University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME, IN
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Notre dame — 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 Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame, IN
World rank · ARWU#301-400
Acceptance11.3%
Median SAT1520
Graduation rate95%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$100K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame
#35 World rank · ARWU #301-400
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 11.3%
1439 Median SAT 1520
91.2% Graduation rate 95%
32,680 Enrollment 13,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 11.3%
45.5% Yield rate 61.7%
1439 Median SAT 1520
4.50 Avg. GPA —
66,535 Number of applications 29,942
9% Int'l students 13%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $100K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $98K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $141K
91.2% Graduation rate 95%
96.6% Retention rate 99%
$14,000 Median debt $19,000
$41,203 Tuition · year $65,025
$20,705 Avg. aid package $67,855
100% % of need met 100%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $30,400
$85 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Notre dame leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
Aid$20,705 vs $67,855
Tuition$41,203 vs $65,025
Grad. debt$20,382 vs $30,400

EXPERT TAKE

Notre dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 15.3% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #301-400). Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $65,025 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, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

Choose Notre dame for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Notre dame is more selective (11.3% vs 15.3% acceptance); Notre dame has a higher median SAT (1520 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Notre dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $72K); Notre dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $65,025); Notre dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Notre dame
World rank · ARWU#35#301-400
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%11.3%
Yield rate45.5%61.7%
Median SAT14391520
Avg. GPA4.50—
Number of applications66,53529,942
International students9%13%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$100K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$98K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$141K
Graduation rate91.2%95%
Retention rate96.6%99%
Median debt$14,000$19,000
Tuition · year$41,203$65,025
Avg. aid package$20,705$67,855
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$30,400
Application fee$85$85
Enrollment32,68013,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Notre dame?

It's harder to get into Notre dame. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Notre dame accepts 11.3%.

Do North carolina or Notre dame graduates earn more?

Notre dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Notre dame?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $65,025 per year at Notre dame.

What SAT score do you need for North carolina or Notre dame?

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1520 at Notre dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Notre dame?

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

Which university offers more financial aid — North carolina or Notre dame?

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $67,855 at Notre dame.

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.