University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Rochester
ROCHESTER, NY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Rochester — 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 Rochester
ROCHESTER
Rochester, NY
World rank · ARWU#151-200
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1488
Graduation rate85.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$79K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Rochester
#35 World rank · ARWU #151-200
#70 Rank · THE #127
15.3% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1439 Median SAT 1488
91.2% Graduation rate 85.4%
32,680 Enrollment 11,946

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 40.1%
45.5% Yield rate 15.4%
1439 Median SAT 1488
4.50 Avg. GPA 3.70
66,535 Number of applications 21,384
9% Int'l students 37%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $79K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $74K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
91.2% Graduation rate 85.4%
96.6% Retention rate 90.7%
$14,000 Median debt $21,000
$41,203 Tuition · year $67,080
$20,705 Avg. aid package $60,879
100% % of need met 96.1%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $32,304
$85 Application fee $50
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Yield45.5% vs 15.4%
Aid$20,705 vs $60,879
Acceptance15.3% vs 40.1%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 40.1% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #151-200). Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $67,080 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, a higher graduation rate.

Choose Rochester for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North carolina is more selective (15.3% vs 40.1% acceptance); Rochester has a higher median SAT (1488 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $72K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 85.4%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $67,080); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Rochester
World rank · ARWU#35#151-200
Rank · THE#70#127
Acceptance rate15.3%40.1%
Yield rate45.5%15.4%
Median SAT14391488
Avg. GPA4.503.70
Number of applications66,53521,384
International students9%37%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$79K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$74K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$117K
Graduation rate91.2%85.4%
Retention rate96.6%90.7%
Median debt$14,000$21,000
Tuition · year$41,203$67,080
Avg. aid package$20,705$60,879
% of need met100%96.1%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$32,304
Application fee$85$50
Enrollment32,68011,946

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Rochester?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.1%.

Do North carolina or Rochester graduates earn more?

Rochester graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $79K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Rochester?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $67,080 per year at Rochester.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1488 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Rochester?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North carolina vs #151-200 for Rochester.

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

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $60,879 at Rochester.

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.