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UC San Diego vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant academic landscapes of the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UCSD, nestled along the sunny shores of La Jolla, California, boasts a diverse student body and a focus on research and innovation. UNC, rooted in the historic charm of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, offers a traditional college town atmosphere and a strong emphasis on liberal arts. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details that set these two esteemed universities apart, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, embarking on a journey toward your educational dreams.
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

 		University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill logo

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Overview

Location La Jolla, California Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 95.0% 97.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 34.2% 20.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70
Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $85
Graduate: $95
SAT range N/A 1140 - 1380
ACT range N/A 22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 12.0%
Total number of applicants 118,386 50,729
Total number of admissions given out 40,493 10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll 7,544 4,690
Yield rate 18.6% 45.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $35,116
Out of state: $64,870
In state: $24,770
Out of state: $52,633
Average net price $15,632 $11,508
Tuition
In state: $11,442
Out of state: $41,196
In state: $7,019
Out of state: $34,882
Room & board $16,145
Room/dormitory: $6,878
Meal plan: $5,004
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

 48.0%
Average amount $18,083 		42.0%
Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan 21.0%
Average amount $4,545 		17.0%
Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans 7.0%
Average amount $4,851 		3.0%
Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students 33,343
Men 48.7% Women 51.3% 		19,845
Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students 8,542
Men 57.6% Women 42.4% 		11,796
Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 16.6% 16.2%
International students 21.3% 6.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 17,765 9,984
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Washington Texas New York Illinois North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 89.4% 90.5%
Dropout rate 9.7% 3.7%
Transferred out N/A 5.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,768
  • Year 2: $162,463
  • Year 3: $194,475
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,641
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $153,118
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $124,326
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,445
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $123,569
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,196
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $113,628
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,603
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $109,783
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $108,034
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,738
  • Year 2: $86,972
  • Year 3: $105,245
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,610
  • Year 2: $75,706
  • Year 3: $102,296
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,476
  • Year 2: $79,688
  • Year 3: $99,630
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $168,979
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $238,213
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,965
  • Year 2: $127,836
  • Year 3: $150,089
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,248
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $128,102
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,961
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $117,488
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,271
  • Year 2: $86,036
  • Year 3: $96,602
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,162
  • Year 2: $72,083
  • Year 3: $95,204
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,938
  • Year 2: $73,823
  • Year 3: $89,917
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,557
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $87,057
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,899
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $86,155
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,205
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $82,520

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