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University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · City · 14,922 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Nov 1 · Early Action · in 30 days
Checked Oct 2026 · uncw.edu
$20,109
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
71%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$54,967
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
64%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a premier coastal public institution renowned for its top-ranked marine biology program, alongside strong offerings in nursing, business, and film studies. Leveraging its location between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, UNCW distinguishes itself through robust undergraduate research opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities like the Center for Marine Science. Campus life is characterized by a close-knit, welcoming Seahawk community that balances serious academic engagement with an active outdoor lifestyle centered around nearby Wrightsville Beach.

Wikipedia:The University of North Carolina Wilmington, or University of North Carolina at Wilmington, is a public research university in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system and enrolled 18,848 undergraduate and graduate students in 2024. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

Location
Wilmington, NC, 28403-5963 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RDU · Raleigh-Durham
125 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$7,277$24,152
Housing & food (on campus)$14,268$14,268
Books & supplies$860$860
Cost of attendance$26,547$43,422 est.
Average net price$20,109Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$24,152
In-state: $7,277
Housing & food (on campus)$14,268
Books & supplies$860
Cost of attendance$43,422 est.
In-state: $26,547
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $20,109
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$10,778
$30–48k
$12,572
$48–75k
$17,378
$75–110k
$24,046
$110k+
$25,573
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$3,457
First-years who got one348
Source: University of North Carolina Wilmington's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
71%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
56%
Back for yr 2
88%
Transferred
22%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
74% graduated · 21% transferred · 5% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$46,972
10 yrs after entry$54,967
Debt
Median at graduation$19,500
Monthly payment$207
Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$25.8k
90th percentile$31,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
64%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1287
R 620–680 · M 610–660
ACT midpoint
26
Comp 24–29 · E 23–30 · M 23–27
SAT middle 50%: 1230–1340
40080012001600
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Early Action
Nov 1 2026
in 30 days
Not binding: apply early, hear early, and you can still apply elsewhere.
Regular Decision
Jan 15 2027
in 105 days
Not binding: the standard deadline.
Checked Oct 2026 · uncw.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts
How much essays count at University of North Carolina Wilmington: Very important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)
Source: University of North Carolina Wilmington's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.

If University of North Carolina Wilmington asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 37%Women 63%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
17 : 1
Pell grant
24%
First-gen
26%
Family income
$52,650
Independent
26%
Veterans
1%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
13%
Race & ethnicity
White
79%
Hispanic
9%
Black
4%
Asian
2%
Two or more
3%
Non-resident
1%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Beach Volleyball
    Women's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$46,972
After 10 yrs
$54,967
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing789
Business Administration, Management and Operations729
Psychology, General261
Biology, General184
Communication and Media Studies175
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness165
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods143
Criminology122
Public Health119
Computer Science96
Natural Resources Conservation and Research95
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology91
Film/Video and Photographic Arts89
Social Work81
Political Science and Government54
English Language and Literature, General49
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$162M
Full-time faculty
72%
Faculty salary
$10,074/mo
Teaching spend
$10,765
per student
Federal loans
36%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R2 — high research
$23M research spending · 35 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if University of North Carolina Wilmington is the right fit for you?

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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