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ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill ECU UNCG NC State WCU UD University of North Carolina at Asheville Auburn UofSC Clemson| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Anderson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCW | AU | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | Anderson, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,987 | 4,325 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #759 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | andersonuniversity.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | AU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $32,710 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,111 | $32,710 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,605 | $12,290 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,606 | $22,222 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,516 | $25,586 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 99% |
Admission |
UNCW | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,370 | 4,732 | ||
| Admitted | 12,856 | 2,499 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 52.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 34% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1360 | 1090/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UNCW | AU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | AU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $37,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $26,862 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $277 |
Diversity |
UNCW | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
UNCW | AU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 31% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | AU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 4,325 students)
UNCW vs. AU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or AU?
- Anderson University is 636.2% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 62.6% higher at AU than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($32,710.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than AU ($18,606 vs. $22,222)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 2.6% lower than costs at University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($12,290 vs. $12,605)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (99% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 292.7% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($25,586 vs. $6,516)
UNCW vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or AU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AU or UNCW .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 84 points higher than at AU (1078)
- Incoming UNCW students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at AU (24)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than AU (52.8%)
UNCW vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW or AU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between AU and UNCW.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than Anderson University (67% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from University of North Carolina at Wilmington earn on average $7,200 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($44,700 vs. $37,500)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $6,362 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,862)
- UNCW graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($211 vs. $277)
- More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/