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

Virginia vs North carolina — US university comparison

University of Virginia
VIRGINIA
Charlottesville, Virginia
World rank · ARWU#201-300
Acceptance16.8%
Median SAT1480
Graduation rate95.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$87K
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
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Virginia University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#201-300 World rank · ARWU #35
— Rank · THE #70
16.8% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1480 Median SAT 1439
95.6% Graduation rate 91.2%
26,470 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

16.8% Acceptance rate 15.3%
40% Yield rate 45.5%
1480 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
58,951 Number of applications 66,535
12% Int'l students 9%
$87K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$79K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$130K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
95.6% Graduation rate 91.2%
97.9% Retention rate 96.6%
$17,500 Median debt $14,000
$59,512 Tuition · year $41,203
$37,123 Avg. aid package $20,705
100% % of need met 100%
$25,137 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$75 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Tied — 5–5 of 11 metrics
Aid$37,123 vs $20,705
Tuition$59,512 vs $41,203
Debt$17,500 vs $14,000

EXPERT TAKE

North carolina is the more selective of the two (15.3% vs 16.8% acceptance). North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #35). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $59,512 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 Virginia for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

Choose North carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, 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 16.8% acceptance); Virginia has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $72K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $59,512); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Virginia North carolina
World rank · ARWU#201-300#35
Rank · THE—#70
Acceptance rate16.8%15.3%
Yield rate40%45.5%
Median SAT14801439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications58,95166,535
International students12%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$87K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$79K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$130K$112K
Graduation rate95.6%91.2%
Retention rate97.9%96.6%
Median debt$17,500$14,000
Tuition · year$59,512$41,203
Avg. aid package$37,123$20,705
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$25,137$20,382
Application fee$75$85
Enrollment26,47032,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Virginia or North carolina?

It's harder to get into North carolina. Virginia accepts 16.8% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Virginia or North carolina graduates earn more?

Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Virginia vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $59,512 per year at Virginia and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Virginia and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Virginia or North carolina?

North carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #35 for North carolina.

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

The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $20,705 at North carolina.

Compare Virginia 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.