University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
West Virginia University
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs West virginia — 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
West Virginia University
WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown, West Virginia
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance89%
Median SAT1122
Graduation rate64.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$56K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill West Virginia University
#35 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 89%
1439 Median SAT 1122
91.2% Graduation rate 64.7%
32,680 Enrollment 23,643

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 89%
45.5% Yield rate 26.5%
1439 Median SAT 1122
4.50 Avg. GPA 3.70
66,535 Number of applications 20,150
9% Int'l students 5%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $56K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $53K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $84K
91.2% Graduation rate 64.7%
96.6% Retention rate 83.4%
$14,000 Median debt $22,500
$41,203 Tuition · year $28,608
$20,705 Avg. aid package $16,730
100% % of need met 63%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $36,010
$85 Application fee $65
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 89%
Grad. debt$20,382 vs $36,010
Yield45.5% vs 26.5%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 89% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #501-600). North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $56K). West virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West virginia 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 89% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1122).

Graduate outcomes

North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $56K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 64.7%).

Cost and aid

West virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $16,730).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina West virginia
World rank · ARWU#35#501-600
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%89%
Yield rate45.5%26.5%
Median SAT14391122
Avg. GPA4.503.70
Number of applications66,53520,150
International students9%5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$56K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$53K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$84K
Graduation rate91.2%64.7%
Retention rate96.6%83.4%
Median debt$14,000$22,500
Tuition · year$41,203$28,608
Avg. aid package$20,705$16,730
% of need met100%63%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$36,010
Application fee$85$65
Enrollment32,68023,643

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or West virginia?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while West virginia accepts 89%.

Do North carolina or West virginia graduates earn more?

North carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $56K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs West virginia?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $28,608 per year at West virginia.

What SAT score do you need for North carolina or West virginia?

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1122 at West virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or West virginia?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North carolina vs #501-600 for West virginia.

Which university offers more financial aid — North carolina or West virginia?

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $16,730 at West virginia.

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.