Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at UNC

113.64%

Applicants - since 2015

-15.19%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at UNC over the past 10 years is 22.34%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 15.34%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to UNC in 2025. UNC is highly selective, and gaining admission is challenging for most applicants.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 44.41%, and the 2025 yield is 45.45%. Overall, the yield has increased by 6.04% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of UNC applicants increased by 14.91% (8,633 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 113.64% overall.

Key Takeaways: UNC Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 15.34%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that UNC has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 45.45%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that UNC is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for UNC and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, UNC received approximately 66,535 applications, admitted 10,209 students, and enrolled 4,640 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UNC is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

UNC 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UNC over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 22.34%, while the most recent rate stands at 15.34%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 15.34%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 22.10% and for women is 22.61%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UNC have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 30.54% 30.83% 30.33%
2016-17 26.94%
-3.59%
26.55%
-4.29%
27.22%
-3.11%
2017-18 24.40%
-2.55%
23.74%
-2.81%
24.86%
-2.36%
2018-19 22.71%
-1.68%
22.25%
-1.49%
23.03%
-1.83%
2019-20 22.63%
-0.08%
22.87%
0.61%
22.47%
-0.56%
2020-21 25.00%
2.37%
24.89%
2.03%
25.08%
2.62%
2021-22 20.00%
-5.00%
20.00%
-4.89%
21.00%
-4.08%
2022-23 17.11%
-2.89%
16.50%
-3.50%
17.54%
-3.46%
2023-24 18.74%
1.63%
18.09%
1.59%
19.19%
1.65%
2024-25 15.34%
-3.39%
15.26%
-2.84%
15.41%
-3.78%
Average 22.34% 22.10% 22.61%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

UNC has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 42.86% in 2015 to 45.45% in 2025, representing a 6.04% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 44.41%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UNC from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 6.04% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 42.86% 42.28% 43.26%
2016-17 44.98%
2.12%
44.15%
1.86%
45.55%
2.29%
2017-18 45.03%
0.05%
43.41%
-0.74%
46.13%
0.58%
2018-19 45.43%
0.40%
43.63%
0.23%
46.62%
0.49%
2019-20 43.52%
-1.91%
42.01%
-1.62%
44.57%
-2.05%
2020-21 42.56%
-0.96%
39.91%
-2.10%
44.44%
-0.13%
2021-22 45.00%
2.45%
43.01%
3.10%
47.01%
2.57%
2022-23 46.01%
1.01%
43.46%
0.46%
47.71%
0.71%
2023-24 43.31%
-2.70%
40.71%
-2.75%
45.04%
-2.68%
2024-25 45.45%
2.14%
41.17%
0.45%
48.51%
3.48%
Average 44.41% 42.37% 45.88%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 46,337, the average number of admitted is 9,901, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 4,395.

The number of UNC applicants increased by 14.91% (8,633 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 113.64% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 31,143 9,510 4,076
2016-17 34,889
12.03%
9,400
-1.16%
4,228
3.73%
2017-18 39,650
13.65%
9,673
2.90%
4,356
3.03%
2018-19 41,939
5.77%
9,525
-1.53%
4,327
-0.67%
2019-20 42,465
1.25%
9,610
0.89%
4,182
-3.35%
2020-21 41,773
-1.63%
10,445
8.69%
4,445
6.29%
2021-22 50,729
21.44%
10,146
-2.86%
4,566
2.72%
2022-23 56,341
11.06%
9,639
-5.00%
4,435
-2.87%
2023-24 57,902
2.77%
10,850
12.56%
4,699
5.95%
2024-25 66,535
14.91%
10,209
-5.91%
4,640
-1.26%
Average 46,337 9,901 4,395
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill18.74%15.34%-18.14%
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus14.07%16.46%-14.52%
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus58.08%49.70%16.86%
University of Notre Dame11.27%12.38%-8.97%
University of Virginia-Main Campus16.81%16.86%-0.30%
University of Louisville79.41%80.54%-1.40%

Ratings & Review

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