University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Acceptance

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with about 20,752 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 15.34% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $72,200 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,994
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $11,655 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 15.34% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 20,752 96.9% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 91.17%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 19.9%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 4.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 78.3%
  • Average SAT Score: 1439
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,075
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 57,902
  • Room & Board: $13,804 annual estimate

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: what the data shows

Common questions about University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (ZIP 27599).

NCES locale classification: Town.

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill public or private?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a Public institution.

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

Published tuition: $8,994 in-state, $41,203 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $11,655.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$2,004
$30,001–$48,000$3,918
$48,001–$75,000$8,538
$75,001–$110,000$16,415
$110,001+$24,396

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $35,976.

How hard is it to get into University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

Admission rate: 15.34%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1439 and midpoint ACT 25.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

Total enrollment: 20,752 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 22,075 students.

Graduate enrollment: 11,553 students.

About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

150%-time completion rate: 91.17%.

First-year retention: 96.6%.

What do graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn?

Median earnings: $57,057 six years after entry; $72,200 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $14,000.

20.04% of students receive Pell grants.

What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 15.34%; completion rate 91.17%; median earnings $72,200 at 10 years; net price $11,655. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$8,994
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was $8,994.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$11,655
2024 Value

In 2024 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,655.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$46,620 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$11,655 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$35,976 4-Year In-State Tuition

$164,812 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$13,804 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,290 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$24,088 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$96,352 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Financial Aid by Income Level

20.04% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

13.08% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$8,340$30,122$13,322
2014$8,336$33,418$13,243
2015$8,591$33,673$13,744
2016$8,834$33,916$13,210
2017$9,005$34,588$14,163
2018$8,987$35,170$13,918
2019$8,980$36,159$12,352
2020$8,980$36,159$12,469
2021$9,028$36,891$13,263
2022$8,989$37,550$12,414
2023$8,989$39,330$12,983

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

15.34% Acceptance Rate

57,902 Total Applicants

10,850 Students Admitted

4,699 First-Time Students Enrolled

43.31% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1439

ACT Average: 25

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.7 - 3.9

Estimated Median GPA: 3.85

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported total enrollment of about 20,752 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.2%), Asian (16.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.7%). About 20.04% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 19.9% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

96.9% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2024 is 20,752 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 22,075 students. Graduate enrollment is about 11,553 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

96.6%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 53.2%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

83.60% 100% Completion Time

91.17% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 83.60% of students graduating from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Management Science: 62% male / 38% female
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 34% male / 66% female
  • Behavioral Sciences: 21% male / 79% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Return on Investment

$14,000 Median Student Debt

$72,200 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

19.39% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

1448.69% Return on Investment

1.9 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 118 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Management Science: 954 completions

2. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 619 completions

3. Behavioral Sciences: 569 completions

4. Public Health, General: 472 completions

5. Computer Science: 454 completions

6. Political Science and Government, General: 428 completions

7. Business Administration and Management, General: 413 completions

8. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General: 382 completions

9. Mass Communication/Media Studies: 363 completions

Most popular programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 78.3%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $15,046
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $33,767

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, NC, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Management Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Behavioral Sciences. Enrollment is approximately 20,752 students. Student body composition includes White (53.2%), Asian (16.0%), Hispanic or Latino (9.7%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 15.34%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1439. The 150%-time completion rate is 91.17%. Approximately 20.04% of students receive Pell Grants. About 19.9% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 91.17% graduation rate, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 118 distinct degree programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is UNC located?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC. The institution is also known as UNC.

What is UNC's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is 15.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 57,902 applicants and 10,850 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does UNC cost?

Reported tuition is $8,994 and average net price is $11,655 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,804 annually.

What is the student body demographics at UNC?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports undergraduate enrollment of about 22,075 students, White (53.2%), Asian (16.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend UNC?

About 19.9% of students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports midpoint SAT about 1439 and midpoint ACT about 25.

What do graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn?

Median earnings are $57,057 six years after entry and $72,200 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

The 150%-time completion rate is 91.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $14,000.

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill public or private?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, NC.

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill an HBCU?

No. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a tribal college?

No. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in North Carolina

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.