University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from UNC's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
UNC acceptance rate by year
12,751 of 76,247 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 15.3% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 76,247 | 12,751 | 16.7% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 66,535 | 10,209 | 15.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 57,902 | 10,850 | 18.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 56,341 | 9,639 | 17.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 50,729 | 10,348 | 20.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 41,773 | 10,445 | 25.0% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 42,465 | 9,610 | 22.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 41,939 | 9,525 | 22.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 39,650 | 9,673 | 24.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 34,889 | 9,400 | 26.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 31,143 | 9,510 | 30.5% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
UNC deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App. Checked October 24, 2026 on UNC's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early action Apply by Decisions By December 20 (NC residents); by February 15 (all others)
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions March 31
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at UNC
UNC offers early action for 2026–27. It does not publish separate early admit rates in its Common Data Set.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at UNC
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
- 4.094.6%
- 3.75–3.992.8%
- 3.50–3.741.2%
- 3.25–3.490.8%
- 3.00–3.240.5%
- 2.50–2.990.1%
What counts
What UNC weighs
From section C7 of UNC's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
- State residency
Important
- Class rank
- GPA
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
- Test scores
- First-generation status
- Alumni relation
Not considered
- Interview
- Where you live
- Religious affiliation
- Demonstrated interest
Waitlist
UNC waitlist
7,355 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 5,258 accepted it, and 2,099 were admitted from it (39.9% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What UNC costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use UNC's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to UNC's 16.7%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about UNC admissions
What is UNC's acceptance rate?
UNC admitted 12,751 of 76,247 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 16.7%. That is up from 15.3% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is UNC test-optional for 2026–27?
Yes. UNC is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.
When are UNC's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early action: October 15, 2026; Regular decision: January 15, 2027. Check UNC's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for UNC?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1400–1530 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 28% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1530 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- UNC first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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