UNCW vs. AU

University of North Carolina Wilmington and Anderson University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of North Carolina Wilmington
Anderson University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: AU (54.7% admitted vs 64.2%). Typical SAT 1190 vs 1290.
  • Cheaper after aid: UNCW. Average net price is $18,976 vs $24,434 at AU.
  • Graduation: UNCW 67% vs AU 48%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UNCW $44,700 vs AU $37,500 (median).
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Key differences

University of North Carolina Wilmington Anderson University
Acceptance rate
AU more selective
UNCW64.2%
AU54.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UNCW higher
UNCW1230-1340
AU1100-1280
Average net price
UNCW $5,458 less
UNCW$18,976
AU$24,434
In-state tuition
UNCW $27,693 less
UNCW$7,277
AU$34,970
Out-of-state tuition
UNCW $10,818 less
UNCW$24,152
AU$34,970
Graduation rate
UNCW +19 pts
UNCW67%
AU48%
Median earnings (10 years)
UNCW +$7,200
UNCW$44,700
AU$37,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UNCW 20,393
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • UNCW 13,101
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance rate
  • UNCW 64.2%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UNCW 21%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNCW 1290
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNCW 26
  • AU 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • UNCW 3.56
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical high school grades
  • UNCW A-
  • AU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UNCW Difficult
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • UNCW Low
  • AU Low
  • SAT range
  • UNCW 1230-1340
  • AU 1100-1280
  • ACT range
  • UNCW 24-29
  • AU 22-29
  • Submit test scores
  • UNCW Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UNCW Feb 1, 2027
  • AU
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UNCW $7,277
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UNCW $24,152
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & board
  • UNCW $14,268
  • AU $12,720
  • Average net price
  • UNCW $18,976
  • AU $24,434
  • Average grant aid
  • UNCW $6,674
  • AU $25,969
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UNCW 55%
  • AU 98%
  • Graduation rate
  • UNCW 67%
  • AU 48%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UNCW $44,700
  • AU $37,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • UNCW 64%
  • AU 60%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UNCW $20,500
  • AU $26,862
  • Median loan payment
  • UNCW $211
  • AU $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UNCW 17:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular majors
  • UNCW
    • Business (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Location
  • UNCW Wilmington, NC
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • UNCW Midsize City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNCW 18,848
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • UNCW Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UNCW #389
  • AU #662

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina Wilmington in Wilmington, NC with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of North Carolina Wilmington is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (18,848 students vs. 4,710 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina Wilmington 17:1; Anderson University 13:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 10.8% lower than at University of North Carolina Wilmington ($12,720 vs. $14,268).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.8% higher at AU than at University of North Carolina Wilmington (about $10,818 more per year; $34,970 vs. $24,152).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at University of North Carolina Wilmington (98% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 289.1% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina Wilmington students ($25,969 vs. $6,674).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UNCW than at AU (26 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UNCW and AU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNCW Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at AU average a 3.72 high school GPA, 0.16 higher than at UNCW (3.56).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at UNCW vs. 32.5% at AU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates have a $6,362 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, UNCW graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($211 vs. $277).
  • More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 60%).

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

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