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ASU UNC Charlotte UofSC UNC Chapel Hill ECU Clemson Coastal Carolina UNCG NC State CSU Elon WCU| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | College of Charleston | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UNCW | CofC | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | Charleston, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,987 | 11,729 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #435 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | cofc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | CofC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $12,518 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,111 | $36,398 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,605 | $14,032 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,606 | $20,806 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,516 | $9,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 81% |
Admission |
UNCW | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,370 | 26,683 | ||
| Admitted | 12,856 | 19,212 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 72% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 13.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | 3.94 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1360 | 1130/1300 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UNCW | CofC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | CofC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $46,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $222 |
Diversity |
UNCW | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
UNCW | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 61% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | CofC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than CofC based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 11,729 students)
UNCW vs. CofC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or CofC?
- College of Charleston is 181.7% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($12,518.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 81% higher at CofC than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($36,398.00 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 CofC ($18,606 vs. $20,806)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 11.3% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($12,605 vs. $14,032)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of Charleston than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (81% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of Charleston students is 50.6% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($9,811 vs. $6,516)
UNCW vs. CofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or CofC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CofC or UNCW .
- The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 21 points higher than at CofC (1141)
- Incoming CofC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than CofC (72%)
UNCW vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW or CofC? 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 CofC and UNCW.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than College of Charleston (67% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from College of Charleston earn on average $1,500 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CofC graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,500)
- UNCW graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than CofC graduates. ($211 vs. $222)
- More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CofC 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/