University of North Carolina Campuses
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University of North Carolina Campuses

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Raushan
Raushan Kumar
Assistant Manager Content
Updated on Nov 25, 2025 14:12 IST
The University of North Carolina (UNC) System is a public university network in the USA that serves the state of North Carolina, comprising 17 institutions, including the top University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1789, UNC-Chapel Hill is notable for being the first public university in the United States to enroll students.

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System is a big public university group in the USA. It is in the state of North Carolina and has 17 institutions, including the famous University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. UNC-Chapel Hill started in 1789 and is known as the first public university in the United States to take students.

University of North Carolina
Table of contents
  • About UNC
  • University of North Carolina Highlights
  • University of North Carolina: List of Institutions
  • University of North Carolina Courses
  • University of North Carolina Admission
  • University of North Carolina Fees 2025
  • University of North Carolina Ranking 2025
View More

About UNC

The UNC System is a large public university network in North Carolina, USA. It has 16 universities plus the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, which is the first public residential high school in the country.

The UNC system shows how North Carolina wants to make education open for everyone. There are almost 248,000 students studying in UNC schools. For many years, around 136 years, UNC-Chapel Hill was the only campus. It was made in 1789 by the North Carolina General Assembly and became the first public university in the USA.

In 1877, the state started creating more colleges so more students can get higher education. This also included historically Black colleges, schools for American Indian students, and colleges focused on areas like technology and performing arts.
The UNC System grew fast from 1931 to 1969, adding more universities in each decade. In 1971, all the remaining public senior colleges in North Carolina were combined to form the full UNC System we see today.

The UNC System is known for giving high-quality and affordable education in many fields like business, engineering, health sciences, liberal arts, and technology.

University of North Carolina Highlights

Highlight

Details

Established

1789

Total number of Institutions

16 Universities and 1 School

Student Enrollment

247,927 in Fall 2024

Courses offered

200+

Total Degree Awarded

61,847 (For academic year 2022-23)

Research Excellence

Ranked among the top universities

Global Recognition

Ranked among top public universities

Alumni Network

Over 350,000 alumni worldwide

Acceptance Rate

Approximately 17%

University of North Carolina: List of Institutions 

University of North Carolina Courses 

University Name

Top Course

Appalachian State University

Business Administration, Psychology, Education, Environmental Science, Nursing

East Carolina University

Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Health Services Management, Criminal Justice

Elizabeth City State University

Business Administration, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Marine and Environmental Science

Fayetteville State University

Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Social Work, Psychology

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Engineering Technology, Agriculture, Business Administration, Computer Science

North Carolina Central University

Law, Business Administration, Public Health, Psychology

NC State University

Engineering (various disciplines), Computer Science, Business Management, Textiles

University of North Carolina Asheville

Environmental Studies, Music, Psychology, Arts Management

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Business Administration, Media and Journalism, Psychology

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Business Administration, Engineering (various disciplines), Health Systems Management

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Nursing, Education, Business Administration, Theatre and Dance

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Education, Business Administration, Nursing, Social Work

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Film Production, Acting, Dance Performance, Music Composition

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Marine Biology, Business Administration, Nursing, Film Studies

Western Carolina University

Education, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Engineering

Winston-Salem State University

Nursing, Health Sciences, Business Administration

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Advanced Mathematics and Science courses tailored for gifted students

University of North Carolina Admission 

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has 16 public universities in North Carolina. Students who want to join in must follow some basic rules for admission. Below is the simple table to understand the UNC admission requirements.

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Requirement Type

Details

High School GPA

Minimum 2.5 weighted GPA

Test Scores (if GPA between 2.5–2.8)

ACT 17+ OR SAT 930+

High School Courses

Must complete required school subjects (varies by UNC campus)

Admission Year

Rules apply for Fall 2026 and beyond

Important Note

Meeting minimum scores does not guarantee admission because each UNC university may have extra rules

How to Apply at UNC Campuses?

  • You can apply through the Common Application or directly on the UNC’s university's website.
  • One needs to pay the UNC application fee. The application fee for the University of North Carolina (UNC) is USD 85 for undergraduate and transfer admissions, and is non-refundable. The application fee for international graduate admissions is USD 95 per program.
  • Then candidates needs to submit required documents: This includes your official high school transcript and any standardized test scores if needed. Additionally, the following documents may be required for graduate admissions:

UNC Campuses Enrollments - Fall 2024

University Name

Enrollments

Appalachian State University

21570

East Carolina University

2258

Elizabeth City State University

26940

Fayetteville State University

7107

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

14311

North Carolina Central University

8579

NC State University

38464

University of North Carolina Asheville

3056

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

32438

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

31091

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

18012

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

7674

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

1363

University of North Carolina Wilmington

18848

Western Carolina University

11686

Winston-Salem State University

4782

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

1892

University of North Carolina Acceptance Rate

University Name

Acceptance Rate

Appalachian State University

83%

East Carolina University

92%

Elizabeth City State University

60%

Fayetteville State University

80%

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

47%

North Carolina Central University

80-90%

NC State University

47%

University of North Carolina Asheville

76%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

19%

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

63%

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

72%

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

61%

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

52%

University of North Carolina Wilmington

65%

Western Carolina University

66%

Winston-Salem State University

58%

University of North Carolina Fees 2025

The tuition and fees at the University of North Carolina (UNC) vary significantly based on residency status and the specific institution within the UNC System. 

Campus-Wise UNC Tuition Fee - UG

University

Resident Tuition & Fees (USD)

Nonresident Tuition & Fees (USD)

NC State University

8,799

32,847

UNC-Chapel Hill

8,764

40,973

East Carolina University

7,170

23,447

NC A & T State University

6,691

20,551

UNC Charlotte

7,018

22,271

UNC Greensboro

7,535

23,886

UNC Wilmington

7,251

24,126

Appalachian State University

7,404

25,037

Fayetteville State University

3,584

7,584

NC Central University

6,542

19,578

UNC Pembroke

3,647

7,647

Western Carolina University

4,143

8,143

Winston-Salem State University

6,035

16,691

UNC Asheville

7,332

24,680

Elizabeth City State University

3,391

7,391

Campus-Wise UNC Tuition Fee - Graduate

University

Resident Tuition & Fees

Nonresident Tuition & Fees

NC State University

USD 12,101

USD 32,874

UNC-Chapel Hill

USD 12,487

USD 31,144

East Carolina University

USD 7,467

USD 20,616

NC A & T State University

USD 8,246

USD 21,046

UNC Charlotte

USD 7,816

USD 22,851

UNC Greensboro

USD 8,488

USD 23,203

UNC Wilmington

USD 8,086

USD 24,172

Appalachian State University

USD 8,395

USD 25,066

Fayetteville State University

USD 6,022

USD 17,087

NC Central University

USD 7,480

USD 20,788

UNC Pembroke

USD 6,927

USD 19,986

Western Carolina University

USD 7,711

USD 18,430

Winston-Salem State University

USD 6,506

USD 17,041

UNC Asheville

USD 8,124

USD 24,446

Elizabeth City State University

USD 5,766

USD 18,828

UNC School of the Arts

USD 12,205

USD 26,908

University of North Carolina Ranking 2025

The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has received notable rankings for 2025. 

University

QS Ranking 2025

THE 2025

NC State University

311

251-300

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

155

70

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

1001-1200

601-800

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

1201-1400

Q:   How is applying to California Polytechnic State University different from applying to other Universities in USA?
A:

There are various ways in which applying to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is different from applying to other US universities. These are the main variations, according to the data at hand:

  • First is the Application Procedure. Cal Poly uses Cal State to process online applications. Applying is open to both first-year and transfer students from October 1, 2026 through November 30, 2026. To increase their chances of being selected, students must select a major and review the selection criteria when submitting their applications.
  • Second are the application requirements. Typically, the application calls for a transcript from high school, a college prep course load, and a high school GPA. It is not necessary nor advised to have SAT or ACT results.
  • Unless the applicant is exempt from paying an application cost, there is a $70 application fee per campus. Email is the main method of communication used during the admissions process.
Q:   What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
A:

A score of 26 is a great start. Most good universities in United States generally look for student scores between 28 and 30. While the very best schools often expect a 33 or even higher. Always prepare well for it.

Q:   What GPA do you need to get into SDSMT or South Dakota School of Mines & Technology?
A:

Applicant who wish to study at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology must meet the GPA requirements. We have mentioned the South Dakota School of Mines GPA requirements for international students as per the program:

·      For UG admission, GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines admission

·      For PG admission, GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines

Also read What is Grade Point Average (GPA) and how it affects your admissions to the US Universities?

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About the Author
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Written by
Raushan Kumar
Assistant Manager Content
Raushan Kumar is a skilled writer and a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. He oversees various aspects of studying abroad, including educational opportunities, entrance exams, colleges, latest new Read Full Bio
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