University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Georgia
ATHENS, GA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Georgia — 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 Georgia
GEORGIA
Athens, GA
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance37.7%
Median SAT1397
Graduation rate89.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$69K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Georgia
#35 World rank · ARWU #401-500
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 37.7%
1439 Median SAT 1397
91.2% Graduation rate 89.7%
32,680 Enrollment 43,146

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 37.7%
45.5% Yield rate 38.3%
1439 Median SAT 1397
4.50 Avg. GPA 4.20
66,535 Number of applications 42,436
9% Int'l students 7%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $59K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $102K
91.2% Graduation rate 89.7%
96.6% Retention rate 94.3%
$14,000 Median debt $18,500
$41,203 Tuition · year $31,688
$20,705 Avg. aid package $15,348
100% % of need met 73.2%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $20,890
$85 Application fee $70
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 37.7%
% of need100% vs 73.2%
Aid$20,705 vs $15,348

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 37.7% 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 $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,688 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 Georgia 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 37.7% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1397).

Graduate outcomes

North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $69K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 89.7%).

Cost and aid

Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,688 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $15,348).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Georgia
World rank · ARWU#35#401-500
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%37.7%
Yield rate45.5%38.3%
Median SAT14391397
Avg. GPA4.504.20
Number of applications66,53542,436
International students9%7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$69K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$59K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$102K
Graduation rate91.2%89.7%
Retention rate96.6%94.3%
Median debt$14,000$18,500
Tuition · year$41,203$31,688
Avg. aid package$20,705$15,348
% of need met100%73.2%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$20,890
Application fee$85$70
Enrollment32,68043,146

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Georgia?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Georgia accepts 37.7%.

Do North carolina or Georgia graduates earn more?

North carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $69K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Georgia?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $31,688 per year at Georgia.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1397 at Georgia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Georgia?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North carolina vs #401-500 for Georgia.

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

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $15,348 at Georgia.

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.