University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FL
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Central florida — 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
University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1269
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Central Florida
#35 World rank · ARWU #401-500
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1439 Median SAT 1269
91.2% Graduation rate 78%
32,680 Enrollment 69,338

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 40.1%
45.5% Yield rate 33.5%
1439 Median SAT 1269
4.50 Avg. GPA 4.20
66,535 Number of applications 55,135
9% Int'l students 5%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $51K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $86K
91.2% Graduation rate 78%
96.6% Retention rate 92.3%
$14,000 Median debt $18,190
$41,203 Tuition · year $22,467
$20,705 Avg. aid package $11,814
100% % of need met 65%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $20,529
$85 Application fee $30
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 40.1%
Tuition$41,203 vs $22,467
Aid$20,705 vs $11,814

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 40.1% 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 ($22,467 vs $41,203 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

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 40.1% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1269).

Graduate outcomes

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%).

Cost and aid

Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Central florida
World rank · ARWU#35#401-500
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%40.1%
Yield rate45.5%33.5%
Median SAT14391269
Avg. GPA4.504.20
Number of applications66,53555,135
International students9%5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$58K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$51K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$86K
Graduation rate91.2%78%
Retention rate96.6%92.3%
Median debt$14,000$18,190
Tuition · year$41,203$22,467
Avg. aid package$20,705$11,814
% of need met100%65%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$20,529
Application fee$85$30
Enrollment32,68069,338

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 15.3% of applicants, while Central florida accepts 40.1%.

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 $41,203 per year at North carolina and $22,467 per year at Central florida.

What SAT score do you need for North carolina or Central florida?

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1269 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.

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.