North Carolina vs Brandeis - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: North Carolina admits 15.3%, Brandeis admits 40.5%.
The more international environment is at Brandeis (19.3% international students) than North Carolina (6.4%).
North Carolina reports no financial aid for international students, while Brandeis awards them $56,730 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Brandeis lists $93,441 against $60,888 (North Carolina), but after average aid what remains is $35,934 against $40,183.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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 40.47% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #301-400). Brandeis graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($77K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $70,957 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 North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Brandeis for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 40.47% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1460).
Brandeis graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($77K vs $72K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 86%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $70,957); Brandeis offers a larger average aid package ($57,507 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | North Carolina | Brandeis |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #35 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #70 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 15.34% | 40.47% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 17.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1460 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.49 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 66,535 | 10,462 |
| International students | 6.4% | 19.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $72K | $77K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $48K | $52K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $112K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 91.2% | 86% |
| Retention rate | 96.6% | 87% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $25,648 |
| Tuition · year | $45,228 | $70,957 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,705 | $57,507 |
| % of need met | 100% | 94.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,382 | $27,004 |
| Application fee | $85 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 32,680 | 5,205 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Brandeis?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.47%.
Do North Carolina or Brandeis graduates earn more?
Brandeis graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $77K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Brandeis?
Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $70,957 per year at Brandeis.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Brandeis?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1460 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Brandeis?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #301-400 for Brandeis.
Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Brandeis?
The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $57,507 at Brandeis.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern