More selective than 65% of North Carolina colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
7% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 16% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose UNCW 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.
High school GPA of UNCW first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 4.09. An average above 4.0 means UNCW reports weighted GPAs (extra points for AP, IB, dual enrollment and honors).
100% 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.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
1,897 offered a spot, 4 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
UNCW 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, UNCW is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 620 | 680 |
| SAT math | 610 | 660 |
| ACT composite | 24 | 29 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1230 | 1340 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
UNCW admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 64% | 620–680 | 610–660 | 24–29 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 74% | 620–690 | 600–670 | 24–28 | 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 UNCW compared with other North Carolina colleges?
UNCW has the 20th-lowest acceptance rate of 56 North Carolina colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Carolinas College of Health Sciences | 60% | 100% | — |
| 17 | Queens University of Charlotte | 62% | 61% | $30,857 |
| 18 | Mid-Atlantic Christian University | 62% | 21% | $18,328 |
| 19 | Elizabeth City State University | 64% | 44% | $6,364 |
| 20 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 64% | 71% | $20,109 |
| 21 | Elon University | 66% | 84% | $41,555 |
| 22 | Mars Hill University | 68% | 45% | $19,910 |
| 23 | Chowan University | 69% | 30% | $14,086 |
| 24 | Montreat College | 69% | 50% | $27,061 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All North Carolina colleges →
Who enrolls at UNCW
College Scorecard; IPEDS
UNCW admissions questions
What is the UNCW acceptance rate?
University of North Carolina Wilmington accepts 64% of applicants, about 1 in 2. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 12,856 of 17,370 applicants were admitted.
Does UNCW require the SAT or ACT?
University of North Carolina Wilmington considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 7% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 16% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for UNCW?
The middle 50% of University of North Carolina Wilmington enrolled first-year students scored 1230–1340 on the SAT and 24–29 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 UNCW?
21% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,701 of 12,856).
Is UNCW getting harder to get into?
University of North Carolina Wilmington accepted 64% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 74% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; UNCW'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 Wilmington overview