).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 377.4% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Western Carolina University (about $32,573 more per year; $41,203 vs. $8,630).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Carolina University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (81% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 197.2% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($17,814 vs. $5,993).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 9 points higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at WCU (31 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UNC Chapel Hill and WCU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; WCU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UNC Chapel Hill average a 3.83 high school GPA, 0.39 higher than at WCU (3.44).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 12.7% at WCU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $5,531 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($16,479 vs. $22,010).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCU graduates ($170 vs. $227).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 58%).

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

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