Houston vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Houston accepts most of the applications it receives (73.9%), while North Carolina turns away the overwhelming majority (15.3%).
North Carolina reports no financial aid for international students, while Houston awards them $4,456 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
On paper the cheaper option is Houston: $27,926 against $45,228, which is $17,302 less a year.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours North Carolina: $72K against $62K.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 73.92% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #35). North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $62K). Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $45,228 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 Houston for: lower tuition.
Choose North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 73.92% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1240).
North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $62K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 64.6%).
Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $16,450).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Houston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | - | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 73.92% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1240 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.49 | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 31,716 | 66,535 |
| International students | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 64.6% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 87% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $18,194 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $27,926 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,450 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 55.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $21,819 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 47,980 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Houston or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. Houston accepts 73.92% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Houston or North Carolina graduates earn more?
North Carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Houston vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $27,926 per year at Houston and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Houston or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1240 at Houston and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Houston or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Houston vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Houston or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $16,450 at Houston and $20,705 at North Carolina.
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