Is UNC or UT Austin harder to get into?

UNC is harder to get into than UT Austin. UNC's 15.3% acceptance rate is lower than UT Austin's 26.6%.

Which is cheaper, UNC or UT Austin?

UNC costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, UNC's average net price is $11,655 vs $19,857 at UT Austin.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, UNC or UT Austin?

UT Austin graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $72,200 at UNC and $75,121 at UT Austin.

UNC vs. UT Austin: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	UNC	UT Austin
Acceptance rate	15.3%	26.6%
SAT mid-50%	1390–1530	1250–1510
ACT mid-50%	28–34	27–33
Cost of attendance	$26,055	$31,247
Avg net price (after aid)	$11,655	$19,857
Undergrad enrollment	20,752	42,855
6-yr graduation rate	91.2%	88.9%
Median earnings (10yr)	$72,200	$75,121
Setting	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Austin, TX

The Real Differences

UNC is meaningfully harder to get into. A 11.3-percentage-point gap between 15.3% (UNC) and 26.6% (UT Austin) reflects real selectivity differences. UT Austin is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.

UNC is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $8,202 per year, $32,808 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

UT Austin is substantially larger with 42,855 undergrads vs 20,752 at UNC. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. UNC is in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; UT Austin is in Austin, TX. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. UNC is 60.8% women, 5.6% international, and 16.0% Asian-American. UT Austin is 57.8% women, 4.4% international, and 25.7% Asian-American.

Demographic	UNC	UT Austin
Women	60.8%	57.8%
International	5.6%	4.4%
White	53.3%	30.4%
Asian	16.0%	25.7%
Hispanic	9.7%	28.3%
Black	7.4%	4.6%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at UNC vs. UT Austin?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick UNC if

Net price matters: UNC costs $8,202 less per year on average
Higher 6-year graduation rate
Carolina Covenant

Pick UT Austin if

Your odds are realistic at UT Austin (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($75,121 vs $72,200)
the McCombs School of Business

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

15.3% accept · Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Full profile

The University of Texas at Austin

26.6% accept · Austin, TX

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs. The University of Texas at Austin