Home Colleges North Carolina University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Public 4-Year Selective Chapel Hill, NC NCAA Division I-FBS

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

15.3%
Acceptance Rate
$27,020/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$11,655/yr
Avg Price After Aid
91.6%
6-yr Grad Rate
20,752
Undergrads

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public university with an acceptance rate of 15.3% and undergraduate enrollment of 20,752. The institution has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, a 6-year graduation rate of 91.6%, and a cost of attendance of $27,020. Median earnings are $57,057 six years after enrollment and $72,200 ten years after enrollment.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
20,752
Avg Faculty Salary
$136,550
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$5.7B
Pell Students
20%
First-Gen
19.9%
What University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Behavioral Sciences 413 graduates · 7.8% of degrees here vs 0.09% nationally 89×
Applied Mathematics 140 graduates · 2.6% of degrees here vs 0.13% nationally 20×
Mass Communication/Media Studies 336 graduates · 6.3% of degrees here vs 0.33% nationally 19×
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical... 295 graduates · 5.5% of degrees here vs 0.45% nationally 12×
Economics 250 graduates · 4.7% of degrees here vs 0.74% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
15.3%
Acceptance rate · Selective
57,902
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$11,655 avg net
Average net price after aid
$2,004
Under $30K income
$5.7B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$57,057 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
91.6%
6-yr Grad Rate
$14,000
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
15.3%
57,902 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
15:1
Undergrad instruction

UNC Chapel Hill is a selective public university with a 15.3% acceptance rate and 20,752 undergraduates. The school maintains a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and achieves a 91.6% six-year graduation rate.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 7 applicants is admitted · 57,902 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1390–1530
40080012001600
GPA Distribution — Enrolled Students
8-band breakdown · Source: Common Data Set
4.0
97%
3.75–3.99
2%
3.50–3.74
1%
3.25–3.49
3.00–3.24
2.50–2.99
2.00–2.49
Below 2.0

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Important
Academic GPA Important
Standardized test scores Considered
Application essay Important
Recommendations Important
Class Rank Profile
25% of students submitted rank · Source: Common Data Set
Top 10th of class
77%
Top quarter
97%
Top half
100%
Waitlist Statistics
Source: Common Data Set
4,084
Offered spot
295
Accepted offer
8
Admitted from WL
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 23,947 4,333 18.1% 1,764
Women 33,955 6,517 19.2% 2,935
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 15.3% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
15.3%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
NC (59)
74.7%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$11,655
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$14,000
Federal Loan Rate
13.1%
Students borrowing federal loans

UNC Chapel Hill has a cost of attendance of $27,020 annually. The school enrolls 20% Pell grant recipients, indicating a significant population of low-income students.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$27,020
In-state Tuition & Fees
$8,994
33%
Room & Board
$13,804
51%
Books & Supplies
$1,290
5%
Other Expenses
$2,932
11%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$2,004
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,918
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,538
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,415
Over $110,000
$24,396
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
69%
Federal loans
13%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $148.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill costs $11,655 a year — about 20% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$26,055
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
NC (122)
$20,308
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (16)
$26,240
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
69.3%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
NC (96)
87.6%
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (16)
89%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$14,000
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
NC (106)
$19,094
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (17)
$14,000
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$11,655
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
NC (149)
$14,086
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (22)
$16,908
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
91.6%
Median Earnings 6yr
$57,057
6 years after entering

UNC Chapel Hill has a 91.6% six-year graduation rate. Graduates earn a median of $57,057 six years after enrollment and $72,200 ten years after enrollment.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$63,085
Men
$54,679
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
88.5%
Pell recipients
88.4%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Biology/Biological Sciences, General571
Behavioral Sciences413
Business Administration and Management,...392
Mass Communication/Media Studies336
Computer Science334
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical...295
Political Science and Government, General255
Economics, General250
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse215
Neuroscience166
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
94.7%
Hispanic
92%
White
91.5%
Black
87.8%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $65,584, and 78% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students earn $57,057 — 24% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$72,200
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
NC (140)
$35,871
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (17)
$36,142
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$57,057
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
NC (145)
$31,394
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (19)
$31,129
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
91.6%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
NC (57)
49.2%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
96.9%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
NC (60)
73%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Campus, Athletics & Faculty

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public university with 20,752 undergraduates and a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It competes in NCAA Division I-FBS athletics with annual athletic revenue of $19.1 million.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
53.3%
Asian
16%
Hispanic
9.7%
Black
7.4%
Other Indicators
First-generation
19.9%
Pell grant recipients
20%
Women
60.8%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics
Total Revenue
$19.1M
Total Expense
$38.3M
Athletes
1,035
550 men · 485 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$813,531
Women's sports
$228,517

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$9,243,100
Women's aid
$7,536,805
Academic Resources
1,763
Full-time faculty
$136,550
Avg faculty salary
40,585
FT staff
$5.7B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$150,021
Women (avg)
$122,628
Overall avg
$136,550
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
20,752
Graduate students
11,553
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
4.5%

891 of 19,836 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
0.2%
Undergrads taking any
22.1%
Grad students fully online
13.1%

34 of 20,681 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 1,516 of 11,553 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and operates its own medical school.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill spends $124,596 per student on research — about 14× a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
20%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
NC (152)
39.3%
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (23)
35.9%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$124,596
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
NC (120)
$6,693
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (17)
$7,817
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
15:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
NC (152)
13:1
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (23)
13:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
59 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
5,328 graduates
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 778 grads · 3 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 571
Neuroscience 166
Biostatistics 41
Social Sciences 746 grads · 8 majors
Political Science and Government, General 255
Economics, General 250
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 99
Medical Anthropology 54
Sociology, General 48
Geography 21
Anthropology, General 12
Archeology 7
Business and Marketing 504 grads · 3 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 392
Human Resources Management/Personnel... 88
Organizational Leadership 24
Communication and Journalism 465 grads · 2 majors
Mass Communication/Media Studies 336
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 129
Multidisciplinary Studies 456 grads · 2 majors
Behavioral Sciences 413
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution 43
Computer and Information Sciences 435 grads · 2 majors
Computer Science 334
Information Science/Studies 101
Health Professions 343 grads · 6 majors
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 215
Health/Health Care Administration/Management 47
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 28
Environmental Health 26
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical... 16
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science -... 11
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 295 grads · 1 major
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical... 295
Mathematics and Statistics 211 grads · 2 majors
Applied Mathematics, General 140
Mathematics, General 71
Engineering 147 grads · 1 major
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 147
Physical Sciences 132 grads · 3 majors
Chemistry, General 87
Physics, General 28
Geology/Earth Science, General 17
Natural Resources and Conservation 129 grads · 2 majors
Environmental Science 71
Environmental Studies 58
Education 115 grads · 1 major
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 115
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 112 grads · 7 majors
Area Studies, Other 71
Asian Studies/Civilization 13
American/United States Studies/Civilization 8
Women's Studies 8
African-American/Black Studies 6
European Studies/Civilization 5
Latin American Studies 1
English Language and Literature 105 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 105
Public Administration and Social Services 87 grads · 1 major
Public Policy Analysis, General 87
History 71 grads · 1 major
History, General 71
Visual and Performing Arts 68 grads · 5 majors
Fine/Studio Arts, General 21
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 16
Music Performance, General 14
Music, General 13
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 4
Family and Consumer Sciences 62 grads · 1 major
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies,... 62
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 30 grads · 4 majors
Linguistics 16
Romance Languages, Literatures, and... 8
Classics and Classical Languages,... 4
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 2
Philosophy and Religious Studies 22 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 18
Religion/Religious Studies 4
Liberal Arts and General Studies 15 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 15
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Location & Campus Safety

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC, in what IPEDS classifies as a small city setting. The campus sits about 1.3 miles from the center of Chapel Hill. There are 5 other colleges within 25 miles, and Raleigh, NC is 23.6 miles away.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Other colleges within 30 miles
Small city
Campus Setting
1.3 mi
To City Center
5
Colleges Within 25 mi
59,889
Chapel Hill Population
Living in Chapel Hill
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,483
Median Rent / mo
$85,825
Median Household Income
35.6%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
48.1%
Walk
7.7%
Public transit
6.6%

Orange County scores 9.8 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 28.1% of Chapel Hill's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Duke University 6,442 students 8.8 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to each campus

Campus Safety at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported for 2024.

87
On-Campus Offenses
13
In Residence Halls
2.7
Per 1,000 Students
44
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
116
2023
116
2024
87
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Motor vehicle theft
43
Sexual offenses
20
Burglary
18
Aggravated assault
5
Robbery
1

Separately, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported 5 arrests and 354 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admissions, costs, and outcomes.