University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Texas at Austin
AUSTIN, TEXAS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North Carolina vs Texas at Austin - US university comparison

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.34%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
University of Texas at Austin
TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Austin, Texas
World rank · ARWU#45
Acceptance26.64%
Median SAT1395
Graduation rate88.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$75K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Texas at Austin
#35 World rank · ARWU #45
#70 Rank · THE -
15.34% Acceptance rate 26.64%
1470 Median SAT 1395
91.2% Graduation rate 88.9%
32,680 Enrollment 53,864

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.34% Acceptance rate 26.64%
45.5% Yield rate 47.4%
1470 Median SAT 1395
4.49 Avg. GPA -
66,535 Number of applications 72,885
6.4% Int'l students 4.5%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $75K
$48K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $51K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
91.2% Graduation rate 88.9%
96.6% Retention rate 96.7%
$14,000 Median debt $20,500
$45,228 Tuition · year $44,908
$20,705 Avg. aid package $20,219
100% % of need met 75%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $19,919
$85 Application fee $75
- Avg. int'l aid $21,838
At a glance
North Carolina leads in 6 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance15.34% vs 26.64%
Debt$14,000 vs $20,500
% of need100% vs 75%

The verdict, from the data

A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: North Carolina admits 15.3%, Texas at Austin admits 26.6%.

North Carolina reports no financial aid for international students, while Texas at Austin awards them $21,838 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.

Candidates with higher SAT scores go to North Carolina: a midpoint of 1470 against 1395, a difference of 75 points.

The price list does not separate these two: $45,228 and $44,908.

These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.

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

North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 26.64% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #45). Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $72K). Texas at Austin has lower sticker-price tuition ($44,908 vs $45,228 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 Texas at Austin for: higher graduate earnings, higher retention, lower tuition.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 26.64% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1395).

Graduate outcomes

Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $72K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 88.9%).

Cost and aid

Texas at Austin has lower sticker-price tuition ($44,908 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $20,219).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kNorth CarolinaTexas at Austin TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; North Carolina and Texas at Austin highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North Carolina Texas at Austin
World rank · ARWU#35#45
Rank · THE#70-
Acceptance rate15.34%26.64%
Yield rate45.5%47.4%
Median SAT14701395
Avg. GPA4.49-
Number of applications66,53572,885
International students6.4%4.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$75K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$48K$51K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$117K
Graduation rate91.2%88.9%
Retention rate96.6%96.7%
Median debt$14,000$20,500
Tuition · year$45,228$44,908
Avg. aid package$20,705$20,219
% of need met100%75%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$19,919
Application fee$85$75
Enrollment32,68053,864

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Texas at Austin?

It's harder to get into North Carolina. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Texas at Austin accepts 26.64%.

Do North Carolina or Texas at Austin graduates earn more?

Texas at Austin graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Texas at Austin?

Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin.

What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Texas at Austin?

The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1395 at Texas at Austin; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Texas at Austin?

North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #45 for Texas at Austin.

Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Texas at Austin?

The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $20,219 at Texas at Austin.

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.