HPU vs. UNCW

Should I go to High Point University or University of North Carolina at Wilmington? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HPU or UNCW is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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High Point University vs. University of North Carolina at Wilmington comparison
High Point University University of North Carolina at Wilmington College 3 College 4
High Point University University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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Overview

 HPU UNCW
Location High Point, NC Wilmington, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,052 17,987
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #390
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website highpoint.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 HPU UNCW
Tuition (In State) $38,748 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $38,748 $20,111
Room & Board $18,462 $12,605
Avg Net Price $43,578 $18,606
Avg Grant Aid $18,149 $6,516
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 54%

Admission

 HPU UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,625 17,370
Admitted 12,004 12,856
Acceptance Rate 76.8% 74%
Enrolled % 12.2% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 24/28
SAT Range 1110/1300 1220/1360
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 HPU UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

 HPU UNCW
Graduation Rate - 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $44,700
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,421 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $231 $211

Diversity

 HPU UNCW
% Men 6% 5%
% Women 11% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 78%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 HPU UNCW
% In-State 24% 77%
% Out-of-State 75% 22%

Campus

 HPU UNCW
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than HPU based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 6,052 students)

HPU vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HPU or UNCW?

  • High Point University is 772.1% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($38,748.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 92.7% higher at HPU than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($38,748.00 vs. $20,111.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than HPU ($18,606 vs. $43,578)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 46.5% lower than costs at High Point University ($12,605 vs. $18,462)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at High Point University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (89% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by High Point University students is 178.5% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($18,149 vs. $6,516)

HPU vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HPU or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or HPU .

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 49 points higher than at HPU (1113)
  • Incoming HPU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UNCW (25)
  • Accepted freshman UNCW students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at HPU (3.4)
  • HPU has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than UNCW (74%)

HPU vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HPU or UNCW? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UNCW and HPU.

  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Wilmington earn on average $2,700 more per year than HPU graduates after ten years. ($44,700 vs. $42,000)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $1,921 lower median federal student loan debt than HPU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,421)
  • UNCW graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than HPU graduates. ($211 vs. $231)
  • More HPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/