University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
University of Wyoming
LARAMIE, WY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

North carolina vs Wyoming — 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 Wyoming
WYOMING
Laramie, WY
World rank · ARWU#701-800
Acceptance96.9%
Median SAT1147
Graduation rate58.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$57K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Wyoming
#35 World rank · ARWU #701-800
#70 Rank · THE —
15.3% Acceptance rate 96.9%
1439 Median SAT 1147
91.2% Graduation rate 58.8%
32,680 Enrollment 10,813

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

15.3% Acceptance rate 96.9%
45.5% Yield rate 23.8%
1439 Median SAT 1147
4.50 Avg. GPA 3.50
66,535 Number of applications 6,217
9% Int'l students 4%
$72K Median earnings · 10 yrs $57K
$69K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $54K
$112K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $81K
91.2% Graduation rate 58.8%
96.6% Retention rate 79%
$14,000 Median debt $18,000
$41,203 Tuition · year $24,178
$20,705 Avg. aid package $12,129
100% % of need met 57.6%
$20,382 Avg. graduate debt $24,921
$85 Application fee $40
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
North carolina leads in 11 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance15.3% vs 96.9%
Yield45.5% vs 23.8%
% of need100% vs 57.6%

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 96.9% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#35 vs #701-800). North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $57K). Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,178 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 Wyoming 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 96.9% acceptance); North carolina has a higher median SAT (1439 vs 1147).

Graduate outcomes

North carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $57K); North carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 58.8%).

Cost and aid

Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,178 vs $41,203); North carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $12,129).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric North carolina Wyoming
World rank · ARWU#35#701-800
Rank · THE#70—
Acceptance rate15.3%96.9%
Yield rate45.5%23.8%
Median SAT14391147
Avg. GPA4.503.50
Number of applications66,5356,217
International students9%4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K$57K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$69K$54K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$112K$81K
Graduation rate91.2%58.8%
Retention rate96.6%79%
Median debt$14,000$18,000
Tuition · year$41,203$24,178
Avg. aid package$20,705$12,129
% of need met100%57.6%
Avg. graduate debt$20,382$24,921
Application fee$85$40
Enrollment32,68010,813

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into North carolina or Wyoming?

It's harder to get into North carolina. North carolina accepts 15.3% of applicants, while Wyoming accepts 96.9%.

Do North carolina or Wyoming graduates earn more?

North carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $57K.

How much is tuition at North carolina vs Wyoming?

Sticker-price tuition is $41,203 per year at North carolina and $24,178 per year at Wyoming.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1439 at North carolina and 1147 at Wyoming; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — North carolina or Wyoming?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North carolina vs #701-800 for Wyoming.

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

The average aid package is $20,705 at North carolina and $12,129 at Wyoming.

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.