Wilmington, NC · Public · 14,922 undergraduates · urban
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Moderately selective
UNCW’s coastal location materially shapes academics through marine science while Wilmington’s film and tourism economy adds unusual professional outlets.
Institutional profile
Well established Solid in academic standing, and solid in affordability.- Admission
- 74% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 73.8%
17,370 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$54,967 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets University of North Carolina Wilmington apart
Academic design
Marine biology, environmental science, film studies, business, nursing, education, and liberal arts are particularly relevant.
Campus pattern
Wilmington combines a wooded campus with nearby Atlantic beaches and a working coastal city.
Career & value signal
Marine research, healthcare, film production, tourism, and regional business create distinctive local opportunities.
Can I get in?
74% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
17,370About 74 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 7% submitted an SAT, and 16% submitted an ACT. Very few of the admitted class reported a score at all, so the SAT and ACT ranges describe those students rather than the class.
Admission by residency
Harder from out of state
Degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students · Fall 2024
University of North Carolina Wilmington admitted 79.4% of North Carolina applicants and 41.3% of applicants from other states. Residents were admitted at 1.9 times the out-of-state rate. North Carolina students took 87% of the seats in the entering class.
9,762 admitted from 12,300 applicants
3,339 admitted from 8,093 applicants
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of North Carolina Wilmington, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What University of North Carolina Wilmington weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Marine biology, environmental science, film studies, business, nursing, education, and liberal arts are particularly relevant.
Make institutional fit specific
UNCW’s coastal location materially shapes academics through marine science while Wilmington’s film and tourism economy adds unusual professional outlets.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
BusinessAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Communication and journalismAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at University of North Carolina Wilmington
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Admits separately
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Admits separately
Psychology, General
Biology, General
Communication and Media Studies
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
University of North Carolina Wilmington beyond the classroom
Wilmington combines a wooded campus with nearby Atlantic beaches and a working coastal city.
A defining academic feature
Marine biology, environmental science, film studies, business, nursing, education, and liberal arts are particularly relevant.
What shapes an ordinary week
Wilmington combines a wooded campus with nearby Atlantic beaches and a working coastal city.
Where the degree can lead
Marine research, healthcare, film production, tourism, and regional business create distinctive local opportunities.