University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) vs Berkeley

Nestled in the heart of the Tar Heel State, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and the University of California-Berkeley (UCB) stand as two beacons of academic excellence, each offering a distinct educational experience. While both universities share a commitment to providing a world-class education, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. This side-by-side comparison delves into these differences, helping prospective students make an informed decision about which institution best aligns with their academic aspirations and personal preferences. Explore the comprehensive table below to discover the nuances that set UNC and UCB apart, and find the perfect fit for your educational journey.
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill logo

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Overview

Location Berkeley, California Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 97.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 14.4% 20.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
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 112,843 50,729
Total number of admissions given out 16,295 10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,931 4,690
Yield rate 42.5% 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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
In state: $24,770

Out of state: $52,633
Average net price $17,652 $11,508
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $7,019

Out of state: $34,882
Room & board $20,236
Room/dormitory: $6,878

Meal plan: $5,004
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

52.0%
Average amount $21,406
42.0%
Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan 15.0%
Average amount $4,586
17.0%
Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $7,122
3.0%
Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
19,845
Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students 13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
11,796
Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 16.9% 16.2%
International students 18.0% 6.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 9,630 9,984
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.8% 90.5%
Dropout rate 6.3% 3.7%
Transferred out N/A 5.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543
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

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