North Carolina vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Northwestern admits 7.7% of applicants, while North Carolina admits 15.3%.
The more international environment is at Northwestern (11.8% international students) than North Carolina (6.4%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Northwestern reports aid for international students ($74,103 on average), North Carolina does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Northwestern starts at $96,182 against $60,888 and ends at $28,072 against $40,183 (North Carolina).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 15.34% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #33). Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $70,589 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: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northwestern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 15.34% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $72K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 91.2%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | North Carolina | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #35 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | #70 | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 15.34% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.49 | - |
| Number of applications | 66,535 | 49,474 |
| International students | 6.4% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $72K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $48K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $112K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 91.2% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 96.6% | 98% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $45,228 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,705 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,382 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $85 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 32,680 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do North Carolina or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Northwestern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $89K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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