University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Connecticut
STORRS, CT
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Connecticut — 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 Connecticut
CONNECTICUT
Storrs, CT
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance52.4%
Median SAT1348
Graduation rate83.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$74K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Connecticut
#35 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 52.4%
1439 Median SAT 1348
91.2% Graduation rate 83.3%
32,680 Enrollment 28,306

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 52.4%
45.5% Yield rate 15.4%
1439 Median SAT 1348
4.50 Avg. GPA —
66,535 Number of applications 55,479
9% Int'l students 11%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $74K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $66K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $109K
91.2% Graduation rate 83.3%
96.6% Retention rate 92%
$14,000 Median debt $21,500
$41,203 Tuition · year $43,712
$20,705 Avg. aid package $21,535
100% % of need met 61.6%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $28,506
$85 Application fee $80
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 52.4%
Yield45.5% vs 15.4%
% of need100% vs 61.6%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 52.4% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #301-400). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($72K vs $74K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $43,712 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 Connecticut 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 52.4% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1348).

Graduate outcomes

Connecticut graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($74K vs $72K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 83.3%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $43,712); Connecticut offers a larger average aid package ($21,535 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Connecticut
World rank · ARWU#35#301-400
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%52.4%
Yield rate45.5%15.4%
Median SAT14391348
Avg. GPA4.50—
Number of applications66,53555,479
International students9%11%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$74K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$66K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$109K
Graduation rate91.2%83.3%
Retention rate96.6%92%
Median debt$14,000$21,500
Tuition · year$41,203$43,712
Avg. aid package$20,705$21,535
% of need met100%61.6%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$28,506
Application fee$85$80
Enrollment32,68028,306

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Connecticut?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Connecticut accepts 52.4%.

Do North carolina or Connecticut graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal — 10 years after enrollment, the median is $72K at North carolina and $74K at Connecticut.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Connecticut?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $43,712 per year at Connecticut.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1348 at Connecticut; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Connecticut?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North carolina vs #301-400 for Connecticut.

Which university offers more financial aid — North carolina or Connecticut?

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $21,535 at Connecticut.

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.