UNC Chapel Hill vs. F&M

Comparable Facts

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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UNC Chapel Hill vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill or F&M? 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 F&M ($10,154 vs. $43,987).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 14.7% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($13,804 vs. $16,188).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 687.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $61,800 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.8% higher at F&M than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $29,591 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $41,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (80% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 135.2% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($41,901 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill or F&M? 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 F&M and UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 70 points higher than at F&M (1390).
• Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at F&M (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 17.1% at F&M.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill and F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $5,521 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($16,479 vs. $22,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($170 vs. $227).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.