UNC Acceptance Rate 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026

How to Get Into UNC Chapel Hill: Admission Stats + Tips

Check here UNC Acceptance Rate for all year. Here I have listed UNC Acceptance Rate

• UNC Acceptance Rate 2022
• UNC Acceptance Rate 2023
• UNC Acceptance Rate 2024
• UNC Acceptance Rate 2025
• UNC Acceptance Rate 2026

UNC Acceptance Rate: The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is widely known as the first university of public importance in the USA and has enjoyed remarkable success since its beginning.

The first students enrolled at UNC at the age of 1795. Since then, the school has been a place of the story. Beginning with Caleb Bradham (Class of 1890)–the founder of Pepsi-Cola’s creation, to Michael Jordan (Class of 1986), UNC Tar Heels, as they are referred to, have had a major impact across a variety of areas.

Today, UNC Chapel Hill takes pride in these inspiring moments when it continues to invest in academics and research projects. The school has built a strong reputation for students across all areas of nursing, business, and computer science. The school is home to world-renowned faculty in almost every field.

It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in the sciences of anthropology or pure mathematics; UNC offers a spectrum of learning opportunities that separate it from the vast majority of other schools.

As you could think, admission isn’t easy. UNC remains loyal to the roots of its institution by accepting the strong preference of in-state students. Of the North Carolina applicants to the 2025 class, 42.2 per cent were accepted. However, their acceptance rates were 10.5 per cent for students outside the state.

This huge difference translates to an acceptance rate of 19.2 per cent, making UNC Chapel Hill extraordinarily competitive, particularly for out-of-state students.

Below, we’ve gathered more information on UNC-Chapel Hill admissions statistics. The school prefers quantifiable versus qualitative, and the admissions data that they provide are intriguing:

UNC-Chapel Hill Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

The average acceptance rate for the Class of 2025 was 19%. It is crucial to remember that it’s more difficult to get accepted to this school without a North Carolina resident.

In-state students comprise 82 per cent of the student body, and the government of North Carolina has imposed a rigid limit of 18% for non-residents. This means that the school has no inch of room to maneuver (more in a second).

The total number of applications was 53,735 received during the 2020-21 school year, an increase of 21% from the previous year.

The officially announced Class of 2026 UNC Chapel Hill acceptance rate is not yet available. We do know that 57,198 applicants were accepted. Based on this, it’s reasonable to conclude an acceptance percentage would be less than 19%.

UNC-Chapel Hill: Early Action Acceptance Rate 

There is a tangible advantage in applying early action to UNC Chapel Hill. It is important to note that the EA deadline for this school is October 15th.

EA applicants are typically accepted with about three times the rate of acceptance than those who apply that are accepted in those in the RD round.

UNC-Chapel Hill Admissions – SAT and Class Rank

Based on the most up-to-date available information (Class in 2025), the mid-50 per cent SAT range for first-year students enrolled was 1320-1500. North Carolinians scored between 1340-1490, while students from other states had mid-range scores of 1410-1520.

For the 2021-22 students enrolled in the first year of their studies, 74% were within the top 10%, and 92% secured an entry into the top 20%. Twelve per cent of the first-year students graduated salutatorian or valedictorian in their graduating class; 42% were in the top 10 students.

UNC GPA Requirements

A lot of schools have an upper GPA required, but it is usually just the minimum required for applicants to be able to submit their applications without being immediately rejected.

The important GPA requirement is the GPA you require to have the best chance of being admitted. To determine this, we analyze the average GPA of the school for the current students.

A mean GPA at the University of North Carolina at UNC stands at 4.39.

(Most schools have an unweighted GPA of 4.0; however, some report an unweighted grade.

With a GPA that is 4.39, UNC requires that you be at the very top in your classes. You’ll need a high percentage of A’s in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

In addition, you should be taking challenging classes that are AP as well as IB courses – to demonstrate that college-level academics are easy.

Your GPA is difficult to alter before college applications if you’re in your senior or junior years. If your GPA falls below or below the school average of 4.39, you’ll need more of an SAT or ACT score to make up for it. This will enable you to stand out from other applicants with higher grades than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

UNC SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile of the New SAT score of 1300, while the 75th percentile of the New SAT score is 1470. Also, a 1300 score on the New SAT places you below average, whereas a score of 1470 would raise you towards the above average.

Here’s a breakdown of the latest SAT scores for each section:

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
Math	705	650	760
Reading + Writing	690	650	730
Composite	1395	1300	1470

SAT Score Choice Policy

It is important to understand that the Score Choice policy at your school is a crucial component of your test strategy.

UNC offers an official Score Choice policy, “Highest Section. “

It is referred to also as “superscoring.” This means you can select the SATs you wish to send to your school. From all scores that they get, your applicants will be able to judge your most impressive section scores for all SATs you take.

UNC ACT Requirements

Similar to SAT, UNC likely doesn’t have a strict ACT cutoff. However, should you score low, your application could be to the recycling bin?

It is estimated that the mean ACT score for UNC of 30. This means that UNC is highly competitive in ACT scores.

A 25th-percentile ACT score was 27, while the 75th-percentile ACT score was 33.

While UNC is likely to say they do not have a minimum ACT requirement, If you apply with a score below 27, you’ll have a difficult time getting into the program unless there’s some other thing that stands out within your applications. For the number of applicants who scored 30 and over, 27 would appear as a low academic score.

ACT Score Sending Policy

When you’re taking the ACT instead of the SAT, in this case, you’ll benefit greatly in the way you submit scores. This dramatically influences your testing strategy.

Here’s the thing: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you are in total control over which tests you submit. You could take 10 tests and only send the one with the highest score. This differs from the SAT, where many schools require you to submit all the tests you have ever taken.

This means you’ll have more opportunities than you thought to increase the quality of your ACT score. If you want to reach the school’s ACT requirement of 33 or over, you need to attempt taking the ACT at least as many times as you can. Once you’ve got a result you’re satisfied with, then forward that score only to all of your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

Most colleges don’t superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the college uses your top section scores from all tests you take and then blends them to create the highest possible combined score). So, most schools only take your best ACT score from one test.

However, our research discovered that UNC does provide the ACT SUPERScore program. For reference, the Admissions Office:

If you provide us with scores from multiple tests, We’ll use your highest score from each test section and then consider the scores in evaluating your application.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

The SAT and ACT include an essay section.

UNC requires that you take the SAT essay/ACT writing section. The university will use this as an element in its decision-making process.

How to Apply to UNC Chapel Hill

Deadlines

Application Timeline	Deadline	Notification Date
Early Action	October 15	January 31
Regular Decision	January 15	March 31

Application Requirements

UNC Chapel Hill accepts the Common Application. Other requirements include:

• Supplemental essays and short responses
• Teacher recommendation
• High school transcript
• SAT or ACT scores (optional)

What do you need to apply to UNC Chapel Hill?

Suppose you want to be considered for admission for admission to UNC-Chapel Hill. In that case, you have to submit an application form with numerous elements specifically designed to provide the admissions committee with the ability to assess your suitability qualitatively and quantitatively.

That means there is a significant focus on storytelling–through essays, recommendations, supplemental materials, and in some cases, interviews–and demonstrable achievements.

Fortunately, UNC Chapel Hill uses the Common Application, The Common Application, and the Coalition Application.

Making accounts and filling in the essential details on these platforms is an essential first step towards getting your application in order and will allow you to understand what personal data colleges will be evaluated when making admissions choices.

Here’s the complete list of the things you’ll need to complete your application at UNC Chapel Hill:

• The completely filled-in Common Application or the Coalition Application with an essay for personal use that is up to 650 words
• An Activity List that lists all your extracurricular activities
• Two essays of short answers selected from a set of four questions
• Four fill-in-the-blank response options
• The Official Transcript and School Report
• A letter of recommendation from a subject instructor who instructed you in an academic course in High School
• Courses from a University or College you’ve taken
• A Midyear Report
• An $85 application fee
• For the Spring, Summer and Fall admissions in 2022, the need for official test scores and standardized tests like the ACT or SAT is no longer required. Submissions for these test scores are considered. However, they are not required.
• (optional) (optional) Submit Additional Information through the MyCarolina portal.
• (optional) (optional) consider being considered for either the Global Gap Year Fellowship or Carolina Global Launch. You must express your desire to be considered for the Global Opportunities Program and provide two short answers.

Following the college or program you are trying to apply to, you could be required or urged to provide additional materials, including a portfolio or be asked to participate in an interview.

For more details about these requirements, visit UNC Chapel hill’s extensive website for First-Year Candidates.

Admissions Trends & Notes 

• The top 5 majors for new students included: Biology, Business, Psychology and Neuroscience, Computer Science, and Political Science.
• 63 per cent of the Class of 2025 took part in a sports activity at high school.
• 74% of the students in 2025’s class participated in community service during high school.
• 19% of students in the first year of college are students from first-generation colleges.
• Students come from 94 different North Carolina counties.
• Finally, the school will continue to be test-optional until the Fall of 2024.

Job Outlook UNC Chapel Hill Graduates

Statistics on job placement for recent graduates will give you an idea of a college’s return on investment. Within the first six months after graduation, five per cent of the graduates get at minimum one full-time employment offer.

Recently graduated UNC Chapel Hill grads have an average salary of $52,122 per year. The starting wage for the 2021 class was $60,000 per year, but the numbers differ widely based on particular majors.

How UNC-Chapel Hill Rates Applicants

UNC-Chapel Hill examines eight aspects as “very crucial” in the admissions process. These include the quality of the high school curriculum and essays, test scores, recommendation letters, additional-curricular activities, aptitude/ability, character/personal characteristics and state residence (being located in NC is a huge benefit).

The items that are “important” to consider in the admissions process include the GPA of your class, rank in class, volunteering activities, and paid work experience. “Considered” aspects include first-generation status, legacy status, and ethnic/racial status.

The admissions department reads every application with care and reviews the applications “at length” before extending an invitation to be admitted. According to their own words: “As we sit down to review every application, we don’t have an ideal student in our minds.

Instead, we enjoy being amused by the uniqueness of each applicant’s abilities and interests. Some themes are common themes among our favourite applicants.

The reason is that they’re clever. Motivated. Service-oriented. Curious. Creative. Courageous. They are people who don’t just thrive during their time in our community.”

It is important to note that the athletes recruited enjoy an advantage. UNC-Chapel Hill is extremely proud of its 27 NCAA Division I sports teams. In total, around 870 students are currently enrolled at the school.

Who Actually Gets Into UNC-Chapel Hill?

Let’s look at what demographics are present in the class 2025. One of the recent first-year classes included the highest amount of college students in the following U.S. states:

• North Carolina: 3,638
• Virginia: 62
• Florida: 39
• Georgia: 56
• New York: 51
• Maryland: 53
• Pennsylvania: 35
• Texas: 31
• California: 19
• South Carolina: 29
• Tennessee: 20
• Colorado: 20

The lowest students were in the following U.S. states:

• Vermont: 0
• Maine: 0
• New Mexico: 0
• Hawaii: 1
• North Dakota: 0
• Alaska: 0
• South Dakota: 2
• Iowa: 1
• Nebraska: 1
• Wyoming: 1
• Montana: 0

For non-residents, competition is the most intense for states with unending streams of qualified applicants (the whole Northeast and those from the West Coast).

Suppose you are or are from or are from the Deep South like Alabama or Mississippi or a state that is less populated such as Wyoming and North Dakota. In that case, your location will increase your chances of admission to UNC-Chapel Hill.

When it comes to ethnic identity, The breakdown of ethnic identity in the class of 2025 was as the following:

• Caucasian/White: 65%
• Asian American: 21%
• Hispanic: 10%
• African American: 12%

When we look at the gender breakdown, universities enrol more women than men.

• Men: 40%
• Women: 60%

Percentage of Class 2025 participants who…

• Internship completed in high school Amount: 14%
• Participated in music and arts Participated in music and arts: 39 Percentage of people who participated in music and arts: 39.
• Demonstrated mastery of AP tests (by test, not by applicants) 83 per cent
• Plans to continue their education at the graduate level 82 per cent

Yield Rate 

The yield rate of UNC-Chapel Hill is the per cent of students accepted who decide to enrol divided by the total number of students accepted is 45percent.

The yield rate is comparable to other powerful state universities such as UCLA (41%), UVA (45%), University of Michigan (41%), UVA (40%) and UCLA (39 per cent).

Tips for Applying 

If you’re planning on joining UNC-Chapel Hill’s 57,000+ hopefuls of the next admissions cycle, it is important to be aware of these things:

• The University does not utilize interviews in its process of evaluation.
• If you have one parent (or two) who attended the school and graduated from the University, you’ll receive particular consideration during application procedures. About 20% of undergraduates have a parent or a father who attended UNC-Chapel Hill.
• UNC-Chapel Hill also doesn’t consider “demonstrated interest”; therefore, you won’t be evaluated based on whether you attended a campus tour or contacted an admissions representative or a representative of an admissions office, etc.
• Be sure to devote enough time, effort and energy to the two brief essays supplementary essays (from the three options below) required by UNC Chapel Hill. They can be found here:

1. Define a peer that you view as a builder of community. What actions has this person made? What has their work done to make a difference in your life?
2. Define a part you identify with (for instance, your faith, race, culture or gender identity, affinity group, etc.). What aspects of your identity have shaped you so far?
3. If you could make one thing that would benefit your community, What would be it? What is the reason for it, and what would you do to help to make a difference?
4. The former UNC-Chapel Hill employee and a community service volunteer Civil rights activist Esphur Foster once said, “We don’t exist without the past.” They word of her is commemorated in the northside Neighborhood Freedom Fighters’ monument. How does the past shape your identity?

There are 4 quick answers, which are as the following:

• 1.) A family tradition that I am a fan of:
• 2.) This is my opinion:
• 3.) The thing I am most proud of in myself:
• 4.) The character I can most identify with is:

Tuition and Financial Aid at UNC Chapel Hill

Cost is another element to consider when selecting the best college. Specific colleges might have higher tuition rates but are better at providing for students’ financial needs.

UNC-Chapel Hill meets 100 per cent of the documented financial need of undergraduates. The cost of aid to a full-time first-year student is about $17,600 per year.

In the year 2020, the students who graduated 2020 had, on average, $20,563 student loans per student in debt. For context, you can compare this figure to the average national debt, which is approximately $36,000 for each borrower.

Specific aid is granted on a first-come-first-served basis, so you should fill out the FAFSA as quickly as possible. Go to FAFSA’s website to apply for aid.

FAFSA webpage to fill out an application for financial aid for students. Remember that one of the letters, F in FAFSA, means free! There is no reason to pay for the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Don’t provide your money (or information!) to any site claiming you have done so.

Find out more about tuition and financial Aid at UNC-Chapel Hill. Based on this info, What do you think UNC Chapel Hill sound like? Be aware that the ideal school for one student could not be the best match for another! Ask yourself: Is UNC-Chapel Hill the right choice for your needs?

If the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seems like a school you’d like to attend, click the heart icon to add the school to your college list.

Application Fee

The cost for students interested in applying to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $85.

Why Does UNC Reject Strong Students?

Achieving high grades and good scores on standardized tests are not guarantees of admission. Straight “A” applicant who does not demonstrate passion or strength in other areas of study is more likely to be disqualified.

The school is seeking candidates who can achieve academically and contribute to the community of campus in positive ways.

The very high selection of UNC-Chapel Hill is one reason why UNC-Chapel Hill should be considered a school that is a reach school even if your academics and test scores are within the required range for admission.

What is UNC Chapel Hill Looking For?

North Carolina residents are at an advantage when applying to UNC According to The Daily Tar Heel, the preliminary admittance rate for 2025’s class is 47% students from the state compared to just 13% for out-of-state students.

The low admission rate to UNC out-of-state hasn’t stopped out-of-staters from applying. Applicants from outside North Carolina were up 25 per cent over fall 2020.

UNC-Chapel Hill is looking for more than excellent marks and impressive test scores. Those accepted into 2025’s class have discovered strategies to distinguish themselves among their fellow students.

For instance, 49 per cent of Carolina’s latest class was president in their classes or club or team captain, and 33% were captains of a varsity team. 36 per cent conducted research outside of the class, and 16% formed an organisation.

Should I Apply to UNC-Chapel Hill?

The students with SAT/ACT scores in the mid-to-upper 50% and the top tier of their high school classes are qualified to attend UNC-Chapel Hill.

If you reside in North Carolina, your road to admission will be easier than if you’re an international or an out-of-state student. You’ll have to provide better test scores and, perhaps, a particular ability or “hook” even if you are not directly from North Carolina.

Tar Heel State. Of course, it’s a matter that any teenager who applies to schools similar to UNC’s should be able to identify the right mix of “target” in addition to “safety” schools on their list of colleges. More information on how to create an inclusive colleges list is located here.

 Academic Life at UNC  

The ratio of faculty-students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is 16:1, and the university has 40.7 per cent of its classes having less than twenty students.

The most popular majors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill include Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology; Mathematics and Statistics; Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies; and Health Professions and Related Programs.

The average retention rate for first-year students, which is a measure of satisfaction with the school, is 96%.

Student Life at UNC  

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a total undergraduate student body of 19897 students (fall 2021) and a gender ratio of 40 per cent male students and 60 per cent female students.

At this university, 46% of students reside in college-owned or operated housing, while five per cent of the students reside outside the campus. Regarding sports, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a member of NCAA I.

 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Campus  

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides various student services, such as tutoring for women, non-remedial placement service, daycare and health services, and health insurance.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also provides security and safety on campus, including 24 hours of patrols for vehicles and pedestrians as well as late-night transportation/escort service and emergency telephones that are available 24 hours a day, lighting pathways/sidewalks and walkways, and controlled access to the dormitories (key security card, key and so on.).

Of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 9% can drive on campus. Students are allowed to drink alcohol if they are of legal age—University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

College Info

FAQS

What GPA do you need to get into UNC?

2.5 2.5

Admission requirements are based on those of the UNC System. The applicant must have at least a 2.5 weighted GPA at the high school level or an acceptable ACT (19) or SAT (1010) score. The median high school GPA was 3.1 for the fall 2020 fresh students.

How hard is it to get into UNC?

UNC is a tough school to gain admission into. It admitted a record-low 23.5 per cent of regular-decision applicants for the class of 2025, with just 10,446 applicants from a total of 44,3821.

What is UNC-Chapel Hill known for academically?

A member of the “Public Ivies”, UNC-Chapel Hill is a research-based public institution recognized for its highly acclaimed educational programs and active sports fanatics.

The school offers 74 bachelor’s degree programs, including biology, political science, and psychology, through the College of Arts & Sciences and 13 professional schools.

Is Wake Forest or UNC harder to get into?

If you’re focusing on the acceptance rate by itself, Wake Forest University is more challenging to be accepted into.

What is the most popular major at UNC?

The most popular subjects at UNC-Chapel Hill are journalism, biology, media psychology, business administration and the field computer science.

It is a hugely popular option to study abroad among students at UNC-Chapel Hill, and more than one-third of Carolina students are studying in another country before they graduate.

Is UNC-Chapel Hill a public ivy?

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

With a score of the twenty-eighth position in the nation’s ranking, UNC at Chapel Hill is a top public ivy league college for students living throughout the Southern United States.

Conclusion

Students interested in earning an undergraduate degree must have a UNC-Chapel Hill acceptance rate and study the school’s history and mission, in addition to the location and community.

Students should take the time at least one visit to the college to get a true understanding of the college’s culture and make an informed choice.