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ASU NC State UVA UNC Charlotte Duke Michigan ECU UT Austin Clemson UNCG Florida UofSC| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | Chapel Hill, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,987 | 32,234 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #60 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | unc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $7,019 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,111 | $37,360 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,605 | $13,016 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,606 | $11,140 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,516 | $15,365 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 38% |
Admission |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 17,370 | 57,902 | ||
| Admitted | 12,856 | 10,850 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 18.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 43.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1360 | 1370/1530 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 89% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $66,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $16,479 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $170 |
Diversity |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 64% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 15% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | UNC Chapel Hill | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than than UNCW based on total student enrollment (32,234 students vs. 17,987 students)
UNCW vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or UNC Chapel Hill?
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is 58% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($7,019.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 85.8% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($37,360.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than UNCW ($11,140 vs. $18,606)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 3.3% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($12,605 vs. $13,016)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (54% vs. 38%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 135.8% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($15,365 vs. $6,516)
UNCW vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or UNC Chapel Hill? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNC Chapel Hill or UNCW .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1343) is 181 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
- Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than UNC Chapel Hill (18.7%)
UNCW vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW or UNC Chapel Hill? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UNC Chapel Hill and UNCW.
- The graduation rate at UNC Chapel Hill is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (89% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn on average $21,400 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($66,100 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students graduate with a $4,021 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCW graduates. ($16,479 vs. $20,500)
- UNC Chapel Hill graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than UNCW graduates. ($170 vs. $211)
- More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/