UNCSA vs. UNCW

Should I go to University of North Carolina School of the Arts or University of North Carolina at Wilmington? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNCSA or UNCW is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts vs. University of North Carolina at Wilmington comparison
University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Carolina at Wilmington College 3 College 4
University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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Overview

UNCSA UNCW
Location Winston-Salem, NC Wilmington, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,104 17,843
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #377
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uncsa.edu uncw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNCSA UNCW
Tuition (In State) $6,497 $4,443
Tuition (Out of State) $23,731 $19,063
Room & Board $12,902 $12,120
Avg Net Price $11,251 $18,709
Avg Grant Aid $10,868 $6,217
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 56%

Admission

UNCSA UNCW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,139 16,860
Admitted 362 11,605
Acceptance Rate 31.8% 68.8%
Enrolled % 58% 20.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 22/30 24/29
SAT Range 1115/1350 1220/1370
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 Mar 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

UNCSA UNCW
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

UNCSA UNCW
Graduation Rate 58% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $44,700
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $211

Diversity

UNCSA UNCW
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 78%
% Black 9% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

UNCSA UNCW
% In-State 43% 80%
% Out-of-State 52% 19%

Campus

UNCSA UNCW
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 UNCSA based on total student enrollment (17,843 students vs. 1,104 students)

UNCSA vs. UNCW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or UNCW?

  • University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 46.2% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($6,497.00 vs. $4,443.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.5% higher at UNCSA than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($23,731.00 vs. $19,063.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than UNCW ($11,251 vs. $18,709)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 6.5% lower than costs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($12,120 vs. $12,902)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (69% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students is 74.8% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($10,868 vs. $6,217)

UNCSA vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCSA or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or UNCSA .

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1162) is 54 points higher than at UNCSA (1108)
  • Incoming UNCW students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UNCSA (24)
  • Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UNCW (3.56)
  • UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (68.8%) than UNCSA (31.8%)

UNCSA vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNCSA or UNCW? 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 UNCW and UNCSA.

  • The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (67% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Wilmington earn on average $5,600 more per year than UNCSA graduates after ten years. ($44,700 vs. $39,100)
  • University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCSA graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
  • UNCW graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than UNCSA graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/