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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public

Chapel Hill, NC

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was founded in 1795, and its official site identifies it as the nation's first public university. UNC-Chapel Hill is organized into 14 schools, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gillings School of Global Public Health, and the Kenan-Flagler Business School. The university is also known for the Carolina Covenant, a program guaranteeing a debt-free education for eligible low-income students.

Admissions

Admit rate15%
SAT range1390–1530
ACT range28–34
Undergrads20,752
Yield (admits who enroll)46%
Next deadlineOct 15, 2026 (EA)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$26,055
4-year grad rate92%
Median earnings, 10yr out$72,200

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's numbers?

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How University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill weighs your application

From University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankImportant
Academic GPAImportant
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayImportant
RecommendationsImportant
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityImportant
Character/personal qualitiesImportant
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyImportant
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans13%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out81%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
Area Studies$65,933/yr
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$54,691/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$62,047/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Business Administration, Management and Operations$135,874/yr
Human Resources Management and Services$76,811/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Communication and Media Studies$70,240/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$137,047/yr
Information Science/Studies$100,940/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$49,209/yr
Engineering
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$97,992/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$51,208/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$64,570/yr
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$54,181/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Health and Medical Administrative Services$110,204/yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$78,585/yr
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$72,892/yr
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$72,567/yr
History
History$57,952/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$72,422/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Applied Mathematics$119,839/yr
Mathematics$101,599/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution$80,344/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$65,337/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$63,286/yr
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Philosophy$70,709/yr
Religion/Religious Studies$52,716/yr
Physical Sciences
Physics$103,477/yr
Chemistry$64,981/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$57,477/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Public Policy Analysis$74,403/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$103,846/yr
Political Science and Government$72,001/yr
Anthropology$56,589/yr
Sociology$51,801/yr
Geography and Cartography$49,476/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Music$58,127/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$41,722/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$41,362/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity9,925
Typical room charge$7,014
Typical board charge$5,240

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill look for in applicants?

Per University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's acceptance rate?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC admits approximately 15% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

Admitted students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill typically score between 1390–1530 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

Admitted students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill typically score between 28–34 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill cost?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's total cost of attendance is reported at $26,055 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's earliest deadline is Oct 15, 2026 (EA), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill require students to live on campus?

No -- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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