University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) vs Auburn

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Auburn, Alabama, home to the esteemed University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and Auburn University, respectively. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique characteristics. UNC boasts a lower acceptance rate, attracting a diverse student body from across the nation and the globe. Auburn, on the other hand, prides itself on its strong engineering and agricultural programs, drawing students eager to pursue these fields. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and student demographics, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Auburn University	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Overview
Location	Auburn, Alabama	Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Small
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%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	71.2%	20.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $60	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	27,619	50,729
Total number of admissions given out	19,660	10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll	5,311	4,690
Yield rate	27.0%	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: $33,650 Out of state: $53,810	In state: $24,770 Out of state: $52,633
Average net price	$23,873	$11,508
Tuition	In state: $10,080 Out of state: $30,240	In state: $7,019 Out of state: $34,882
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,892 Meal plan: $5,704	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)	69.0% Average amount $10,448	42.0% Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan	27.0% Average amount $5,232	17.0% Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans	5.0% Average amount $24,894	3.0% Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	24,931 Men 50.5% Women 49.5%	19,845 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students	6,595 Men 46.7% Women 53.3%	11,796 Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Very Low	Low
Out-of-state students	43.6%	16.2%
International students	7.0%	6.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	4,823	9,984
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Alabama Georgia Florida Tennessee Texas	North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Education Health Professions Business Agriculture	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio	20:1	15:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	80.9%	90.5%
Dropout rate	4.4%	3.7%
Transferred out	13.0%	5.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $109,330 Year 2: $119,954 Year 3: $122,981 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $106,330 Year 2: $114,892 Year 3: $119,917 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $90,962 Year 2: $93,520 Year 3: $96,107 Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $80,045 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $94,852 Architectural Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $72,488 Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $86,080 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $75,285 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $83,134 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,127 Year 2: $68,778 Year 3: $77,684 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,274 Year 2: $65,753 Year 3: $75,817 Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,558 Year 2: $65,170 Year 3: $75,401 Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $74,364	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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University?

UNC Chapel Hill is a highly ranked public research university known for its strong liberal arts programs, particularly in journalism, business, and medicine. It's located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a vibrant college town. Auburn University, located in Auburn, Alabama, is a public land-grant university renowned for its engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine programs. Auburn has a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning.
Which university is more selective in admissions: UNC Chapel Hill or Auburn University?

UNC Chapel Hill is generally more selective than Auburn University. UNC Chapel Hill typically has a lower acceptance rate and higher average SAT/ACT scores for admitted students compared to Auburn. This means it's generally more competitive to get into UNC Chapel Hill.
How do the academic reputations of UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University compare?

UNC Chapel Hill consistently ranks among the top public universities in the United States, with strong programs across various disciplines. Auburn University is also a well-respected public university, particularly known for its STEM fields. While both have strong academic reputations, UNC Chapel Hill generally holds a higher overall ranking.
What is the campus environment like at UNC Chapel Hill versus Auburn University?

UNC Chapel Hill offers a classic college town experience with a focus on academics and research. Chapel Hill is known for its lively music scene and progressive atmosphere. Auburn University provides a more traditional Southern college experience with a strong emphasis on school spirit and traditions. Auburn is known for its close-knit community and passionate alumni base.
Which university is better for students interested in journalism and media?

UNC Chapel Hill is widely considered to have one of the best journalism and media programs in the country. Its Hussman School of Journalism and Media is highly regarded and offers a wide range of specializations. While Auburn has communication programs, UNC Chapel Hill is generally the stronger choice for students specifically interested in journalism and media.
Which university is better for students interested in engineering?

Auburn University is particularly strong in engineering, especially in fields like aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Their Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is well-respected and offers numerous research opportunities. While UNC Chapel Hill has an engineering program, Auburn is generally considered the stronger choice for students primarily focused on engineering.
How do the costs of attending UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University compare?

The cost of attendance varies depending on residency status. For in-state students, UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University are generally more affordable than out-of-state options. However, UNC Chapel Hill may have slightly lower tuition costs for in-state students. Out-of-state tuition is significantly higher at both institutions. It's best to check the universities' websites for the most up-to-date tuition and fee information.
What are the athletic programs like at UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University have strong athletic programs and are members of major athletic conferences (ACC and SEC, respectively). UNC Chapel Hill is particularly known for its basketball program, while Auburn University is renowned for its football program. Both universities offer a wide range of varsity sports and have passionate fan bases.
What kind of financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available at each university?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University offer a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities to help students finance their education. These may include need-based grants, merit-based scholarships, and federal student loans. It's recommended to visit the financial aid websites of both universities to explore the specific options available and the eligibility requirements.
What are the career services and internship opportunities like at UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and Auburn University offer comprehensive career services to help students prepare for their careers. These services may include career counseling, resume workshops, mock interviews, and job fairs. Both universities also have strong relationships with employers and offer numerous internship opportunities in various fields. Auburn's co-op program is particularly noteworthy.
How do the surrounding cities of Chapel Hill and Auburn compare?

Chapel Hill is a classic college town with a vibrant arts and music scene, numerous restaurants and shops, and a progressive atmosphere. It's located in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, which offers access to major employers and research institutions. Auburn is a smaller, more traditional Southern college town with a strong sense of community. It offers a more relaxed and close-knit environment.
Which university is better for pre-med students?

UNC Chapel Hill is generally considered a stronger choice for pre-med students due to its highly ranked medical school and numerous research opportunities in the medical field. While Auburn offers pre-med programs, UNC Chapel Hill's resources and reputation in the medical sciences are generally more advantageous for aspiring doctors.

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