UCSD vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, CA 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 California San Diego is larger than UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
• University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

UCSD vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 UCSD ($10,154 vs. $14,047).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 27.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($13,804 vs. $18,970).
• University of California San Diego is 86.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $7,764 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at UCSD than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $9,755 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (59% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 44.6% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($25,757 vs. $17,814).

UCSD vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 80 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
• Incoming UCSD students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at UNC Chapel Hill (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UCSD (3.82).
• UCSD has a higher acceptance rate (26.7%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

UCSD vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 University of California San Diego's (85%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $2,021 lower median loan debt than UCSD graduates ($16,479 vs. $18,500).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSD graduates ($170 vs. $191).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSD students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 82%)

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.