Admission & test scores

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1390–1530 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 15% of applicants — selective. 97% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1390–1530middle half of admits
ACT midpoint25admitted students
Acceptance rate15%selective
First-year retention97%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1390
Average
1439
75th percentile
1530

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1390 and a quarter above 1530. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 20,752.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
SOKA University of America Aliso Viejo, California 1440 26 43% $38,728
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois 1440 32 42% $16,004
Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 1440 32 26% $64,980
Simpson College Indianola, Iowa 1440 24 86% $47,656
Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota 1440 31 29% $68,104
Reed College Portland, Oregon 1437 — 25% $69,350

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1390 and 1530 on the SAT, with an average of 1439. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 25.
How hard is it to get into University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 15% of applicants, which is selective. Of those who enrol, 97% return for a second year.
Does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.