University of North Carolina

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System is a public university network in the USA that serves the state of North Carolina, comprising 17 institutions, including the top University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1789, UNC-Chapel Hill is notable for being the first public university in the United States to enroll students.

About University of North Carolina (UNC)

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System is a large public university network in North Carolina, USA. It includes 16 universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, which is the first public residential high school.

This UNC system reflects North Carolina's dedication to making education accessible to everyone. For 136 years, the only campus of the University of North Carolina was at Chapel Hill. It was established in 1789 by the North Carolina General Assembly and became the first public university in the United States. 

In 1877, the state government began to create more colleges to help more people gain access to higher education. This included several historically black colleges, schools for American Indian students, and institutions focusing on specific areas like technology and performing arts. The UNC System grew significantly between 1931 and 1969, adding more universities each decade. By 1971, all remaining public senior colleges in North Carolina were brought together to form what we now know as the UNC System.

University of North Carolina Highlights

Highlight	Details
Established	1789
Total number of Institutions	16 Universities and 1 School
Student Enrollment	247,927 in Fall 2024
Courses offered	200+
Total Degree Awarded	61,847 (For academic year 2022-23)
Research Excellence	Ranked among the top universities for research output, with significant contributions in biological sciences and health sciences.
Global Recognition	Consistently ranked among the top public universities in the US. and globally, with specific strengths in areas like nursing and pharmacy.
Alumni Network	Over 350,000 alumni worldwide, representing all 50 states and more than 140 countries.
Acceptance Rate	Approximately 17%, with an average GPA of 3.5 for admitted students, reflecting its competitive admissions process.

University of North Carolina: List of Institutions 

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Fayetteville State University
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
• North Carolina Central University
• NC State University
• University of North Carolina Asheville
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Western Carolina University
• Winston-Salem State University
• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

University of North Carolina Courses 

The University of North Carolina is known for its diverse range of courses across various disciplines. The UNC offers more than 200 courses, in popular field like business, education, engineering, agriculture, arts and more. Below are some of the most popular courses and programs offered at UNC, highlighting both undergraduate and graduate options

University Name	Top Course
Appalachian State University	Business Administration, Psychology, Education, Environmental Science, Nursing
East Carolina University	Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Health Services Management, Criminal Justice
Elizabeth City State University	Business Administration, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Marine and Environmental Science
Fayetteville State University	Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University	Engineering Technology, Agriculture, Business Administration, Computer Science
North Carolina Central University	Law, Business Administration, Public Health, Psychology
NC State University	Engineering (various disciplines), Computer Science, Business Management, Textiles
University of North Carolina Asheville	Environmental Studies, Music, Psychology, Arts Management
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Business Administration, Media and Journalism, Psychology
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Business Administration, Engineering (various disciplines), Health Systems Management
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Nursing, Education, Business Administration, Theatre and Dance
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Education, Business Administration, Nursing, Social Work
University of North Carolina School of the Arts	Film Production, Acting, Dance Performance, Music Composition
University of North Carolina Wilmington	Marine Biology, Business Administration, Nursing, Film Studies
Western Carolina University	Education, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Engineering
Winston-Salem State University	Nursing, Health Sciences, Business Administration
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics	Advanced Mathematics and Science courses tailored for gifted students

University of North Carolina Admission 2025

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System is a network of 16 public universities across North Carolina, welcoming students who are ready to succeed in higher education. For those looking to apply for admission in 2025, here’s a detailed and easy-to-understand guide on the requirements and processes involved.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for UNC admission, students must meet certain academic criteria. These are based on:

• High School GPA
• Standardized Test Scores
• High School Course Completion

For Students Entering in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025:

• High School GPA: Minimum weighted GPA of 2.5.
• Standardized Test Scores:
• Test scores are optional for students meeting the GPA requirement.
• If GPA is below 2.5:
• ACT: Composite score of 19 or higher.
• SAT: Combined score of 1010 or higher (math + evidence-based reading and writing).

For Students Entering in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026:

• High School GPA: Minimum weighted GPA of 2.5.
• Test Scores (if GPA is between 2.5 and 2.8):
• ACT: Required.
• SAT: Required.

For Students Entering Fall 2026 and Beyond:

• High School GPA: Minimum weighted GPA of 2.5.
• Standardized Test Scores: If GPA is between 2.5 and 2.8:
• ACT: Composite score of 17 or higher.
• SAT: Combined score of 930 or higher.

Note: Meeting these minimums does not guarantee admission, as individual universities and programs may have additional requirements.

How to Apply at UNC Campuses?

• You can apply through the Common Application or directly on the UNC’s university's website.
• One needs to pay the UNC application fee. The application fee for the University of North Carolina (UNC) is USD 85 for undergraduate and transfer admissions, and is non-refundable. The application fee for international graduate admissions is USD 95 per program.
• Then candidates needs to submit required documents: This includes your official high school transcript and any standardized test scores if needed. Additionally, the following documents may be required for graduate admissions:
• SOP
• LOR
• CV
• Admission essays
• Portfolio 

UNC Campuses Enrollments - Fall 2024

To gain insights into the admission trends across the University of North Carolina (UNC) System, it is important to look at the enrollment figures for Fall 2024. The following table summarizes the enrollment numbers for various UNC campuses:

University Name	Enrollments
Appalachian State University	21570
East Carolina University	2258
Elizabeth City State University	26940
Fayetteville State University	7107
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University	14311
North Carolina Central University	8579
NC State University	38464
University of North Carolina Asheville	3056
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	32438
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	31091
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	18012
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	7674
University of North Carolina School of the Arts	1363
University of North Carolina Wilmington	18848
Western Carolina University	11686
Winston-Salem State University	4782
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics	1892

The enrollment figures for Fall 2024 across the University of North Carolina (UNC) System indicate a diverse and growing student population at its various campuses. Notably, NC State University leads with 38,464 students, followed closely by UNC Chapel Hill with 32,438. UNC Charlotte has set a new record with 31,091 students, reflecting a significant increase from previous years. 

Other universities such as East Carolina University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University also reported healthy enrollments of 26,941 and 14,311, respectively. Meanwhile, smaller institutions like Elizabeth City State University and University of North Carolina School of the Arts enrolled 26,940 and 1,363 students, respectively. Overall, the total enrollment across the UNC System has reached nearly 248,000

University of North Carolina Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rates for various universities within the University of North Carolina (UNC) System vary significantly, reflecting each institution's selectivity. 

University Name	Acceptance Rate
Appalachian State University	83%
East Carolina University	92%
Elizabeth City State University	60%
Fayetteville State University	80%
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University	47%
North Carolina Central University	80-90%
NC State University	47%
University of North Carolina Asheville	76%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	19%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	63%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	72%
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	61%
University of North Carolina School of the Arts	52%
University of North Carolina Wilmington	65%
Western Carolina University	66%
Winston-Salem State University	58%

Appalachian State University has an acceptance rate of 83%, while East Carolina University boasts a high rate of 92%. In contrast, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and NC State University are more selective, each with an acceptance rate of 47%. UNC Chapel Hill is the most competitive, with a notably low acceptance rate of just 19%, making it one of the toughest schools to gain admission to in the state.

University of North Carolina Fees 2025

The tuition and fees at the University of North Carolina (UNC) vary significantly based on residency status and the specific institution within the UNC System. 

Campus-Wise UNC Tuition Fee - UG

University	Resident Tuition & Fees (USD)	Nonresident Tuition & Fees (USD)
NC State University	8,799	32,847
UNC-Chapel Hill	8,764	40,973
East Carolina University	7,170	23,447
NC A & T State University	6,691	20,551
UNC Charlotte	7,018	22,271
UNC Greensboro	7,535	23,886
UNC Wilmington	7,251	24,126
Appalachian State University	7,404	25,037
Fayetteville State University	3,584	7,584
NC Central University	6,542	19,578
UNC Pembroke	3,647	7,647
Western Carolina University	4,143	8,143
Winston-Salem State University	6,035	16,691
UNC Asheville	7,332	24,680
Elizabeth City State University	3,391	7,391

For the 2024-2025 academic year, NC State University charges USD 8,799 for in-state students and USD 32,847 for out-of-state students. Similarly, UNC-Chapel Hill has an in-state tuition of USD 8,764, while non-residents pay USD 40,973. Other institutions like East Carolina University and UNC Greensboro have more affordable rates of USD 7,170 and USD 7,535, respectively, for residents.

Campus-Wise UNC Tuition Fee - Graduate

University	Resident Tuition & Fees	Nonresident Tuition & Fees
NC State University	USD 12,101	USD 32,874
UNC-Chapel Hill	USD 12,487	USD 31,144
East Carolina University	USD 7,467	USD 20,616
NC A & T State University	USD 8,246	USD 21,046
UNC Charlotte	USD 7,816	USD 22,851
UNC Greensboro	USD 8,488	USD 23,203
UNC Wilmington	USD 8,086	USD 24,172
Appalachian State University	USD 8,395	USD 25,066
Fayetteville State University	USD 6,022	USD 17,087
NC Central University	USD 7,480	USD 20,788
UNC Pembroke	USD 6,927	USD 19,986
Western Carolina University	USD 7,711	USD 18,430
Winston-Salem State University	USD 6,506	USD 17,041
UNC Asheville	USD 8,124	USD 24,446
Elizabeth City State University	USD 5,766	USD 18,828
UNC School of the Arts	USD 12,205	USD 26,908

University of North Carolina Ranking 2025

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has received notable rankings for 2025, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and value. 

University	QS Ranking 2025	THE 2025
NC State University	311	251-300
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	155	70
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	1001-1200	601-800
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	1201-1400	–

In the QS World University Rankings for 2025, North Carolina State University (NC State) is ranked 311th, reflecting a slight decline from its previous position of 274th in 2024. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill holds a stronger position at 155th, showcasing its reputation as one of the top institutions in the state. Meanwhile, UNC Charlotte is placed in the range of 1001-1200, and UNC Greensboro falls between 1201-1400.