Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
UNC admits about 1 in 7 applicants (15%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 96% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (15% and 15%).
$85 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
45% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
Wait list: 7,355 offered a place, 5,258 accepted, 2,099 admitted (40% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Restrictive early action (not binding): apply by Oct 15; decisions by Jan 31
Restrictive early action: applicants agree not to apply to other colleges' early plans, with exceptions the college sets.
Where you stand
How UNC reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered. This college reports (average 4.47), which pile most students into the top band; the bands can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are. Scores are required. 28% of first-years sent an SAT and 41% an ACT. Of the 66% whose high school reported a rank, 76% were in the top tenth. Requires 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Very important | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
37% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 15% of first-year applicants
5,330 applied · 1,970 admitted · 1,078 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and summer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date February 15, apply by April 30, decisions by May 15, reply by May 15
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: October 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by January 31.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- $250 housing deposit, due May 15, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science (lab: 1) | 3 |
| Social studies | 2 |
| Academic electives | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Requires the SAT or ACT again, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 4.47, weighted
This average gives extra points for honors and AP courses, so it runs above 4.0 and can't be compared with an unweighted GPA.
From the 90% of first-years who reported a GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
At colleges with a weighted average, the “4.0” band seems to hold every GPA of 4.0 or more.
- 4.095%
- 3.75–3.993%
- 3.50–3.741%
- 3.25–3.491%
- 3.00–3.241%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 4.0–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 94.6% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 2.8% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 1.2% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 0.8% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.5% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.1% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
76% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 97% in the top quarter, of the 66% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1460 on the SAT, 290 points above the median for colleges that report scores. It requires SAT or ACT scores again from students entering in fall 2027.
Required
Send SAT or ACT scores: they're required to be considered. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
These scores are from the class that entered in fall 2024, before the change.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)