University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) vs U of A
Nestled in the heart of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and the University of Arizona (UA) in the vibrant city of Tucson stand as two prominent institutions of higher learning. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and offer a diverse range of programs, they also possess unique characteristics that set them apart. UNC boasts a lower acceptance rate, a larger student body, and a higher graduation rate compared to UA. In terms of popular majors, UNC excels in the fields of biology, psychology, and economics, while UA shines in engineering, business, and social sciences. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve deeper into these differences and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() University of Arizona |
![]() University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
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Overview |
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Location | Tucson, Arizona | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
Campus setting | City: Large | 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 | 84.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.3% | 20.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$85
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Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1120 - 1370 | 1140 - 1380 |
ACT range | 21 - 29 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | 2.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 48,065 | 50,729 |
Total number of admissions given out | 41,946 | 10,348 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 8,436 | 4,690 |
Yield rate | 20.1% | 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) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$30,136
Out of state:
$54,658
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In state:
$24,770
Out of state:
$52,633
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Average net price | $17,242 | $11,508 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,299
Out of state:
$35,821
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In state:
$7,019
Out of state:
$34,882
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,400
Meal plan:
$5,050
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Room/dormitory:
$6,878
Meal plan:
$5,004
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
92.0%
Average amount $13,790 |
42.0%
Average amount $16,076 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $4,845 |
17.0%
Average amount $4,244 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $20,814 |
3.0%
Average amount $14,032 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,434
Men 44.3% Women 55.7% |
19,845
Men 39.6% Women 60.4% |
Graduate students |
10,840
Men 44.5% Women 55.5% |
11,796
Men 41.4% Women 58.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 48.8% | 16.2% |
International students | 6.5% | 6.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 7,036 | 9,984 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Arizona California Washington Illinois Colorado | North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 64.3% | 90.5% |
Dropout rate | 14.3% | 3.7% |
Transferred out | 19.6% | 5.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
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Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
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