Howard vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Howard based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 14,890 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

Howard vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or UNC Chapel Hill? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Howard ($10,154 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 20.3% lower than at Howard University ($13,804 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 298.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $26,816 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.1% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Howard University (about $5,393 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (99% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 19.4% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($21,262 vs. $17,814).

Howard vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or UNC Chapel Hill? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNC Chapel Hill and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 250 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Howard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Howard (3.66).
• Howard has a higher acceptance rate (41.3%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

Howard vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and UNC Chapel Hill? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Howard University's (63%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $14,300 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $10,521 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($16,479 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($170 vs. $279).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.