University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) vs University of Georgia (UGA)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Athens, Georgia, home to two esteemed institutions of higher learning: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and the University of Georgia (UGA). While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique histories, cultures, and student bodies. UNC boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse cohort of undergraduates, while UGA maintains a somewhat smaller student population. Explore the nuances of each university's popular majors, graduation rates, and student demographics in the comprehensive comparison table below, and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	University of Georgia	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Overview
Location	Athens, Georgia	Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting	City: Midsize	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	95.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	40.0%	20.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95
SAT range	1270 - 1450	1140 - 1380
ACT range	29 - 33	22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score	45.0%	2.0%
Students submitting ACT score	40.0%	12.0%
Total number of applicants	39,229	50,729
Total number of admissions given out	15,685	10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll	5,819	4,690
Yield rate	37.1%	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

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $26,622 Out of state: $45,662	In state: $24,770 Out of state: $52,633
Average net price	$16,902	$11,508
Tuition	In state: $9,790 Out of state: $28,830	In state: $7,019 Out of state: $34,882
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $6,292 Meal plan: $4,036	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)	92.0% Average amount $11,045	42.0% Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan	25.0% Average amount $5,227	17.0% Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $13,477	3.0% Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	30,166 Men 42.0% Women 58.0%	19,845 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students	9,952 Men 38.2% Women 61.8%	11,796 Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	17.5%	16.2%
International students	4.8%	6.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	10,050	9,984
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Georgia Texas North Carolina Florida New York	North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Communication and Journalism Education Health Professions Engineering	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio	17:1	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	87.8%	90.5%
Dropout rate	3.6%	3.7%
Transferred out	7.5%	5.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $107,603 Year 2: $120,325 Year 3: $122,859 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $101,544 Year 2: $111,283 Year 3: $122,491 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $122,038 Year 3: $117,307 Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $71,726 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $92,754 Marketing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $71,513 Year 2: $81,333 Year 3: $91,218 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $87,059 Year 2: $71,015 Year 3: $85,532 Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,138 Year 2: $68,778 Year 3: $79,772 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,908 Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $79,190 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $64,622 Year 2: $64,068 Year 3: $78,529 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $79,002 Year 2: $77,144 Year 3: $77,709	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 UGA?

UNC Chapel Hill, a public research university in North Carolina, is known for its strong liberal arts focus, particularly in journalism and business. UGA, located in Georgia, is also a public research university but is distinguished by its exceptional programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public administration. UNC Chapel Hill is generally considered more selective in admissions, while UGA offers a broader range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Which school is more selective: UNC Chapel Hill or UGA?

UNC Chapel Hill is generally more selective than UGA. Its acceptance rate is typically lower, and admitted students tend to have slightly higher average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs. However, both are highly competitive institutions.
How do the academic reputations of UNC Chapel Hill and UGA compare?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and UGA have strong academic reputations. UNC Chapel Hill is particularly well-regarded for its journalism, business, and medical programs. UGA excels in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and public administration. Both universities are members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), signifying their commitment to research excellence.
What is the campus environment like at UNC Chapel Hill versus UGA?

UNC Chapel Hill offers a classic college town experience in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with a vibrant arts and music scene. The campus is known for its historic architecture and the iconic Old Well. UGA, located in Athens, Georgia, also provides a lively college town atmosphere, renowned for its music scene and Southern charm. UGA's campus is larger and offers a more traditional Southern college feel.
How do the costs of attending UNC Chapel Hill and UGA compare for in-state and out-of-state students?

For in-state students, both UNC Chapel Hill and UGA offer relatively affordable tuition compared to private universities. However, UNC Chapel Hill tends to be slightly less expensive for in-state students. For out-of-state students, the tuition costs are significantly higher at both institutions, but UGA's out-of-state tuition is generally a bit lower than UNC Chapel Hill's. Be sure to check the universities' websites for the most up-to-date tuition and fee information.
What are the popular majors at UNC Chapel Hill and UGA?

At UNC Chapel Hill, popular majors include Business Administration, Journalism, Biology, and Political Science. At UGA, popular majors include Biology, Business, Finance, and Marketing. Both universities offer a wide range of programs, but these are some of the most frequently chosen by undergraduates.
What are the athletic programs like at UNC Chapel Hill and UGA?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and UGA have strong athletic programs and compete in the NCAA Division I. UNC Chapel Hill is particularly known for its basketball program, while UGA 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 UNC Chapel Hill and UGA?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and UGA offer a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities to help students finance their education. These include need-based grants, merit-based scholarships, and federal student loans. UNC Chapel Hill offers the Carolina Covenant, a program that guarantees a debt-free education to eligible low-income students. UGA offers the Hope Scholarship to eligible Georgia residents. It's best to visit the financial aid websites of both universities to explore the specific options available and eligibility requirements.
How do the career services and internship opportunities compare between UNC Chapel Hill and UGA?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and UGA offer comprehensive career services to help students prepare for their careers. These services include career counseling, resume workshops, mock interviews, and job fairs. Both universities also have strong alumni networks that can provide valuable connections and mentorship opportunities. The location of each university provides different internship opportunities; UNC Chapel Hill has strong ties to the Research Triangle Park, while UGA has connections to businesses and organizations in Atlanta and throughout Georgia.
What are the graduation rates and post-graduation outcomes for students at UNC Chapel Hill and UGA?

Both UNC Chapel Hill and UGA have high graduation rates, indicating that students are likely to complete their degrees. Both universities also have strong post-graduation outcomes, with a high percentage of graduates finding employment or pursuing further education within a year of graduation. UNC Chapel Hill tends to have a slightly higher graduation rate, but both institutions prepare students well for their future careers.

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