Virginia Tech vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) are two highly regarded public universities with distinct characteristics. Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, is known for its strong engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine programs, while UNC-Chapel Hill, situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, excels in liberal arts, business, and medicine. With acceptance rates of 69% and 24%, respectively, Virginia Tech offers a more accessible admissions process compared to UNC-Chapel Hill's highly selective admissions. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details on acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Overview
Location	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Blacksburg, Virginia
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	97.0%	92.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	20.4%	56.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $75
SAT range	1140 - 1380	1210 - 1410
ACT range	22 - 27	26 - 32
Students submitting SAT score	2.0%	83.0%
Students submitting ACT score	12.0%	35.0%
Total number of applicants	50,729	42,054
Total number of admissions given out	10,348	23,746
Admitted students who chose to enroll	4,690	6,758
Yield rate	45.3%	28.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $24,770 Out of state: $52,633	In state: $30,104 Out of state: $49,787
Average net price	$11,508	$20,109
Tuition	In state: $7,019 Out of state: $34,882	In state: $11,750 Out of state: $30,829
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $6,878 Meal plan: $5,004	Room/dormitory: $5,890 Meal plan: $4,736
Available payment plans	Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	42.0% Average amount $16,076	58.0% Average amount $8,018
Students receiving federal student loan	17.0% Average amount $4,244	40.0% Average amount $5,316
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $14,032	9.0% Average amount $20,728

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	19,845 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%	29,760 Men 57.3% Women 42.7%
Graduate students	11,796 Men 41.4% Women 58.6%	7,519 Men 56.5% Women 43.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	16.2%	39.5%
International students	6.8%	9.9%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	9,984	9,471
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania	Virginia Maryland New Jersey North Carolina Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies	Engineering Business Family and Consumer Sciences Computer and Information Science Natural Resources and Conservation
Students to faculty ratio	15:1	14:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	90.5%	86.6%
Dropout rate	3.7%	12.3%
Transferred out	5.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	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	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $105,287 Year 2: $113,246 Year 3: $125,427 Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $97,383 Year 2: $96,691 Year 3: $106,931 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $82,448 Year 2: $88,678 Year 3: $96,747 Veterinary Medicine (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $76,172 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $93,580 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $75,104 Year 2: $78,488 Year 3: $90,164 Public Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $59,370 Year 2: $75,518 Year 3: $87,658 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $81,573 Year 2: $91,211 Year 3: $84,990 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $80,460 Year 2: $73,635 Year 3: $83,712 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,805 Year 2: $73,272 Year 3: $82,738 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,610 Year 2: $70,680 Year 3: $81,822

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill?

Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, is a large public land-grant university known for its strong engineering, technology, and agriculture programs. It has a more rural setting and a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and research. UNC Chapel Hill, situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a highly regarded public liberal arts university with a strong tradition in journalism, business, and medicine. It offers a more traditional college town experience and is known for its academic rigor and research opportunities across a broad range of disciplines.
Which school is better for engineering programs?

Virginia Tech is generally considered to be stronger in engineering programs. Its College of Engineering is highly ranked nationally and offers a wide range of specialized engineering disciplines. While UNC Chapel Hill offers engineering programs, they are not as comprehensive or as highly ranked as those at Virginia Tech.
Which school is better for journalism and media?

UNC Chapel Hill is widely recognized for its excellent journalism and media programs, particularly through the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. It has a long and distinguished history in this field and offers numerous opportunities for students to gain practical experience. Virginia Tech offers communication programs, but they are not as focused on journalism as those at UNC Chapel Hill.
How do the campus environments compare?

Virginia Tech has a more self-contained, campus-focused environment in a rural setting. Blacksburg is a quintessential college town, but the university is the dominant feature. UNC Chapel Hill offers a more integrated college town experience. Chapel Hill is a vibrant town with a diverse population and a strong connection to the university. It's also closer to other major cities like Raleigh and Durham.
What are the typical class sizes at each university?

Virginia Tech, being a larger university, may have larger introductory classes, especially in popular STEM fields. However, as students progress in their majors, class sizes tend to decrease. UNC Chapel Hill generally has smaller class sizes, particularly in upper-level courses, due to its emphasis on undergraduate education and its lower student-to-faculty ratio.
How do the costs of attending Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill compare?

Both are public universities, so tuition is lower for in-state students. Generally, UNC Chapel Hill is slightly less expensive for in-state students compared to Virginia Tech. Out-of-state tuition is comparable between the two, but it's important to check the most recent figures on each university's website as costs can change annually. Don't forget to factor in living expenses, which can vary depending on lifestyle and location.
What are the research opportunities like at each school?

Both Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill are research universities with ample opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to get involved in research. Virginia Tech's research is heavily focused on engineering, science, and technology, while UNC Chapel Hill has a broader research portfolio spanning the humanities, social sciences, medicine, and sciences. Consider your field of interest when evaluating research opportunities.
What is the student life like at Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill?

Virginia Tech has a strong sense of community and school spirit, often centered around its Corps of Cadets and its athletic programs. It's known for its traditions and a close-knit student body. UNC Chapel Hill also has a vibrant student life, with a strong emphasis on academics, arts, and social activities. It's known for its passionate basketball fans and a diverse range of student organizations.
Which school is more selective?

UNC Chapel Hill is generally considered more selective than Virginia Tech. Its acceptance rate is typically lower, and it often attracts a larger pool of highly qualified applicants. However, both are competitive universities, and admission depends on a variety of factors, including academic record, standardized test scores (if required), essays, and extracurricular activities.
What are the career prospects like after graduating from Virginia Tech or UNC Chapel Hill?

Graduates from both universities are highly sought after by employers. Virginia Tech graduates are well-regarded in engineering, technology, and related fields, with strong connections to companies in those industries. UNC Chapel Hill graduates find success in a wide range of fields, including business, journalism, medicine, and law, benefiting from the university's strong alumni network and reputation.

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