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

Vanderbilt University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Vanderbilt, a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a lower acceptance rate (10.3%) compared to UNC-Chapel Hill's 24.4%. While UNC-Chapel Hill, a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, enrolls a larger student body, Vanderbilt maintains a smaller student-to-faculty ratio, fostering a more personalized learning environment. Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with Vanderbilt excelling in engineering, music, and medicine, and UNC-Chapel Hill excelling in business, public health, and journalism. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which institution best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Vanderbilt University
Overview
Location	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Nashville, Tennessee
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	97.0%	97.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	20.4%	7.1%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $95	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $95
SAT range	1140 - 1380	1480 - 1570
ACT range	22 - 27	34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score	2.0%	25.0%
Students submitting ACT score	12.0%	32.0%
Total number of applicants	50,729	47,152
Total number of admissions given out	10,348	3,368
Admitted students who chose to enroll	4,690	1,626
Yield rate	45.3%	48.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $24,770 Out of state: $52,633	$79,538
Average net price	$11,508	$27,553
Tuition	In state: $7,019 Out of state: $34,882	$54,840
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $6,878 Meal plan: $5,004	Room/dormitory: $12,000 Meal plan: $6,376
Available payment plans	Guaranteed tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	42.0% Average amount $16,076	64.0% Average amount $49,730
Students receiving federal student loan	17.0% Average amount $4,244	10.0% Average amount $4,979
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $14,032	2.0% Average amount $27,798

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	19,845 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%	7,111 Men 48.9% Women 51.1%
Graduate students	11,796 Men 41.4% Women 58.6%	6,685 Men 39.5% Women 60.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Moderate
Out-of-state students	16.2%	89.5%
International students	6.8%	11.7%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	9,984	5,598
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania	Tennessee California New York Florida Texas

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies	Health Professions Education Engineering Business Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio	15:1	8:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	90.5%	93.4%
Dropout rate	3.7%	6.4%
Transferred out	5.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	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	Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $101,041 Year 2: $122,038 Year 3: $169,145 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $129,825 Year 2: $130,517 Year 3: $144,008 Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $131,102 Year 2: $117,572 Year 3: $133,025 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $128,494 Year 2: $127,087 Year 3: $132,454 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $132,293 Year 2: $114,324 Year 3: $130,516 Marketing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $108,764 Year 2: $111,620 Year 3: $121,754 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $126,876 Year 2: $119,805 Year 3: $112,193 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $91,224 Year 2: $104,192 Year 3: $108,525 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $99,979 Year 2: $93,249 Year 3: $101,010 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $76,609 Year 2: $80,309 Year 3: $95,754

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Vanderbilt University and UNC Chapel Hill?

Vanderbilt is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, known for its strong emphasis on undergraduate education and a vibrant campus life. UNC Chapel Hill, on the other hand, is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, renowned for its affordability for in-state students, strong liberal arts programs, and a rich history. Vanderbilt generally has a smaller student body and a higher cost of attendance compared to UNC Chapel Hill.
Which university is more selective: Vanderbilt or UNC Chapel Hill?

Vanderbilt is generally considered more selective than UNC Chapel Hill. Vanderbilt's acceptance rate is typically lower, reflecting a more competitive applicant pool. However, UNC Chapel Hill is highly competitive, especially for out-of-state applicants.
How do the costs of attending Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill compare?

Vanderbilt is significantly more expensive than UNC Chapel Hill, especially for out-of-state students. As a private institution, Vanderbilt's tuition is higher. UNC Chapel Hill offers much lower tuition rates for North Carolina residents, making it a more affordable option for in-state students. Both universities offer financial aid and scholarships to help offset costs.
What are the academic strengths of Vanderbilt University?

Vanderbilt excels in various fields, including education (Peabody College), medicine, law, engineering, and business (Owen Graduate School of Management). It's also known for its strong humanities and social sciences programs. The university emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and research opportunities for undergraduates.
What are the academic strengths of UNC Chapel Hill?

UNC Chapel Hill is highly regarded for its journalism (Hussman School of Journalism and Media), business (Kenan-Flagler Business School), law, medicine, and public health programs. It also boasts strong programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and social sciences. The university is a leader in research and offers numerous opportunities for undergraduate research.
How do the campus cultures differ between Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill?

Vanderbilt has a more contained, traditional campus feel in a vibrant city. The campus culture is known for being academically focused but also socially active, with a strong emphasis on Greek life. UNC Chapel Hill has a more sprawling campus with a strong sense of tradition and school spirit, particularly surrounding its basketball program. It has a more diverse student body and a strong emphasis on public service.
What are the career opportunities like after graduating from Vanderbilt or UNC Chapel Hill?

Both Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill graduates have excellent career prospects. Vanderbilt's location in Nashville provides opportunities in the healthcare, music, and technology industries. UNC Chapel Hill's location in the Research Triangle Park offers opportunities in technology, biotechnology, and research. Both universities have strong alumni networks that support career development.
How do the student bodies compare in terms of diversity?

While both universities strive for diversity, UNC Chapel Hill generally has a more diverse student body, particularly in terms of socioeconomic background, due to its public mission and commitment to serving the state of North Carolina. Vanderbilt is also becoming increasingly diverse, attracting students from across the United States and around the world.
What is the surrounding city like for each university?

Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee, a rapidly growing city known for its music scene, vibrant culture, and booming economy. Students have access to a wide range of entertainment, dining, and internship opportunities. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a classic college town with a more relaxed atmosphere. It's close to the Research Triangle Park, offering access to technology and research opportunities, and is a short drive from Raleigh and Durham.
Which university is better for students interested in Greek life?

Vanderbilt has a stronger emphasis on Greek life compared to UNC Chapel Hill. A significant portion of Vanderbilt's undergraduate population participates in fraternities and sororities. While Greek life exists at UNC Chapel Hill, it is not as central to the campus culture.
How do the research opportunities compare between Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill?

Both Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill are major research universities with ample opportunities for undergraduate research. Vanderbilt has strong research programs in medicine, engineering, and education. UNC Chapel Hill is a leader in research in public health, journalism, and the sciences. Students at both universities can participate in research projects with faculty members.
What are the notable alumni from Vanderbilt and UNC Chapel Hill?

Vanderbilt's notable alumni include Nobel laureates, CEOs, politicians, and artists. Some examples include Al Gore, Fred Thompson, and Amy Grant. UNC Chapel Hill's notable alumni include presidents, senators, journalists, and athletes. Some examples include James K. Polk, Michael Jordan, and Thomas Wolfe.

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