University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Wilmington, North Carolina. It enrolls 14,922 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value52
Affordability39
Selectivity71
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 64.2%, University of North Carolina Wilmington is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
64.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1230 – 1340
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of North Carolina Wilmington is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of North Carolina Wilmington isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,109 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,109
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,277
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$24,152
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,268
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,268
Books & Supplies
$860
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,599
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,599
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,547
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,778
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,572
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,378
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,046
Over $110,000
$25,573
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,22310%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$25,80275%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,827
↓ $2,673
No Pell $14,000
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $15,300
↓ $4,200
Independent students $15,051
↓ $4,449
Female students $15,110
↓ $4,390
Male students $15,438
↓ $4,062
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,500, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at University of North Carolina Wilmington graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of North Carolina Wilmington earn a median of $54,967 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,967
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of North Carolina Wilmington is home to 14,922 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
14,922
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
26%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.8%11,763
Hispanic 9.1%1,355
Black 4.1%607
Other 4.1%604
Asian 2.0%304
International 1.0%154
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of North Carolina Wilmington. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityWilmington, North Carolina
Housing
Partly residential5,173 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of North Carolina Wilmington offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
94 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Carolina Wilmington is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,024
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$148M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$87,000
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
759 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
204
27%
$111,827
Associate Professors
195
26%
$87,807
Assistant Professors
205
27%
$82,674
Instructors
3
0%
$76,803
Lecturers
152
20%
$58,680
Pros & Cons of University of North Carolina Wilmington
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of North Carolina Wilmington tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about University of North Carolina Wilmington
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington hard to get into?
Admissions at University of North Carolina Wilmington are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 64.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina Wilmington has an acceptance rate of 64.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of North Carolina Wilmington?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of North Carolina Wilmington scored between 1230 and 1340 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of North Carolina Wilmington?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of North Carolina Wilmington scored between 24 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of North Carolina Wilmington cost?
The average net price after aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington is $20,109 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,967 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,109 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of North Carolina Wilmington known for?
University of North Carolina Wilmington is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of North Carolina Wilmington are $54,967, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington accredited?
Yes. University of North Carolina Wilmington is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina Wilmington enrolls 14,922 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of North Carolina Wilmington a public or private college?
University of North Carolina Wilmington is a Public institution.
Where is University of North Carolina Wilmington located?
University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in Wilmington, North Carolina.
What programs does University of North Carolina Wilmington offer?
University of North Carolina Wilmington offers 94 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Carolina Wilmington?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of North Carolina Wilmington is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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