UNC Wilmington: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

UNC Wilmington is a public institution located in Wilmington, North Carolina with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, UNC Wilmington admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 65%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1301 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $20,109 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for UNC Wilmington?

62% of enrolled students at UNC Wilmington had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.09, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does UNC Wilmington weight in admissions?

UNC Wilmington reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores UNC Wilmington typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–29. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does UNC Wilmington actually cost?

Published tuition is $7,277 for in-state students and $24,152 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,268 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $20,109 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 24% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for UNC Wilmington

Will my child graduate from UNC Wilmington?

These predict outcomes at UNC Wilmington better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at UNC Wilmington

The most popular undergraduate programs at UNC Wilmington, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Communication and Media Studies. Across all programs, UNC Wilmington confers roughly 2,469 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $79,949 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is UNC Wilmington safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UNC Wilmington disclosed 39 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 5 violent offenses and 18 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at UNC Wilmington?

About 34% of undergraduates at UNC Wilmington live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 4% of men join a fraternity and 5% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in North Carolina parents ask about

• Duke University
  6% acceptance
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  15% acceptance
• Wake Forest University
  22% acceptance
• North Carolina State University at Raleigh
  42% acceptance
• Appalachian State University
  90% acceptance
• East Carolina University
  89% acceptance
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  80% acceptance
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  89% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about UNC Wilmington