UC Davis vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Davis, California, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home to two esteemed universities: UC Davis and UNC-Chapel Hill. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences. UC Davis boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option, while UNC-Chapel Hill's lower acceptance rate indicates a highly selective admissions process. Explore the nuances of each university's popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, meticulously presented in the comparison table below. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations, personal preferences, and future goals.
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![]() University of California-Davis |
![]() University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
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Overview |
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Location | Davis, California | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 48.8% | 20.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
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Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$95
|
SAT range | N/A | 1140 - 1380 |
ACT range | N/A | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 2.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 12.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 87,120 | 50,729 |
Total number of admissions given out | 42,475 | 10,348 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 7,482 | 4,690 |
Yield rate | 17.6% | 45.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$32,584
Out of state:
$62,338
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In state:
$24,770
Out of state:
$52,633
|
Average net price | $16,640 | $11,508 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
|
In state:
$7,019
Out of state:
$34,882
|
Room & board | $17,018 |
Room/dormitory:
$6,878
Meal plan:
$5,004
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
59.0%
Average amount $17,628 |
42.0%
Average amount $16,076 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
23.0%
Average amount $4,043 |
17.0%
Average amount $4,244 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $3,360 |
3.0%
Average amount $14,032 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
31,657
Men 39.8% Women 60.2% |
19,845
Men 39.6% Women 60.4% |
Graduate students |
8,393
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
11,796
Men 41.4% Women 58.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 7.5% | 16.2% |
International students | 17.0% | 6.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 11,142 | 9,984 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Washington Illinois Texas Hawaii | North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 21:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.9% | 90.5% |
Dropout rate | 11.8% | 3.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | 5.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
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Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
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