University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
15.3%
Acceptance Rate
$8,994
Avg Cost (In-State)
$41,203
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
91.6%
Graduation Rate
20,752
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
October 15 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
2
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$85
Interview
Not required
Essays: Common App personal essay plus one UNC-specific supplemental essay
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$57,057
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$72,200
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
92%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies. | $43,348 | $70,240 | 653 |
| Biology, General. | $33,471 | $62,047 | 476 |
| Psychology, General. | $31,804 | $57,477 | 398 |
| Economics. | $65,344 | $103,846 | 367 |
| Computer Science. | $90,293 | $137,047 | 339 |
| Political Science and Government. | $41,200 | $72,001 | 333 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $85,618 | $135,874 | 321 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $71,594 | $78,585 | 257 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (ELS)
Up to $3,200/year at UNC schools
stateNC residents attending UNC system schools with financial need (EFC of $5,846 or less).
Deadline: Varies by institution (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗UNC Morehead-Cain Scholarship
Full cost of attendance + 4 summer enrichment programs
universityTop ~70 UNC incoming freshmen via nomination. One of the most prestigious U.S. merit scholarships.
Deadline: Nominated by HS via October 17
Learn more ↗UNC Carolina Covenant
Debt-free degree for low-income families
universityAdmitted UNC students from families at or below 200% federal poverty level (~$60k for family of 4).
Deadline: FAFSA + CSS Profile
Learn more ↗NC Need-Based Scholarship (Privates)
Up to ~$11,000/year (sliding scale)
stateNC residents at NC private 4-year colleges with documented financial need.
Deadline: FAFSA + school
Learn more ↗NC Community College Grant
Up to $2,800/year
stateNC residents at NC community colleges with EFC up to $5,250.
Deadline: FAFSA
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $4,800 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $7,100 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $12,200 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $18,800 |
| $110,001+ | $24,800 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
For transfer students
Transferring in to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
39%
Transfer admit rate
2.5
Min transfer GPA
NC C2C Articulation
State articulation
C2C Comprehensive Articulation Agreement guarantees that NC community college AA/AS grads get junior standing at UNC system schools.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
15.6% acceptance
Both admit around 16% of applicants, with 34k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
16.3% acceptance
Both admit around 16% of applicants, with 26k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, GA
14.1% acceptance
Both admit around 14% of applicants, with 19k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL
20.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (21% vs 15%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
24.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (24% vs 15%) but out-of-state cost runs $19k — meaningfully less than $41k.
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (24% vs 15%) but out-of-state cost runs $29k — meaningfully less than $41k.
Safer alternatives
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
37.7% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (38% vs 15%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
38.3% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (38% vs 15%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
41.6% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (42% vs 15%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From NC community colleges
articulation onlyUNC's Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) guarantees admission to qualified low- and moderate-income students from 11 partner NC community colleges. C-STEP students complete an associate degree, then transfer with full junior standing. The general transfer admit…
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