UNCW vs. Warren Wilson

Comparable Facts

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

University of North Carolina Wilmington is larger than Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (18,848 students vs. 791 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting); Warren Wilson College is in Swannanoa, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Warren Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina Wilmington 17:1; Warren Wilson College 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Warren Wilson College are 8.5% lower than at University of North Carolina Wilmington ($13,050 vs. $14,268).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.8% higher at Warren Wilson than at University of North Carolina Wilmington (about $17,348 more per year; $41,500 vs. $24,152).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Warren Wilson College than at University of North Carolina Wilmington (100% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 362.8% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina Wilmington students ($30,887 vs. $6,674).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UNCW than at Warren Wilson (26 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UNCW and Warren Wilson.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNCW Feb 1, 2027; Warren Wilson Jul 3, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Warren Wilson average a 3.6 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at UNCW (3.56).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at UNCW vs. 17.9% at Warren Wilson.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Warren Wilson graduates ($20,500 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, UNCW graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Warren Wilson graduates ($211 vs. $237).
• More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 64%).

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