University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Kansas
LAWRENCE, KS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Kansas — 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 Kansas
KANSAS
Lawrence, KS
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance93.5%
Median SAT1190
Graduation rate68.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$62K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Kansas
#35 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 93.5%
1439 Median SAT 1190
91.2% Graduation rate 68.8%
32,680 Enrollment 29,792

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 93.5%
45.5% Yield rate 25.5%
1439 Median SAT 1190
4.50 Avg. GPA 3.70
66,535 Number of applications 22,363
9% Int'l students 7%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $62K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $59K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $88K
91.2% Graduation rate 68.8%
96.6% Retention rate 86%
$14,000 Median debt $21,000
$41,203 Tuition · year $30,432
$20,705 Avg. aid package $19,700
100% % of need met 78.6%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $27,212
$85 Application fee $40
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 93.5%
Yield45.5% vs 25.5%
Debt$14,000 vs $21,000

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 93.5% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #301-400). North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 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 Kansas 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 93.5% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1190).

Graduate outcomes

North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $62K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 68.8%).

Cost and aid

Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $19,700).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Kansas
World rank · ARWU#35#301-400
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%93.5%
Yield rate45.5%25.5%
Median SAT14391190
Avg. GPA4.503.70
Number of applications66,53522,363
International students9%7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$62K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$59K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$88K
Graduation rate91.2%68.8%
Retention rate96.6%86%
Median debt$14,000$21,000
Tuition · year$41,203$30,432
Avg. aid package$20,705$19,700
% of need met100%78.6%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$27,212
Application fee$85$40
Enrollment32,68029,792

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Kansas?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.5%.

Do North carolina or Kansas graduates earn more?

North carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $62K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Kansas?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $30,432 per year at Kansas.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Kansas?

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

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

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $19,700 at Kansas.

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.