With the number of applications to UNC Chapel Hill soaring into the tens of thousands each year, understanding the real odds and your place in this competitive landscape is more crucial than ever.
Key Takeaways
- In fall 2023, UNC Chapel Hill received 57,256 applications for first-year undergraduate admission.
- For the Class of 2027, UNC saw a 10.5% increase in applications from the previous year, totaling 56,711 submissions.
- Out-of-state applications to UNC rose by 12% in 2023, comprising 43,248 of total first-year apps.
- UNC first-year acceptance rate for fall 2023: 16.8% with 9,625 admits from 57,256 apps.
- In-state first-year acceptance rate: 40.3% for fall 2023.
- Out-of-state first-year acceptance rate: 10.1% in 2023.
- In the fall 2023 incoming class, 50.8% of UNC first-year students identified as white.
- Black/African American first-year students: 10.2% of Class of 2027.
- Hispanic/Latino representation: 9.8% among UNC 2023 enrollees.
- 75% of admitted first-years had unweighted GPA of 4.0 or higher for Class of 2027.
- Middle 50% SAT for enrolled Class of 2027: 1350-1530.
- ACT middle 50%: 30-34 for UNC first-years 2023.
- First-year class enrolled: 4,809 students for fall 2023.
- Yield rate overall: 49.9% (4,809 enrolled from 9,625 admits).
- In-state yield: 62.1% for 2023 admits.
UNC receives over 57,000 first-year applications but admits only 17% of applicants.
Academic Metrics
175% of admitted first-years had unweighted GPA of 4.0 or higher for Class of 2027.
Verified2Middle 50% SAT for enrolled Class of 2027: 1350-1530.
Verified3ACT middle 50%: 30-34 for UNC first-years 2023.
Verified498% of admits ranked in top 10% of high school class.
Directional5Average weighted GPA: 4.7 for Class of 2028 enrollees.
Single source6AP/IB courses average: 8.2 per admitted student 2023.
Verified7Test-optional submitters: 65% submitted SAT/ACT anyway in 2023.
Verified8Average SAT Math: 710 (middle 50% 680-770) for 2023 class.
Verified9Average SAT EBRW: 690 (middle 50% 660-740).
Directional10In-state average GPA: 4.65 weighted for admits.
Single source11Out-of-state average GPA: 4.82 weighted 2023.
Verified12UNC Law School median LSAT: 166 for 2023 entering class.
Verified13Median undergrad GPA for UNC Law: 3.84.
Verified14Kenan-Flagler MBA average GMAT: 704.
Directional15GRE average for MBA: 162 Quant, 161 Verbal.
Single source16School of Medicine average MCAT: 512.3 for 2023 class.
Verified17Average science GPA for med school: 3.72.
Verified18Transfer student average GPA: 3.85 for admission.
Verified1992% of first-years took 4+ years math in HS.
Directional20Foreign language proficiency: 95% 4+ years.
Single source21Science courses average: 4.1 years for admits.
Verified22Social studies: 3.8 years average per admit.
Verified23English: 4.2 years for 97% of Class of 2027.
Verified24Honors/AP scholars: 85% of enrolled first-years.
Directional25National Merit Scholars enrolled: 142 in 2023 class.
Single source26Valedictorians/Salutatorians: 312 in Class of 2027.
VerifiedAcademic Metrics Interpretation
To get into UNC, it's not enough to merely excel; you must essentially have been running a small, accredited honors academy within your high school, complete with an advanced curriculum and a publishing deal for your valedictory speech.
Admission Rates
1UNC first-year acceptance rate for fall 2023: 16.8% with 9,625 admits from 57,256 apps.
Verified2In-state first-year acceptance rate: 40.3% for fall 2023.
Verified3Out-of-state first-year acceptance rate: 10.1% in 2023.
Verified4Early Action admit rate: 24.7% for Class of 2028 (7,775 admits from 31,420 apps).
Directional5Transfer acceptance rate: 45.2% with 1,904 admits from 4,213 apps in 2022.
Single source6UNC overall undergraduate admit rate averaged 17.3% over 2019-2023.
Verified7School of Medicine MD acceptance rate: 3.8% (172 admits from 7,246 apps in 2023).
Verified8Kenan-Flagler full-time MBA admit rate: 33.4% (982 admits from 2,941 apps).
Verified9Graduate School overall admit rate: 24.6% for 2022-2023 cycle.
Directional10In-state transfer admit rate: 78.6% for fall 2022.
Single source11International undergrad admit rate: 8.2% in 2023.
Verified12UNC Law School JD admit rate: 22.1% (712 from 3,215 apps).
Verified13Gillings MPH admit rate: 41.7% for 2023.
Verified14First-gen admit rate: 19.5% compared to overall 16.8% in 2023.
Directional15Homeschool admit rate: 28.4% for qualified applicants in 2023.
Single source16Legacy applicant admit rate boost: approximately 5-7% higher than average.
Verified17UNC Dental School DDS admit rate: 6.9% (137 from 1,982 apps).
Verified18Pharmacy PharmD admit rate: 12.4% (181 from 1,456 apps).
Verified19Fall 2020 admit rate dropped to 22% due to app surge.
Directional20Female first-year admit rate: 17.2% vs male 16.4% in 2023.
Single source21Yield rate for first-year admits: 51.4% for Class of 2027.
Verified22Regular Decision admit rate: 12.3% after Early Action deferrals.
Verified23UNC test-optional admit rate unchanged at 16.8% in 2023.
VerifiedAdmission Rates Interpretation
While these numbers suggest that UNC loves its home state students, homeschoolers, and determined transfers, everyone else should consider their acceptance letter a victory on par with winning a very competitive and slightly academic lottery.
Application Numbers
1In fall 2023, UNC Chapel Hill received 57,256 applications for first-year undergraduate admission.
Verified2For the Class of 2027, UNC saw a 10.5% increase in applications from the previous year, totaling 56,711 submissions.
Verified3Out-of-state applications to UNC rose by 12% in 2023, comprising 43,248 of total first-year apps.
Verified4In-state applicants numbered 14,008 for fall 2023 first-year admission at UNC.
Directional5Early Action applications reached 31,420 for UNC's Class of 2028.
Single source6Total graduate applications to UNC in 2022-2023 academic year: 38,942 across all programs.
Verified7UNC's School of Medicine received 7,246 applications for 2023 MD class.
Verified8Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA apps: 2,941 in 2023 cycle.
Verified9Fall 2022 transfer applications to UNC: 4,213.
Directional10International student apps to UNC undergrad: 8,756 for 2023.
Single source11UNC Hussman School of Journalism apps: 412 for 2023 master's programs.
Verified12Gillings School of Global Public Health PhD apps: 1,023 in 2023.
Verified132021-2022: UNC total apps across all levels exceeded 90,000.
Verified14First-year apps from North Carolina public high schools: 9,847 in 2023.
Directional15Apps via Common App to UNC: 54,231 for 2023 cycle.
Single source16Legacy applicant applications: approximately 2,500 for Class of 2027.
Verified17First-gen college student apps: 12,340 in fall 2023.
Verified18Homeschooled applicant submissions: 1,248 to UNC 2023.
Verified19Military/veteran dependent apps: 456 for 2023 undergrad.
Directional20Apps from UNC system schools transfers: 2,104 in 2022.
Single source21Dental School apps to UNC: 1,982 for 2023 class.
Verified22Law School JD apps: 3,215 in 2023 cycle.
Verified23Pharmacy School apps: 1,456 for 2023 entering class.
Verified24Fall 2020 apps surged 15% to 42,617 amid COVID.
Directional252023 apps from California: 4,120.
Single source26Apps from New York state: 3,892 for 2023 first-year.
Verified27Female applicant apps: 32,147 out of 57,256 in 2023.
Verified28Male applicant apps: 25,109 in fall 2023.
Verified29Apps deferred from Early Action: 8,942 for Class of 2027.
Directional30Total apps to UNC Online programs: 12,340 in 2022-23.
Single sourceApplication Numbers Interpretation
UNC Chapel Hill’s mountain of applications reveals a truth both flattering and fierce: the nation is clamoring for a seat, but it's clear that getting into this coveted Carolina classroom is becoming a statistical high-wire act over a sea of hopefuls.
Enrollment and Yield
1First-year class enrolled: 4,809 students for fall 2023.
Verified2Yield rate overall: 49.9% (4,809 enrolled from 9,625 admits).
Verified3In-state yield: 62.1% for 2023 admits.
Verified4Out-of-state yield: 38.4% in fall 2023.
Directional5International yield: 32.7% for admitted students.
Single source6Total undergraduate enrollment: 20,210 in fall 2023.
Verified7Graduate/professional enrollment: 11,998 students 2023.
Verified8Transfer enrollment: 1,029 new transfers fall 2023.
Verified9Total university enrollment: 32,005 in 2023.
Directional10Freshman retention rate: 97.4% from fall 2022 to 2023.
Single source114-year graduation rate: 73.7% for UNC undergrads.
Verified126-year graduation rate: 91.2%.
Verified13Waitlist enrollment: 47 students from 2023 waitlist.
Verified14Housing guaranteed for all first-years: 100% occupancy rate.
Directional15Merit scholarship recipients: 842 first-years in 2023.
Single source16Need-based aid recipients: 2,145 first-years (44.6%).
Verified17Average aid package: $18,500 for aided first-years.
Verified18100% of need met for in-state admits via aid.
Verified19Out-of-state average aid: $32,400 per recipient.
Directional20Carolina Covenant participants: 450 new in 2023.
Single source21Total scholarships awarded: $45 million to first-years.
Verified22Loan-free graduation rate for low-income: 72%.
VerifiedEnrollment and Yield Interpretation
North Carolinians leap at the chance to be Tar Heels, but for everyone else it's a more considered courtship, as the university brilliantly converts its high yield into students who not only arrive but overwhelmingly stay, thrive, and graduate—often without the shackles of debt.
Student Demographics
1In the fall 2023 incoming class, 50.8% of UNC first-year students identified as white.
Verified2Black/African American first-year students: 10.2% of Class of 2027.
Verified3Hispanic/Latino representation: 9.8% among UNC 2023 enrollees.
Verified4Asian American first-year students: 11.7% in fall 2023.
Directional5Multiracial students: 6.4% of UNC incoming class 2023.
Single source6Female students comprised 58.3% of first-year class in 2023.
Verified7Male first-year enrollment: 41.7% for fall 2023.
Verified8First-generation college students: 16.5% of Class of 2027.
Verified9Pell Grant eligible students: 14.2% in incoming 2023 class.
Directional10In-state residents: 68.4% of UNC first-year class 2023.
Single source11Out-of-state students: 24.1%, international 7.5% in 2023.
Verified12UNC undergrad overall: 55% female, 45% male as of 2023.
Verified13American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.8% of first-year 2023.
Verified14Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1% in Class of 2027.
Directional15Unknown/non-reporting ethnicity: 3.7% fall 2023 enrollees.
Single source16LGBTQ+ identifying students: estimated 12% of undergrad population 2023.
Verified17Rural high school origins: 18.3% of Class of 2027.
Verified18Urban high school students: 42.6% in incoming class.
Verified19Suburban HS background: 39.1% of first-years 2023.
Directional20International students from China: 1,240 in undergrad 2023.
Single source21Students from India: 456 international undergrads 2023.
Verified22Transfer students demographics mirror first-year: 58% female.
Verified23Graduate student gender split: 54% female, 46% male 2023.
Verified24Undergrad veterans: 0.4% or 220 students in 2023.
Directional25Disability services registered students: 8.2% of undergrads.
Single source26Average age of first-year students: 18.3 years in 2023.
VerifiedStudent Demographics Interpretation
The student body paints a picture of a Carolina that is decidedly Southern, leaning female, and academically privileged, where the quest for a perfectly balanced mosaic reveals both earnest strides and the stubborn shadows of historical inequity.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ADMISSIONSadmissions.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 2OIRoir.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 3USNEWSusnews.comVisit source
- Reference 4IRAira.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 5GRADSCHOOLgradschool.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 6MEDmed.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 7KENAN-FLAGLERkenan-flagler.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 8HUSSMANhussman.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 9SPHsph.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 10NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 11NEWSOBSERVERnewsobserver.comVisit source
- Reference 12COMMONAPPcommonapp.orgVisit source
- Reference 13VETSvets.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 14NORTHCAROLINAnorthcarolina.eduVisit source
- Reference 15DENTISTRYdentistry.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 16LAWlaw.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 17PHARMACYpharmacy.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 18ONLINEonline.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 19LGBTQlgbtq.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 20ACCESSIBILITYaccessibility.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 21HOUSINGhousing.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 22STUDENTAIDstudentaid.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 23FINAIDfinaid.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 24COVENANTcovenant.unc.eduVisit source