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How to Get Into University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Admissions Statistics

15.3%
Acceptance Rate
690-750
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
700-780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
28-34
ACT (mid 50%)
20,752
Undergrads
91%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Understand what 15.3% really means

At University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's admit rate, your position against the published ranges genuinely matters. Land above the middle 50% and this behaves like a target; inside it, a true toss-up worth real effort on essays and fit signals; below it, treat it as a reach. Place it on your list accordingly instead of trusting the headline rate.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1390-1530 combined SAT or 28-34 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you and this can behave like a target. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Test policy here is "Required for some programs", check the fine print for your specific program.

Use the Early Action round deliberately

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers Early Action: non-binding and worth taking if your application is ready, an earlier answer helps you calibrate the rest of your list, and EA carries no downside beyond the earlier deadline.

The supplements are where files separate

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill asks 3 supplemental questions (the exact prompts are below). At any selective school, essays are where you stop being a data point, generic answers read as generic everywhere, so specificity about University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the whole game. Answer why THIS school, with details that could not be pasted into another application.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill fits.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Action (EA) October 15, 2025
Regular Decision (RD) January 15, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Supplemental Essay Prompts

  1. 1. Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community. This could be your current community or another community you have engaged.

    250 words

  2. 2. Discuss an academic topic that you're excited to explore and learn more about in college. Why does this topic interest you? Topics could be a specific course of study, research interests, or any other area related to your academic experience in college.

    250 words

  3. 3. Who will you ask for recommendation letters? Teachers: 1 required, 1 optional. Other recommenders: 2 optional. List only.

    50 words

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $85
Test scores Required for some programs
Writing supplement Not required
Counselor recommendation Not required
Teacher evaluations 1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $26,055
Tuition & fees (in-state / out-of-state) $8,994 / $41,203
Room & board (on campus) $13,804
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $11,655

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $2,004
$30-48k $3,918
$48-75k $8,538
$75-110k $16,415
$110k+ $24,396
20%
Students receiving Pell Grants
13.1%
Students taking federal loans
97%
Freshman retention rate
15:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Official Net Price Calculator →

More University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students actually win

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