Southern California vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Southern California admits 9.8%, North Carolina admits 15.3%.
The more international environment is at Southern California (13.2% international students) than North Carolina (6.4%).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Southern California reports aid for international students ($25,384 on average), North Carolina does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Southern California starts at $89,087 against $60,888 and ends at $17,918 against $40,183 (North Carolina).
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 15.34% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #35). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $72K). North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher retention, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 15.34% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1470).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $72K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 91.2%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 66,535 |
| International students | 13.2% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $85 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Southern California or North Carolina graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $20,705 at North Carolina.
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