University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Rhode Island
KINGSTON, RI
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Rhode island — 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 Rhode Island
RHODE ISLAND
Kingston, RI
World rank · ARWU#801-900
Acceptance72.2%
Median SAT1160
Graduation rate73.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Rhode Island
#35 World rank · ARWU #801-900
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 72.2%
1439 Median SAT 1160
91.2% Graduation rate 73.3%
32,680 Enrollment 17,649

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 72.2%
45.5% Yield rate 15.4%
1439 Median SAT 1160
4.50 Avg. GPA 3.60
66,535 Number of applications 26,987
9% Int'l students 3%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $102K
91.2% Graduation rate 73.3%
96.6% Retention rate 83.6%
$14,000 Median debt $22,250
$41,203 Tuition · year $37,146
$20,705 Avg. aid package $17,388
100% % of need met 60%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $40,247
$85 Application fee $65
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 72.2%
Yield45.5% vs 15.4%
Grad. debt$20,382 vs $40,247

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 72.2% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #801-900). North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $70K). Rhode island has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,146 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 Rhode island 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 72.2% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1160).

Graduate outcomes

North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $70K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 73.3%).

Cost and aid

Rhode island has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,146 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $17,388).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Rhode island
World rank · ARWU#35#801-900
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%72.2%
Yield rate45.5%15.4%
Median SAT14391160
Avg. GPA4.503.60
Number of applications66,53526,987
International students9%3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$70K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$58K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$102K
Graduation rate91.2%73.3%
Retention rate96.6%83.6%
Median debt$14,000$22,250
Tuition · year$41,203$37,146
Avg. aid package$20,705$17,388
% of need met100%60%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$40,247
Application fee$85$65
Enrollment32,68017,649

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Rhode island?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Rhode island accepts 72.2%.

Do North carolina or Rhode island graduates earn more?

North carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Rhode island?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $37,146 per year at Rhode island.

What SAT score do you need for North carolina or Rhode island?

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1160 at Rhode island; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Rhode island?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North carolina vs #801-900 for Rhode island.

Which university offers more financial aid — North carolina or Rhode island?

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $17,388 at Rhode island.

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.