UNC Chapel Hill vs. Drexel

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Drexel University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Drexel University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNC Chapel Hill Yes
  • Drexel Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Drexel No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNC Chapel Hill Yes
  • Drexel Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNC Chapel Hill Yes
  • Drexel Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Drexel No

Comparable Facts

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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Drexel University 9:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill or Drexel? 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 Drexel ($10,154 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 23.7% lower than at Drexel University ($13,804 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 593.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $53,418 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.5% higher at Drexel than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $21,209 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $41,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (100% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 96.8% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($35,051 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill or Drexel? 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 Drexel and UNC Chapel Hill.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 120 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill and Drexel? 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $9,764 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($16,479 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($170 vs. $271).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.