University of Connecticut
STORRS, CT
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Connecticut vs North carolina — US university comparison

University of Connecticut
CONNECTICUT
Storrs, CT
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance52.4%
Median SAT1348
Graduation rate83.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$74K
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Connecticut University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#301-400 World rank · ARWU #35
— Rank · THE #70
52.4% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1348 Median SAT 1439
83.3% Graduation rate 91.2%
28,306 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

52.4% Acceptance rate 15.3%
15.4% Yield rate 45.5%
1348 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
55,479 Number of applications 66,535
11% Int'l students 9%
$74K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$66K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$109K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
83.3% Graduation rate 91.2%
92% Retention rate 96.6%
$21,500 Median debt $14,000
$43,712 Tuition · year $41,203
$21,535 Avg. aid package $20,705
61.6% % of need met 100%
$28,506 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$80 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance52.4% vs 15.3%
Yield15.4% vs 45.5%
% of need61.6% vs 100%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 52.4% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #35). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($74K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $43,712 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical — the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Connecticut for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

Choose North carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 52.4% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1348).

Graduate outcomes

Connecticut graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($74K vs $72K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 83.3%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $43,712); Connecticut offers a larger average aid package ($21,535 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kConnecticutNorth carolina TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Connecticut and North carolina highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Connecticut North carolina
World rank · ARWU#301-400#35
Rank · THE—#70
Acceptance rate52.4%15.3%
Yield rate15.4%45.5%
Median SAT13481439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications55,47966,535
International students11%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$74K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$66K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$109K$112K
Graduation rate83.3%91.2%
Retention rate92%96.6%
Median debt$21,500$14,000
Tuition · year$43,712$41,203
Avg. aid package$21,535$20,705
% of need met61.6%100%
Avg. graduate debt$28,506$20,382
Application fee$80$85
Enrollment28,30632,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Connecticut or North carolina?

It's harder to get into North carolina. Connecticut accepts 52.4% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Connecticut or North carolina graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal — 10 years after enrollment, the median is $74K at Connecticut and $72K at North carolina.

How much is tuition at Connecticut vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $43,712 per year at Connecticut and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Connecticut or North carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1348 at Connecticut and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Connecticut or North carolina?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Connecticut vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Connecticut or North carolina?

The average aid package is $21,535 at Connecticut and $20,705 at North carolina.

Compare Connecticut with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.