Rose-Hulman vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Rose-Hulman, a private engineering and science-focused university, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 28%, while UNC-Chapel Hill, a public research university, has a more accessible acceptance rate of 24%. Both universities have diverse student bodies, with Rose-Hulman's student population being predominantly male (80%) and UNC-Chapel Hill's student population being more evenly distributed between genders (53% female, 47% male). While Rose-Hulman excels in engineering and science programs, UNC-Chapel Hill offers a wider range of majors, including popular fields like business, biology, and psychology. With graduation rates of 85% and 89% respectively, both universities ensure that their students are well-prepared for successful careers. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover

	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Overview
Location	Terre Haute, Indiana	Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Quarter	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	91.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	77.4%	20.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95
SAT range	1270 - 1480	1140 - 1380
ACT range	28 - 33	22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score	46.0%	2.0%
Students submitting ACT score	31.0%	12.0%
Total number of applicants	4,536	50,729
Total number of admissions given out	3,511	10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll	643	4,690
Yield rate	18.3%	45.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$72,651	In state: $24,770 Out of state: $52,633
Average net price	$39,294	$11,508
Tuition	$49,479	In state: $7,019 Out of state: $34,882
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,726 Meal plan: $6,435	Room/dormitory: $6,878 Meal plan: $5,004
Available payment plans	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan	Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	99.0% Average amount $32,370	42.0% Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan	53.0% Average amount $5,366	17.0% Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans	12.0% Average amount $22,247	3.0% Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,081 Men 75.3% Women 24.7%	19,845 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students	20 Men 90.0% Women 10.0%	11,796 Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	70.9%	16.2%
International students	9.5%	6.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	1,299	9,984
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Indiana Illinois California Ohio Texas	North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Computer and Information Science Biological and Biomedical Sciences Mathematics and Statistics Physical Science	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio	11:1	15:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.7%	90.5%
Dropout rate	12.5%	3.7%
Transferred out	N/A	5.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $77,382 Year 2: $111,992 Year 3: $131,382 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,155 Year 2: $90,049 Year 3: $97,902 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $86,525 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,749 Year 2: $79,473 Year 3: $84,659 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,316 Year 2: $72,600 Year 3: $78,494 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $73,908 Year 2: $74,341 Year 3: $78,296 Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,537 Year 2: $68,331 Year 3: $77,331 Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,466 Year 2: $67,273 Year 3: $71,228 Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: N/A	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $168,979 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $238,213 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $135,965 Year 2: $127,836 Year 3: $150,089 Dentistry (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $116,248 Year 2: $82,440 Year 3: $128,102 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $67,961 Year 2: $103,078 Year 3: $117,488 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $89,271 Year 2: $86,036 Year 3: $96,602 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,162 Year 2: $72,083 Year 3: $95,204 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $74,938 Year 2: $73,823 Year 3: $89,917 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $71,557 Year 2: $57,770 Year 3: $87,057 Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,899 Year 2: $67,660 Year 3: $86,155 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $68,205 Year 2: $68,666 Year 3: $82,520

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary academic focuses of Rose-Hulman and UNC Chapel Hill?

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is primarily focused on undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. It's known for its hands-on, project-based learning approach. UNC Chapel Hill, on the other hand, is a comprehensive research university with a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including strong offerings in the humanities, social sciences, journalism, business, and medicine, in addition to STEM fields.
How do the student bodies differ in size and composition?

Rose-Hulman is a much smaller institution, typically enrolling around 2,000 undergraduate students. This allows for smaller class sizes and a more intimate learning environment. UNC Chapel Hill is significantly larger, with over 19,000 undergraduate students. Its student body is more diverse in terms of academic interests, backgrounds, and geographic origins.
What is the difference in campus culture and social life?

Rose-Hulman's campus culture is heavily influenced by its STEM focus. Social life often revolves around academic projects, engineering competitions, and student organizations related to science and technology. UNC Chapel Hill offers a more diverse social scene, with a wide array of clubs, organizations, Greek life, and athletic events. Its location in a larger city also provides more off-campus entertainment options.
How do the career opportunities and alumni networks compare?

Rose-Hulman boasts a strong reputation among employers in STEM fields, leading to excellent job placement rates for its graduates. Its alumni network is particularly strong within the engineering and technology sectors. UNC Chapel Hill's alumni network is extensive and influential across various industries, including business, media, law, and public service. Both universities offer robust career services to support their students' job searches.
What are the key differences in location and campus setting?

Rose-Hulman is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, a smaller city. The campus is self-contained and primarily focused on academics. UNC Chapel Hill is situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a vibrant college town near the Research Triangle Park. The campus is more integrated with the surrounding community and offers a wider range of cultural and recreational activities.
How do the costs of attending Rose-Hulman and UNC Chapel Hill compare?

Rose-Hulman is a private institution, and its tuition is generally higher than that of UNC Chapel Hill, which is a public university. However, the net cost of attendance can vary significantly depending on financial aid and scholarships. It's important to compare the financial aid packages offered by each institution to determine the most affordable option.
What are the admission requirements and selectivity of each school?

Both Rose-Hulman and UNC Chapel Hill are selective institutions, but UNC Chapel Hill generally has a lower acceptance rate. Rose-Hulman places a strong emphasis on math and science aptitude in its admissions process. UNC Chapel Hill considers a broader range of factors, including academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations.
Which school is better for students interested in research opportunities?

While Rose-Hulman offers undergraduate research opportunities, UNC Chapel Hill, as a major research university, provides a significantly wider range of research opportunities across various disciplines. Students interested in pursuing research should carefully consider the specific research areas and faculty expertise available at each institution.
How do the academic calendars and grading systems differ?

Rose-Hulman operates on a quarter system, which means students take more courses per year but each course is shorter in duration. UNC Chapel Hill uses a semester system. Both institutions use a standard letter grading system, but the specific policies regarding grade point averages and academic probation may differ.
What types of student support services are available at each institution?

Both Rose-Hulman and UNC Chapel Hill offer a range of student support services, including academic advising, tutoring, counseling, career services, and disability services. The specific services and resources available may vary depending on the size and focus of each institution. Rose-Hulman, with its smaller size, may offer more personalized attention, while UNC Chapel Hill may have a wider range of specialized services.

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