University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A good fit for competitive applicants and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $68,800 within 10 years; exceptional 91% graduation rate.
About This School
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with approximately 20,752 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 15%. The average net price after financial aid is $11,655 per year. The graduation rate is 91%, and the typical graduate earns $68,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1789, the university began enrolling students in 1795, making it the oldest public university in the United States.
This is a strong option for students seeking an elite public university experience at a genuinely affordable price — the average net cost of just $12,983/year, combined with a 92% graduation rate and median earnings of $68,800 a decade out, makes the value proposition hard to beat. The 19% acceptance rate means it's selective, particularly for out-of-state applicants who face much steeper odds and significantly higher costs, so fit your strategy accordingly. As the oldest public university in the country, it carries real academic weight, and a 97% freshman retention rate signals that students who get in tend to thrive once they're there.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 21% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates earn most above the national rate in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($135,874 vs $68,257 nationally), and most below it in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,585 vs $88,910).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 544 | $62,047 | $57,214 | +$4,833 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 521 | $70,240 | $56,359 | +$13,881 |
| Economics | 443 | $103,846 | $82,686 | +$21,160 |
| Computer Science | 427 | $137,047 | $107,009 | +$30,038 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 401 | $135,874 | $68,257 | +$67,617 |
| Political Science and Government | 369 | $72,001 | $63,293 | +$8,708 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 365 | $63,286 | $54,562 | +$8,724 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 199 | $78,585 | $88,910 | −$10,325 |
| Applied Mathematics | 193 | $119,839 | $91,532 | +$28,307 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 164 | $51,208 | $48,590 | +$2,618 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 157 | $74,403 | $73,721 | +$682 |
| Mathematics | 152 | $101,599 | $69,562 | +$32,037 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (20,752 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
103 South Bldg Cb 9100
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Official Links
Schools Like This in North Carolina
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC · Public
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · Public
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public
See How Colleges Compare
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has an acceptance rate of 15%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hard to get into?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 15%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill cost?
The average net price at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is about $11,655 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a graduation rate of 91%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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