North Carolina vs Central Florida - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to North Carolina: 15.3% against 44.7% (Central Florida).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Central Florida reports aid for international students ($928 on average), North Carolina does not.
The tuition gap is $21,152 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) against $45,228.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to North Carolina: $72K against $58K.
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 44.71% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #401-500). North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 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 North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Central Florida for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 44.71% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1260).
North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $58K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 78%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | North Carolina | Central Florida |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #35 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | #70 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 15.34% | 44.71% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 33.5% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1260 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.49 | 4.16 |
| Number of applications | 66,535 | 55,135 |
| International students | 6.4% | 3.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $72K | $58K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $48K | $39K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $112K | $86K |
| Graduation rate | 91.2% | 78% |
| Retention rate | 96.6% | 92.3% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $18,190 |
| Tuition · year | $45,228 | $24,076 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,705 | $11,814 |
| % of need met | 100% | 65% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,382 | $20,529 |
| Application fee | $85 | $30 |
| Enrollment | 32,680 | 69,338 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Central Florida?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Central Florida accepts 44.71%.
Do North Carolina or Central Florida graduates earn more?
North Carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Central Florida?
Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $24,076 per year at Central Florida.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Central Florida?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1260 at Central Florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Central Florida?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #401-500 for Central Florida.
Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Central Florida?
The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $11,814 at Central Florida.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern