- Acceptance rate: 15% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 4.47 (weighted), as reported by the college for 2025–26
- SAT, middle 50%: 690–750 reading and writing, 700–780 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 28–34 composite
- Average net price: $11,140 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported: an average weighted GPA of 4.47 (2025–26), an acceptance rate of 15% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 28–34.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reviews each application.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill average GPA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported an average high school GPA of 4.47 for its first-year students who submitted one (90% did), in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. It's a weighted average, which adds points for honors, AP or IB classes, so it can be higher than 4.0.
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill acceptance rate
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admitted 10,209 of 66,535 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 15%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public 4-year university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with 20,885 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 690 | 730 | 750 |
| SAT Math | 700 | 750 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 31 | 34 |
| ACT English | 27 | 33 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 26 | 29 | 33 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1439 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
AP credit
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $11,140 a year at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into UNC?
Highly selective: fewer than 1 in 4 applicants got in. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admitted 15% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to UNC?
Check University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 28% sent SAT scores and 41% sent ACT scores.
How important is GPA for getting into UNC?
It's one factor among several: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill requires high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is there a minimum GPA for UNC?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 4.47 (weighted), as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set.
How many applicants get into UNC?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's acceptance rate was 15% for fall 2024: it admitted 10,209 of 66,535 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
Can I get into UNC with a 3.5 GPA?
It's below the average there. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's first-year students averaged a weighted GPA of 4.47, as reported by the college for 2025–26, so on the same weighted scale a 3.5 is below that average at a college that admitted 15% of applicants for fall 2024. An average isn't a cutoff: your courses, test scores and the rest of your application count too.
What SAT and ACT scores do UNC students have?
The middle 50% of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 690–750 in reading and writing and 700–780 in math; ACT composite 28–34, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does UNC consider legacy status?
Yes. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at UNC after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $11,140 a year at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does UNC give credit for AP exams?
Yes. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: average high school GPA of first-year students.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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Similar colleges in North Carolina
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Wake Forest UniversityVery selective · 22% admitted
- Duke UniversityHighly selective · 5.7% admitted
- Davidson CollegeVery selective · 13% admitted
- North Carolina State University at RaleighSelective · 42% admitted
- North Carolina A & T State UniversityAccessible · 50% admitted
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