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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public campus in Chapel Hill proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — 5.6% of its 20,752 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$3,165

family income
under $30k

$5,143

$30–48k

$11,220

$48–75k

$19,106

$75–110k

$24,077

over $110k

Average net price

$11,6552023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rose from $9,234 (2008) to $11,655 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$9,234
2009	$9,549
2010	$11,551
2011	$12,634
2012	$13,322
2013	$13,243
2014	$13,744
2015	$13,210
2016	$14,163
2017	$13,918
2018	$12,352
2019	$12,469
2020	$13,263
2021	$12,414
2022	$12,983
2023	$11,655

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$26,0552024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rose from $16,194 (2009) to $26,055 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$16,194
2010	$17,777
2011	$20,208
2012	$21,251
2013	$23,069
2014	$23,978
2015	$23,940
2016	$24,327
2017	$24,872
2018	$25,527
2019	$23,776
2020	$24,220
2021	$24,498
2022	$24,711
2023	$25,181
2024	$26,055

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,768	$11,934
2001	$3,277	$13,269
2002	$3,826	$15,110
2003	$4,072	$15,920
2004	$4,451	$17,549
2005	$4,613	$18,411
2006	$5,033	$19,681
2007	$5,340	$20,988
2008	$5,397	$22,295
2013	$8,340	$30,122
2014	$8,336	$33,418
2015	$8,591	$33,673
2016	$8,834	$33,916
2017	$9,005	$34,588
2018	$8,987	$35,170
2019	$8,980	$36,159
2020	$8,980	$36,159
2021	$9,028	$36,891
2022	$8,989	$37,550
2023	$8,989	$39,330

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports published tuition by residency: $8,994 in-state versus $41,203 out-of-state — a $32,209 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports 20,752 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

91.2% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

91.2%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has held near 91.2% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	83.7%
1992 cohort	80.3%
1993 cohort	79.9%
1994 cohort	78.9%
1995 cohort	79.2%
1996 cohort	80.3%
1997 cohort	82.8%
1998 cohort	81.4%
1999 cohort	83.8%
2000 cohort	83.9%
2001 cohort	82.6%
2002 cohort	85.7%
2003 cohort	84.9%
2004 cohort	88.1%
2005 cohort	89%
2006 cohort	89.4%
2007 cohort	90%
2008 cohort	90.3%
2009 cohort	90.2%
2010 cohort	91.1%
2011 cohort	90.9%
2012 cohort	89.3%
2013 cohort	90.6%
2014 cohort	90.7%
2015 cohort	91.9%
2016 cohort	91.3%
2017 cohort	92.1%
2018 cohort	91.2%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$9,210	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$9,000	$4,394
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$9,024	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$9,178	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$10,252	$5,206
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$10,198	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$10,371	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$10,812	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$11,000	$6,009
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$11,000	$5,883
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$11,000	$6,267
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$11,000	$6,750
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$12,500	$6,073
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$13,958	$7,090
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$14,206	$6,868
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$14,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$15,000	$6,620
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$15,332	$8,271
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$16,250	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$16,661	$9,781
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$16,118	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$15,400	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$14,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$14,000	$7,470

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$57,057

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$65,584

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$72,200

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admitted 10,209 of 66,535 applicants in Fall 2024. The 15.3% rate describes that application pool.

15.3%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $8,989 in-state tuition · 2023–24 20,752 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1390–15301600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 690–750 and Math was 700–780 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1390–1530 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	690	730	750
SAT Math	700	750	780
ACT Composite	28	31	34

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill received 66,535 applications and admitted 10,209 (15.3%), with 4,640 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

15.3%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

The share admitted at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill declined from 36.7% to 15.3%; this does not establish why. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	36.7%
Fall 2002	39.8%
Fall 2003	35.4%
Fall 2004	36.6%
Fall 2005	35.8%
Fall 2006	36.6%
Fall 2007	34.2%
Fall 2008	34.8%
Fall 2009	34%
Fall 2010	31.6%
Fall 2011	33.9%
Fall 2012	33%
Fall 2013	27.6%
Fall 2014	28.5%
Fall 2015	30.5%
Fall 2016	26.9%
Fall 2017	24.4%
Fall 2018	22.7%
Fall 2019	22.6%
Fall 2020	25%
Fall 2021	20.4%
Fall 2022	17.1%
Fall 2023	18.7%
Fall 2024	15.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1390–1530Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1150	1360
Fall 2002	1150	1370
Fall 2003	1180	1370
Fall 2004	1190	1390
Fall 2005	1190	1390
Fall 2006	1210	1390
Fall 2007	1200	1390
Fall 2008	1210	1400
Fall 2009	1210	1390
Fall 2010	1210	1410
Fall 2011	1200	1410
Fall 2012	1200	1400
Fall 2013	1200	1410
Fall 2014	1220	1420
Fall 2015	1220	1430
Fall 2016	1210	1420
Fall 2017	1270	1460
Fall 2018	1270	1480
Fall 2019	1310	1500
Fall 2020	1280	1490
Fall 2021	1140	1380
Fall 2022	1350	1530
Fall 2023	1370	1530
Fall 2024	1390	1530

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

28–34Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2004	25	30
Fall 2005	25	30
Fall 2006	25	31
Fall 2007	25	30
Fall 2008	26	31
Fall 2009	28	31
Fall 2010	26	31
Fall 2011	27	31
Fall 2012	27	32
Fall 2013	28	32
Fall 2014	28	32
Fall 2015	28	33
Fall 2016	28	33
Fall 2017	28	33
Fall 2018	29	33
Fall 2019	28	33
Fall 2020	28	33
Fall 2021	22	27
Fall 2022	30	34
Fall 2023	30	34
Fall 2024	28	34

IPEDS Fall 2004–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

20,752Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rose from 15,469 (Fall 2002) to 20,752 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	15,469
Fall 2003	15,711
Fall 2004	16,065
Fall 2005	16,278
Fall 2006	16,706
Fall 2007	17,138
Fall 2008	17,422
Fall 2009	17,565
Fall 2010	17,943
Fall 2011	17,791
Fall 2012	17,918
Fall 2013	17,882
Fall 2014	17,908
Fall 2015	17,951
Fall 2016	18,169
Fall 2017	18,658
Fall 2018	18,946
Fall 2019	19,014
Fall 2020	19,261
Fall 2021	19,722
Fall 2022	19,921
Fall 2023	20,556
Fall 2024	20,752

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

97%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has held near 97% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	95%
Fall 2003 cohort	95%
Fall 2004 cohort	96%
Fall 2005 cohort	97%
Fall 2006 cohort	96%
Fall 2007 cohort	96%
Fall 2008 cohort	96%
Fall 2009 cohort	96%
Fall 2010 cohort	97%
Fall 2011 cohort	97%
Fall 2012 cohort	96%
Fall 2013 cohort	97%
Fall 2014 cohort	97%
Fall 2015 cohort	96%
Fall 2016 cohort	96%
Fall 2017 cohort	97%
Fall 2018 cohort	96%
Fall 2019 cohort	95%
Fall 2020 cohort	97%
Fall 2021 cohort	96%
Fall 2022 cohort	97%
Fall 2023 cohort	97%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Faculty pay at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill averages $180,552 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a primarily residential campus of 20,752 undergraduates — and 96.6% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's SAT section-percentile sums are 1390–1530 — their midpoint is above the NC four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill15.3%

North Carolina median74.9%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$8,994

North Carolina median$19,500

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$72,200

North Carolina median$45,873

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	15.3%	74.9%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$8,994	$19,500	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$72,200	$45,873	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 38 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$137,047
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$135,874
Applied Mathematics	$119,839
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$110,204
Economics	$103,846
Physics	$103,477
Mathematics	$101,599
Information Science/Studies	$100,940
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$97,992
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution	$80,344
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$78,585
Human Resources Management and Services	$76,811
Public Policy Analysis	$74,403
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	$72,892
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	$72,567
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$72,422
Political Science and Government	$72,001
Philosophy	$70,709
Communication and Media Studies	$70,240
Area Studies	$65,933
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$65,337
Chemistry	$64,981
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$64,570
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$63,286
Biology, General	$62,047
Music	$58,127
History	$57,952
Psychology, General	$57,477
Anthropology	$56,589
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	$54,691
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$54,181
Religion/Religious Studies	$52,716
Sociology	$51,801
English Language and Literature, General	$51,208
Geography and Cartography	$49,476
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$49,209
Fine and Studio Arts	$41,722
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$41,362

These 38 fields listed for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill measure earnings after completion. The $72,200 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 13 additional University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill report?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1390–1530 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

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

15.3% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 10,209 admitted from 66,535 applicants.

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

In-state tuition is $8,994; out-of-state students pay $41,203. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $72,200. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Carolina

University of North Carolina School of the Arts — 30% admitted
Saint Augustine's University — 33.8% admitted
Wake Forest University — 21.7% admitted
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences — 23.4% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.