Yale University
NEW HAVEN, CT
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Yale vs North carolina — US university comparison

Yale University
YALE
New Haven, CT
World rank · ARWU#11
Acceptance3.9%
Median SAT1534
Graduation rate95.7%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$101K
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

Yale University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#11 World rank · ARWU #35
#10 Rank · THE #70
3.9% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1534 Median SAT 1439
95.7% Graduation rate 91.2%
15,657 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

3.9% Acceptance rate 15.3%
68.4% Yield rate 45.5%
1534 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
50,264 Number of applications 66,535
22% Int'l students 9%
$101K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$124K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$194K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
95.7% Graduation rate 91.2%
99.4% Retention rate 96.6%
$12,975 Median debt $14,000
$67,250 Tuition · year $41,203
$76,770 Avg. aid package $20,705
100% % of need met 100%
$22,185 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$80 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Yale leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance3.9% vs 15.3%
Aid$76,770 vs $20,705
Tuition$67,250 vs $41,203

EXPERT TAKE

Yale is the more selective of the two (3.9% vs 15.3% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#11 vs #35). Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $67,250 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 Yale for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose North carolina for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Yale is more selective (3.9% vs 15.3% acceptance); Yale has a higher median SAT (1534 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $72K); Yale has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.7% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $67,250); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($76,770 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Yale North carolina
World rank · ARWU#11#35
Rank · THE#10#70
Acceptance rate3.9%15.3%
Yield rate68.4%45.5%
Median SAT15341439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications50,26466,535
International students22%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$101K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$124K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$194K$112K
Graduation rate95.7%91.2%
Retention rate99.4%96.6%
Median debt$12,975$14,000
Tuition · year$67,250$41,203
Avg. aid package$76,770$20,705
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$22,185$20,382
Application fee$80$85
Enrollment15,65732,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Yale or North carolina?

It's harder to get into Yale. Yale accepts 3.9% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Yale or North carolina graduates earn more?

Yale graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $101K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Yale vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $67,250 per year at Yale and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

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

The median admitted SAT score is 1534 at Yale and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Yale or North carolina?

Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #35 for North carolina.

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

The average aid package is $76,770 at Yale and $20,705 at North carolina.

Compare Yale with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern Duke
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.