UNC Charlotte vs. UC

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of Cincinnati Main Campus? 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 Charlotte
University of Cincinnati Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNC Charlotte Charlotte, NC
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Setting
  • UNC Charlotte Large City
  • UC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Charlotte 31,091
  • UC 45,026
  • Type
  • UNC Charlotte Public 4 Year
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNC Charlotte #529
  • UC #429
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNC Charlotte -
  • UC -
  • Status
  • UNC Charlotte Non-profit
  • UC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNC Charlotte
  • UC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNC Charlotte $7,239
  • UC $13,976
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNC Charlotte $22,492
  • UC $29,310
  • Room & Board
  • UNC Charlotte $14,458
  • UC $13,564
  • Average Net Price
  • UNC Charlotte $15,045
  • UC $24,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNC Charlotte $7,966
  • UC $8,196
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • UC 73%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNC Charlotte 23,887
  • UC 34,285
  • Admitted
  • UNC Charlotte 19,015
  • UC 29,242
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNC Charlotte 79.6%
  • UC 85.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UNC Charlotte 24.5%
  • UC 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Charlotte 1240
  • UC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Charlotte 24
  • UC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNC Charlotte 3.57
  • UC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNC Charlotte A-
  • UC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNC Charlotte Challenging
  • UC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNC Charlotte
  • UC
  • ACT Range
  • UNC Charlotte 21/28
  • UC 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UNC Charlotte 1140/1330
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNC Charlotte Test optional
  • UC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027
  • UC Mar 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNC Charlotte 21:1
  • UC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNC Charlotte
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNC Charlotte 53%
  • UC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNC Charlotte $48,600
  • UC $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNC Charlotte 61%
  • UC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNC Charlotte $23,000
  • UC $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNC Charlotte $237
  • UC $237
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNC Charlotte 49%
  • UC 47%
  • % Women
  • UNC Charlotte 51%
  • UC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNC Charlotte High
  • UC Low
  • HBCU
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • UC No
  • % White
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • UC 75%
  • % Asian
  • UNC Charlotte 6%
  • UC 3%
  • % Black
  • UNC Charlotte 17%
  • UC 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • UC 3%
  • % Native American
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNC Charlotte 4%
  • UC 3%
  • % International
  • UNC Charlotte 2%
  • UC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNC Charlotte 3%
  • UC 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNC Charlotte 90%
  • UC 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • UC 22%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNC Charlotte Yes
  • UC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • UC No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNC Charlotte Yes
  • UC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNC Charlotte Yes
  • UC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • UC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Charlotte, NC with University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than UNC Charlotte based on total student enrollment (45,026 students vs. 31,091 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte is located in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting); University of Cincinnati Main Campus is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21:1; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1.

UNC Charlotte vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Charlotte or UC? 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 Charlotte than UC ($15,045 vs. $24,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 6.2% lower than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte ($13,564 vs. $14,458).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 93.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Charlotte (about $6,737 more per year; $13,976.00 vs. $7,239.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at UC than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (about $6,818 more per year; $29,310.00 vs. $22,492.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (73% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students is 2.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Charlotte students ($8,196 vs. $7,966).

UNC Charlotte vs. UC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Charlotte or UC? 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 UC and UNC Charlotte.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1270) is 30 points higher than at UNC Charlotte (1240).
  • Incoming UC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at UNC Charlotte).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Charlotte 1140/1330; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21/28; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Charlotte - Test optional; UC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027; UC Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at UNC Charlotte (3.57).
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than UNC Charlotte (79.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.5% at UNC Charlotte vs. 22.5% at UC.

UNC Charlotte vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Charlotte and UC? 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 Cincinnati Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than University of North Carolina at Charlotte's (53%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Charlotte earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than UC graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,600 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Cincinnati Main Campus and UNC Charlotte graduates have the same median loan debt ($23,000 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Cincinnati Main Campus and UNC Charlotte graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($237 vs. $237).
  • More UNC Charlotte graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 57%)

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.