A
Excellent
Score: 84/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
93/100 · earnings-weighted

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

4-Year Public
📍 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus, Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus, Chapel Hill, NC. Photo: (User:Wgreaves), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
95/100
Affordability
C+
63/100
Resources
B+
78/100
Experience
A
87/100
Prestige
A+
95/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

32,234
Total Enrollment
92%
Graduation Rate
97%
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
19%
Acceptance Rate
$11,140
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ▼

1% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (27599) has no residential market, so these figures average 1 nearby ZIP codes within 3 miles of campus (27510).

Avg Home Value
$435,445
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,479
1-Year Change
-1.5%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$72,200
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$57,057
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$14,000
Median debt at graduation
91.2%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,439
Average SAT
25
Median ACT
20%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 19% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 92nd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NC wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$90,293$137,047+28%#47 of 349#29$13,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations$85,618$135,874+99%#7 of 1176#3$14,239
Applied Mathematics$75,105$119,839+31%#6 of 45#5$14,135
Health and Medical Administrative Services$49,967$110,204+88%#2 of 275#2—
Economics$65,344$103,846+26%#55 of 368#36$14,135
Physics$62,647$103,477+35%#4 of 107#4$17,150
Mathematics$53,402$101,599+46%#22 of 309#18$15,127
Information Science/Studies$75,834$100,940+18%#15 of 148#6$13,197
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$70,561$97,992+5%#41 of 118#15$15,000
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution$44,503$80,344+27%#1 of 6#1$14,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,594$78,585-12%#784 of 966#645$19,802
Human Resources Management and Services$52,217$76,811+13%#38 of 187#29$12,750
Public Policy Analysis$48,252$74,403+1%#13 of 34#8$14,000
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$56,721$72,892-4%#57 of 93#37$17,500
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$54,207$72,567+7%#27 of 76#13$11,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$37,709$72,422+36%#23 of 476#17$13,000
Political Science and Government$41,200$72,001+14%#105 of 565#53$14,569
Philosophy$34,284$70,709+30%#10 of 86#4$14,618
Communication and Media Studies$43,348$70,240+25%#44 of 660#12$14,625
Area Studies$31,955$65,933+16%#20 of 70#10$13,261
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$33,976$65,337+19%#35 of 265#10$12,000
Chemistry$32,516$64,981+-0%#121 of 209#67$14,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$32,508$64,570+17%#40 of 225#22$13,379
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$31,165$63,286+16%#80 of 610#50$16,500
Biology$33,471$62,047+8%#278 of 841#141$15,000
Music$32,880$58,127+36%#13 of 268#3$18,007
History$34,592$57,952+14%#80 of 459#39$14,250
Psychology$31,804$57,477+13%#154 of 1027#70$13,999
Anthropology$36,211$56,589+21%#19 of 188#9$12,500
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$26,342$54,691+6%#42 of 103#10$11,364
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$24,658$54,181+8%#33 of 90#17$16,782
Religion/Religious Studies$33,690$52,716+27%#14 of 45#9$12,550
Sociology$30,623$51,801-2%#242 of 462#134$14,050
English Language and Literature$30,060$51,208+5%#207 of 576#93$14,794
Geography and Cartography$42,454$49,476-14%#107 of 117#91—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$29,897$49,209+4%#282 of 680#191$12,000
Fine and Studio Arts$24,005$41,722+1%#206 of 423#133$11,599
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$26,457$41,362+4%#107 of 255#67$15,827
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$23,633—————
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$22,183————$14,825

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 27701 (3.2% cap, Durham)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Behavioral Sciences
of 32 schools
🥈
Public Health, General
of 100 schools
🥈
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
of 94 schools
🥈
Mass Communication/Media Studies
of 94 schools
🥈
Economics, General
of 100 schools
#4
Political Science and Government, General
of 100 schools
#5
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
of 100 schools
#7
Management Science
of 100 schools
#12
Computer Science
of 100 schools
#18
Law
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,019 $37,360
Room $7,366
Board $5,650
Total Cost (On-Campus) $26,109 $56,450

Financial Aid

58%
Receive Any Aid
17%
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Take Out Loans
$11,140
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$3,165
$30,001 - $48,000$5,143
$48,001 - $75,000$11,220
$75,001 - $110,000$19,106
$110,001+$24,077

Student Demographics

32,234
Total Students
61%
Women
96%
Traditional Age (18-24)
1%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 54%
Hispanic 9%
Black 9%
Asian 13%
Two or More 5%
Non-Resident 8%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 99%
Off-Campus (Renters) 1%
With Family 1%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~258 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 75%
Hybrid (Some Online) 20%
Fully Online 5%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 96%
25-64 (Adult) 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has an acceptance rate of 19%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
Tuition at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $7,019 for in-state students and $37,360 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $11,140.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
The graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is 92%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a good school?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a Repit College Score of 84/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a total enrollment of 32,234 students. Most students (96%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
Yes! Approximately 1% of students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 258 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

B+
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · 37,323 students
B
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · 13,885 students
B
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · 30,298 students
B
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · 21,253 students
B
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · 17,987 students
C+
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · 26,785 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology