Head to head
North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University at Raleigh (Raleigh, NC) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Raleigh, NC | Chapel Hill, NC |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Campus setting | Urban | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $8,799 | $8,994 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $32,847 | $41,203 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $17,303 | $11,655 |
| Acceptance rate | 42% | 15% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1300–1460 | 1370–1530 |
| Total enrollment | 36,389 | 32,109 |
| Graduation rate | 85% | 91% |
| First-year retention | 94% | 97% |
What the numbers show
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the lower published in-state tuition ($8,799 vs $8,994 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($32,847 vs $41,203 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the lower average net price after aid ($11,655 vs $17,303 at North Carolina State University at Raleigh).
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the higher graduation rate (91% vs 85% at North Carolina State University at Raleigh).
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the lower acceptance rate (15% vs 42% at North Carolina State University at Raleigh).
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the larger student body (36,389 students vs 32,109 students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the lower published in-state tuition: $8,799 versus $8,994. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $17,303 at North Carolina State University at Raleigh and $11,655 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill harder to get into?
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has the lower acceptance rate — 15% versus 42%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, North Carolina State University at Raleigh or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports the higher graduation rate: 91% versus 85%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
Related comparisons
- east carolina university vs north carolina state university at raleigh
- appalachian state university vs north carolina state university at raleigh
- east carolina university vs university of north carolina at chapel hill
- duke university vs north carolina state university at raleigh
- appalachian state university vs university of north carolina at chapel hill
- north carolina a and t state university vs north carolina state university at raleigh
Keep going on CampusPin
Narrow this list with the full filter set, or put any two colleges side by side.
Data sources & methodology
Figures for North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh-vs-university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill