- Acceptance rate: 30% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 600–720 reading and writing, 540–650 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 22–29 composite
- Average net price: $11,163 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what University of North Carolina School of the Arts reported: an acceptance rate of 30% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 22–29.
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 School of the Arts reviews each application.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts GPA requirements
University of North Carolina School of the Arts requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts acceptance rate
University of North Carolina School of the Arts admitted 431 of 1,438 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 30%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public 4-year university in Winston Salem, North Carolina, with 946 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 | 600 | 670 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 600 | 650 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 26 | 29 |
| ACT English | 23 | 26 | 31 |
| ACT Math | 22 | 24 | 26 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1260 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| 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 |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Required |
| 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 |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $11,163 a year at University of North Carolina School of the Arts 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 selective is the University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. University of North Carolina School of the Arts admitted 30% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Is the University of North Carolina School of the Arts test optional?
Check University of North Carolina School of the Arts' admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of North Carolina School of the Arts was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 11% sent SAT scores and 12% sent ACT scores.
What are the University of North Carolina School of the Arts' SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of University of North Carolina School of the Arts' fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 600–720 in reading and writing and 540–650 in math; ACT composite 22–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
GPA alone can't tell you here. University of North Carolina School of the Arts admitted 30% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How much does GPA matter at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
A lot: University of North Carolina School of the Arts requires high school GPA, high school record, recommendations, essay or personal statement and demonstration of competencies. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into the University of North Carolina School of the Arts?
University of North Carolina School of the Arts' acceptance rate was 30% for fall 2024: it admitted 431 of 1,438 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Does it matter at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts if a parent went there?
No. University of North Carolina School of the Arts doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does the University of North Carolina School of the Arts give credit for AP exams?
Yes. University of North Carolina School of the Arts awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
How much does the University of North Carolina School of the Arts cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $11,163 a year at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check the University of North Carolina School of the Arts' official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of North Carolina School of the ArtsU.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.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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