University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
64.2%
Acceptance Rate
$7,277
Avg Cost (In-State)
$24,152
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
70.7%
Graduation Rate
14,922
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
February 1
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$80
Interview
Not required
Essays: Personal essay required through Common Application or Coalition Application
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
$46,972
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$54,967
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
71%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $74,463 | $86,606 | 802 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $48,369 | $75,512 | 654 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $36,695 | $54,315 | 235 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $40,777 | $48,024 | 199 |
| Psychology, General. | $29,418 | $49,609 | 193 |
| Biology, General. | $32,925 | $60,750 | 162 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | $28,935 | $46,527 | 118 |
| Criminology. | $34,443 | $50,514 | 98 |
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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Calculate Your Cost at University of North Carolina Wilmington
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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 ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 64.2% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
64.24%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
24.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
25.9%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
13.8%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
88.2%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
70.6%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY
64.4% acceptance
Both admit around 64% of applicants, with 13k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL
64.8% acceptance
Both admit around 65% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL
63.4% acceptance
Both admit around 63% of applicants, with 14k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Daytona Beach, FL
57.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (58% vs 64%) but out-of-state cost runs $12k — meaningfully less than $24k.
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
72% acceptance
Similar selectivity (72% vs 64%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $24k.
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA
67.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (68% vs 64%) but out-of-state cost runs $17k — meaningfully less than $24k.
Reaches above this college
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
53.2% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (53% vs 64%) — a stretch target if University of North Carolina Wilmington is already on your list.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (52% vs 64%) — a stretch target if University of North Carolina Wilmington is already on your list.
Baylor University
Waco, TX
51.3% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (51% vs 64%) — a stretch target if University of North Carolina Wilmington is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
75.3% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (75% vs 64%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, OK
78.1% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (78% vs 64%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Towson University
Towson, MD
82% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (82% vs 64%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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