University of North Carolina | Campus, courses, and more

The University of North Carolina | Preparing for the next step

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the nation’s first public university  that provides education, research, and public service to North Carolina, the United States, and the world. As one of the world’s great research universities, it embraces an unwavering commitment to excellence.

The university’s mission is to serve as a hub for research, scholarship, and creativity while also preparing a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to be the next generation of leaders. It invests its knowledge and resources to improve access to learning and to foster the success and prosperity of each rising generation. The university is thankful for the efforts of its exceptional faculty and staff and the generous support of North Carolina’s citizens. It also provides knowledge-based services and other University resources to North Carolinians and their institutions to improve the quality of life for all residents of the state.

With the founding principles of lux, Libertas — light, and liberty — the University has charted a bold course of leading change to improve society and help solve the world’s most pressing problems.

The University of North Carolina | A brief overview

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university that was established in 1789. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,897 students (fall 2021). Set in a suburb, its campus size is 729 acres. UNC has a semester-based academic calendar. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a #29th rank among National Universities in the Best Colleges 2022-2023 edition. It charges $8,998 for in-state tuition and fees and $37,558 for out-of-state tuition and fees.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also known as UNC, provides a diverse range of student activities. The Daily Tarheel, UNC’s student newspaper, and WXYC, the student-run radio station, are both popular student organizations. Nearly 20% of students attend Greek life at UNC. Many consider Chapel Hill, which surrounds UNC, as one of the best college towns in the country, with an abundance of music, restaurants, and shopping.

Almost half of all undergraduate students live on campus in residence halls or apartment complexes. The North Carolina Tar Heels compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are best known for their men’s basketball team, which has been competing with nearby Duke University for a long time and is one of the most successful programs in college basketball. Michael Jordan and Vince Carter are two of its former players.

Campus

The UNC campus is in Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s downtown area. It is divided into three areas that are roughly 730 acres in size- the north campus (which includes most of the classrooms and some residence halls), the middle campus, and the south campus. A new research park with expanded science facilities is also being planned.

This university’s campus spans a large area and provides various advanced amenities to staff and students. The university’s cutting-edge infrastructure and recreational services ensure that students have a safe and enlightening learning environment.

Campus Health Services and Campus Recreational Services are two other services available to students. Apart from that, students can take advantage of on-campus housing. These residences are available in suite, corridor, and apartment configurations. There are fully equipped fitness centers present on campus. The university also offers counseling services to ensure that students maintain a positive attitude throughout their education.

Courses

UNC now has 14 schools and the College of Arts and Sciences. It grants 78 bachelor’s degrees, 112 master’s degrees, 68 doctorate degrees, and seven professional degrees.

A faculty of over 3,500 people teach nearly 30,000 students at UNC. Almost 90% of classes have fewer than 50 students.

UNC has one of the highest study-abroad rates of any university in the United States, with nearly a third of its undergraduates studying abroad before graduation. It has 325 programs spread across 70 countries.

This university educated 19,117 undergraduate students and 10,984 graduate students. This university offers 74 undergraduate programs and 104 master’s degree programs and 65 doctoral degrees. The university received 44,784 applications for the class of 2023, which was 3% more than the previous enrolment. This university has 49 Rhodes Scholars, and over 3,000 undergraduate students have conducted original research at this university.

Study programs that UNC teaches-

Physical sciences

• Chemistry
• Geology
• Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
• Mathematics & Statistics
• Physics & Astronomy

Social sciences

• Communication & Media Studies
• Sociology
• Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
• Geography

Arts & humanities

• Archaeology
• Art, Performing Arts & Design
• Languages, Literature & Linguistics
• Architecture
• History, Philosophy & Theology

Business & economics

• Accounting & Finance
• Business & Management
• Economics & Econometrics

Life sciences

• Biological Sciences
• Sports Science
• Agriculture & Forestry

Clinical, pre-clinical & health

• Medicine & Dentistry

Engineering & technology

• General Engineering

Other courses-

• Law
• Education
• Psychology
• Computer Science

Rankings

• QS World University Rankings- 102
• QS WUR Ranking by Subject- 131
• Graduate Employability Ranking- 60
• US UNI (universities)- 32

Alumni

UNC is one of the most notable state-owned institutions, is home to many influential people. This university’s graduates have pioneered professionally and are working in  several leading organizations.

Two Noble Laureates, namely Dr. Aziz Sancar and Dr. Oliver Smithies, are graduates of this university. Apart from them, some of the notable alumni of this university are sportsperson Bobby Jones, writer Ben Fountain, former CEO of HULU Howard R. Levine, and actor Andy Griffith.

Key takeaways

• The University of North Carolina is the first public university in the US. It focuses on providing education, and research, to the world. It commits to excellence as a part of being among the world’s great research universities.
• The UNC campus is in Chapel Hill, which lies in North Carolina’s downtown area. There are three divisions of the campus area, each of approximately 730 acres in size, namely the north campus, the middle campus, and the south campus. 
• UNC consists of 14 schools and the College of Arts and Sciences. It awards 78 bachelor’s degrees, 112 master’s degrees, 68 doctorate degrees, and seven professional degrees.

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FAQs

Q1. Is the University of North Carolina an ivy league institute?

Ans- The University of North Carolina is classified as a Public Ivy, or a public institution that provides an academic experience comparable to that of an Ivy League university.

Q2. What is the average GPA for getting admission to the University of North Carolina?

Ans- UNC accepts an average GPA of 4.39. The GPA criteria make UNC extremely competitive for aspiring students. UNC expects you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.39 to be accepted.

Q3. What percent of UNC are international students?

Ans- According to UNC-Chapel Hill, international students account for approximately 6.1% of the student body. Use the map below to see how popular the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in each country.