What is UNC Chapel Hill's acceptance rate for out-of-state students?
I'm an out-of-state student planning to apply to UNC Chapel Hill. I've seen the overall acceptance rate, but I hear it's much harder for non-residents. What is UNC Chapel Hill's acceptance rate for out-of-state students, and why is it lower?
For Fall 2025, about 9.6% of domestic out-of-state first-year applicants were admitted to UNC Chapel Hill. That is much lower than the in-state rate.
According to UNC's Common Data Set 2025-26:
- Out-of-state: about 9.6% admitted (4,685 of 48,645)
- In-state: about 37.0% admitted (6,605 of 17,846)
- Overall: about 16.7% admitted (12,751 of 76,247)
In that report, international applicants are counted separately from domestic out-of-state applicants, so the 9.6% figure does not include international students.
Why the gap? UNC System policy caps students classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes at 18% of UNC Chapel Hill's entering fall first-time class. The limit applies to who actually enrolls, not simply who gets an offer. Carolina still has to estimate yield when it decides how many out-of-state students to admit.
Among Fall 2025 enrolled students who submitted scores, the middle 50% landed around a 1400–1530 SAT or a 29–34 ACT. Those ranges describe enrolled students who tested. They are not cutoffs.
UNC also reviews GPA, course rigor, essays, recommendations, and personal context. SAT or ACT scores are optional if your weighted GPA is at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Below that, UNC System policy requires a qualifying score. When you submit scores, they are one part of a holistic review.
A strong high school record still matters a lot at selective public flagships. For a broader look at GPA expectations, see what is a good GPA for getting into a good college.
Bottom line: For Fall 2025, UNC Chapel Hill admitted about 9.6% of domestic out-of-state first-year applicants, versus about 37% of North Carolina residents. That difference is influenced largely by the 18% cap on nonresident enrollment in the entering class.
The answers are generated with AI and reviewed by the EDsmart editorial team before publication.
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