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University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public campus in Wilmington proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

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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

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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

$11,837

family income
under $30k

$13,891

$30–48k

$18,377

$48–75k

$23,374

$75–110k

$25,018

over $110k

Average net price

$20,1092023–24Skip 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 Wilmington rose from $10,387 (2008) to $20,109 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$10,387
2009	$10,418
2010	$11,169
2011	$12,604
2012	$13,618
2013	$15,604
2014	$15,909
2015	$16,793
2016	$18,093
2017	$18,910
2018	$19,055
2019	$19,136
2020	$19,999
2021	$19,442
2022	$19,472
2023	$20,109

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$26,5472024–25Skip 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 Wilmington rose from $14,916 (2009) to $26,547 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$14,916
2010	$15,746
2011	$16,368
2012	$17,094
2013	$18,165
2014	$20,292
2015	$21,050
2016	$21,642
2017	$22,644
2018	$24,098
2019	$24,452
2020	$24,837
2021	$25,235
2022	$25,332
2023	$25,913
2024	$26,547

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	$2,360	$9,710
2001	$2,627	$10,722
2002	$3,074	$12,193
2003	$3,362	$12,937
2004	$3,626	$13,336
2005	$3,694	$13,405
2006	$4,160	$14,095
2007	$4,399	$14,362
2008	$4,528	$14,695
2013	$6,343	$18,480
2014	$6,392	$20,420
2015	$6,691	$20,557
2016	$6,951	$20,920
2017	$7,000	$21,065
2018	$7,091	$21,156
2019	$7,181	$21,246
2020	$7,181	$21,246
2021	$7,238	$21,303
2022	$7,238	$21,858
2023	$7,317	$22,985

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

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of North Carolina Wilmington reports published tuition by residency: $7,277 in-state versus $24,152 out-of-state — a $16,875 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

University of North Carolina Wilmington reports 14,922 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

70.6% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of North Carolina Wilmington 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

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70.6%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 Wilmington rose from 53.9% (entered 1991) to 70.6% (entered 2018).

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	53.9%
1992 cohort	52.3%
1993 cohort	55.9%
1994 cohort	59.8%
1995 cohort	59.1%
1996 cohort	61.6%
1997 cohort	59.2%
1998 cohort	61.3%
1999 cohort	63.5%
2000 cohort	65.1%
2001 cohort	64.8%
2002 cohort	67.2%
2003 cohort	68.7%
2004 cohort	65.9%
2005 cohort	67%
2006 cohort	68.7%
2007 cohort	71%
2008 cohort	70.5%
2009 cohort	71.2%
2010 cohort	71.9%
2011 cohort	72.5%
2012 cohort	72.8%
2013 cohort	71.6%
2014 cohort	73.5%
2015 cohort	71.8%
2016 cohort	74.3%
2017 cohort	70.7%
2018 cohort	70.6%

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 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$13,625	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,421	$5,491
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$13,370	$4,810
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,419	$4,460
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$13,531	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,625	$4,513
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$13,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$14,500	$5,623
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$15,793	$6,098
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$18,035	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$19,125	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,728	$6,508
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$20,500	$7,464
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$20,500	$8,560
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$20,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$20,500	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$20,175	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$20,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,500	$8,500

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

$46,972

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$51,021

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$54,967

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 Wilmington admitted 13,101 of 20,393 applicants in Fall 2024. The 64.2% rate describes that application pool.

64.2%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $7,317 in-state tuition · 2023–24 14,922 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1230–13401600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

University of North Carolina Wilmington reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For University of North Carolina Wilmington’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 620–680 and Math was 610–660 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1230–1340 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	620	650	680
SAT Math	610	630	660
ACT Composite	24	27	29

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 Wilmington received 20,393 applications and admitted 13,101 (64.2%), with 2,754 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

64.2%Fall 2024Skip to data table

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

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	61.1%
Fall 2002	80%
Fall 2003	55%
Fall 2004	54.3%
Fall 2005	60%
Fall 2006	61%
Fall 2007	62.4%
Fall 2008	58.3%
Fall 2009	58.5%
Fall 2010	58.2%
Fall 2011	56.5%
Fall 2012	52.9%
Fall 2013	54.2%
Fall 2014	58.6%
Fall 2015	61%
Fall 2016	71.8%
Fall 2017	66.5%
Fall 2018	61.3%
Fall 2019	65.5%
Fall 2020	68%
Fall 2021	68%
Fall 2022	68.8%
Fall 2023	74%
Fall 2024	64.2%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1230–1340Fall 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	1010	1180
Fall 2002	1010	1170
Fall 2003	1020	1200
Fall 2004	1020	1200
Fall 2005	1040	1210
Fall 2006	1060	1210
Fall 2007	1060	1240
Fall 2008	1070	1240
Fall 2009	1080	1240
Fall 2010	1080	1250
Fall 2011	1090	1240
Fall 2012	1090	1250
Fall 2013	1100	1250
Fall 2014	1110	1270
Fall 2015	1120	1260
Fall 2016	1130	1260
Fall 2017	1185	1310
Fall 2018	1190	1320
Fall 2019	1170	1320
Fall 2020	1160	1310
Fall 2021	1210	1330
Fall 2022	1220	1370
Fall 2023	1220	1360
Fall 2024	1230	1340

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

24–29Fall 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	20	24
Fall 2005	21	25
Fall 2006	21	25
Fall 2007	21	24
Fall 2008	21	26
Fall 2009	22	26
Fall 2010	22	27
Fall 2011	22	26
Fall 2012	22	27
Fall 2013	22	26
Fall 2014	22	26
Fall 2015	23	27
Fall 2016	22	26
Fall 2017	23	27
Fall 2018	23	27
Fall 2019	22	27
Fall 2020	23	27
Fall 2021	24	28
Fall 2022	24	29
Fall 2023	24	28
Fall 2024	24	29

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

14,922Fall 2024Skip to data table

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

Undergraduate enrollment at University of North Carolina Wilmington rose from 9,508 (Fall 2002) to 14,922 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	9,508
Fall 2003	9,708
Fall 2004	10,130
Fall 2005	10,359
Fall 2006	10,649
Fall 2007	10,707
Fall 2008	10,888
Fall 2009	11,098
Fall 2010	11,343
Fall 2011	11,587
Fall 2012	12,060
Fall 2013	12,178
Fall 2014	12,686
Fall 2015	12,971
Fall 2016	13,608
Fall 2017	14,183
Fall 2018	14,076
Fall 2019	14,421
Fall 2020	14,326
Fall 2021	14,161
Fall 2022	13,960
Fall 2023	14,176
Fall 2024	14,922

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

88%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 Wilmington has held near 88% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	86%
Fall 2003 cohort	86%
Fall 2004 cohort	83%
Fall 2005 cohort	83%
Fall 2006 cohort	85%
Fall 2007 cohort	85%
Fall 2008 cohort	85%
Fall 2009 cohort	86%
Fall 2010 cohort	86%
Fall 2011 cohort	86%
Fall 2012 cohort	86%
Fall 2013 cohort	84%
Fall 2014 cohort	85%
Fall 2015 cohort	85%
Fall 2016 cohort	87%
Fall 2017 cohort	83%
Fall 2018 cohort	86%
Fall 2019 cohort	84%
Fall 2020 cohort	83%
Fall 2021 cohort	83%
Fall 2022 cohort	85%
Fall 2023 cohort	88%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about University of North Carolina Wilmington

Faculty pay at University of North Carolina Wilmington averages $120,888 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes University of North Carolina Wilmington as a primarily residential campus of 14,922 undergraduates — and 88.2% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of North Carolina Wilmington's SAT section-percentile sums are 1230–1340 — 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 Wilmington'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 Wilmington 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 Wilmington64.2%

North Carolina median74.9%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

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

University of North Carolina Wilmington$7,277

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 Wilmington's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

University of North Carolina Wilmington$54,967

North Carolina median$45,873

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of North Carolina Wilmington, North Carolina and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of North Carolina Wilmington	North Carolina median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	64.2%	74.9%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$7,277	$19,500	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$54,967	$45,873	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

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

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

View 33 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$88,219
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$86,654
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$86,606
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$75,512
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$71,964
Mathematics	$66,941
Chemistry	$65,982
Biology, General	$60,750
Public Health	$60,722
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$60,414
Political Science and Government	$58,258
International/Globalization Studies	$54,707
Communication and Media Studies	$54,315
Special Education and Teaching	$52,494
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	$51,696
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	$50,564
Criminology	$50,514
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management	$50,241
Psychology, General	$49,609
Sociology	$48,591
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$48,024
Social Work	$47,587
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$46,527
History	$46,072
English Language and Literature, General	$46,008
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$45,289
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other	$42,597
Fine and Studio Arts	$42,192
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	$39,812
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$37,968
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$35,956
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$34,184
Anthropology	$33,461

These 33 fields listed for University of North Carolina Wilmington measure earnings after completion. The $54,967 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 15 additional University of North Carolina Wilmington fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of North Carolina Wilmington report?

University of North Carolina Wilmington's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1230–1340 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is University of North Carolina Wilmington's acceptance rate?

64.2% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 13,101 admitted from 20,393 applicants.

How much does University of North Carolina Wilmington cost?

In-state tuition is $7,277; out-of-state students pay $24,152. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does University of North Carolina Wilmington report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $54,967. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in North Carolina

North Carolina Wesleyan University — 80.2% admitted
University of North Carolina at Charlotte — 79.6% admitted
University of Mount Olive — 75.8% admitted
Montreat College — 69.2% 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.