More selective than 96% of North Carolina colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
29% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 34% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- State residency
- Class rank
- High school GPA
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- SAT/ACT scores
- First-generation college student
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Interview
- Where you live
- Religious affiliation
- Your demonstrated interest
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 4.47. An average above 4.0 means University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports weighted GPAs (extra points for AP, IB, dual enrollment and honors).
90% of first-year students reported a high school GPA.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 690 | 750 |
| SAT math | 700 | 780 |
| ACT composite | 28 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1390 | 1530 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 15% | 690–750 | 700–780 | 28–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 19% | 680–750 | 690–780 | 30–34 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compared with other North Carolina colleges?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the 3rd-lowest acceptance rate of 56 North Carolina colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | 6% | 97% | $29,612 |
| 2 | Davidson College | 13% | 91% | $17,379 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 15% | 91% | $11,655 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University | 22% | 89% | $28,719 |
| 5 | Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | 23% | 71% | $17,618 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 30% | 78% | $14,906 |
| 7 | Saint Augustine's University | 34% | 25% | $24,313 |
| 8 | Carolina University | 40% | 22% | $20,828 |
| 9 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 42% | 85% | $17,303 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All North Carolina colleges →
Who enrolls at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admissions questions
What is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill acceptance rate?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill accepts 15% of applicants, about 1 in 7. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 10,850 of 57,902 applicants were admitted.
Does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill require the SAT or ACT?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 29% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 34% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
The middle 50% of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill enrolled first-year students scored 1390–1530 on the SAT and 28–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
43% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (4,699 of 10,850).
What does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill look for in applicants?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities, state residency. Important: class rank, high school GPA, volunteer work, work experience. Considered: sAT/ACT scores, first-generation college student, alumni relation (legacy). (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill getting harder to get into?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill accepted 15% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 19% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill overview