William & Mary (W&M) vs University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
William & Mary and the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a lower acceptance rate (34%) compared to UNCW's 73%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at William & Mary including Public Policy and American Studies, while UNCW excels in Marine Biology and Business Administration. William & Mary's student body is slightly smaller and more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students. In terms of graduation rates, William & Mary has a slight edge, with 88% of students completing their degrees within six years, compared to UNCW's 79%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions and determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and preferences.
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![]() William & Mary |
![]() University of North Carolina Wilmington |
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Overview |
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Location | Williamsburg, Virginia | Wilmington, North Carolina |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 83.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 68.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 1360 - 1520 | 1210 - 1330 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 24 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 8.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 19.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,475 | 15,792 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,386 | 10,736 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,684 | 2,435 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 22.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
|
In state:
$25,855
Out of state:
$39,920
|
Average net price | $18,399 | $18,792 |
Tuition |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
|
In state:
$4,443
Out of state:
$18,508
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,926
Meal plan:
$4,420
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
53.0%
Average amount $6,253 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
47.0%
Average amount $5,258 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
9.0%
Average amount $15,490 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
14,488
Men 35.0% Women 65.0% |
Graduate students |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
3,542
Men 28.2% Women 71.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 35.2% | 17.4% |
International students | 6.2% | 2.0% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 4,755 | 5,562 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania New York | North Carolina Maryland Pennsylvania Virginia New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.0% | 71.8% |
Dropout rate | 2.1% | 6.5% |
Transferred out | 6.3% | 20.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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