University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
Brandeis University
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Brandeis — US university comparison

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
Brandeis University
BRANDEIS
Waltham, Massachusetts
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance40.5%
Median SAT1462
Graduation rate86%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$77K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Brandeis University
#35 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 40.5%
1439 Median SAT 1462
91.2% Graduation rate 86%
32,680 Enrollment 5,205

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 40.5%
45.5% Yield rate 17.5%
1439 Median SAT 1462
4.50 Avg. GPA 3.90
66,535 Number of applications 10,462
9% Int'l students 34%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $77K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
91.2% Graduation rate 86%
96.6% Retention rate 87%
$14,000 Median debt $25,648
$41,203 Tuition · year $68,080
$20,705 Avg. aid package $57,507
100% % of need met 94.5%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $27,004
$85 Application fee $80
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$20,705 vs $57,507
Acceptance15.3% vs 40.5%
Yield45.5% vs 17.5%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 40.5% 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 ($41,203 vs $68,080 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

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 40.5% acceptance); Brandeis has a higher median SAT (1462 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $68,080); Brandeis offers a larger average aid package ($57,507 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Brandeis
World rank · ARWU#35#301-400
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%40.5%
Yield rate45.5%17.5%
Median SAT14391462
Avg. GPA4.503.90
Number of applications66,53510,462
International students9%34%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$77K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$117K
Graduation rate91.2%86%
Retention rate96.6%87%
Median debt$14,000$25,648
Tuition · year$41,203$68,080
Avg. aid package$20,705$57,507
% of need met100%94.5%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$27,004
Application fee$85$80
Enrollment32,6805,205

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Brandeis?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.5%.

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 $41,203 per year at North carolina and $68,080 per year at Brandeis.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1462 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.

Compare North carolina 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.