University of North Carolina—Wilmington (UNCW)

Black Pinpoint 601 South College Rd | Wilmington, NC | 28403-5904

01. Overview

What the school is known for:

The University of North Carolina—Wilmington is "a beautiful place full of enthusiastic students and dedicated faculty." Students rave about the marine biology and film programs and highlight the creative writing department's "impeccable reputation." Located in sunny Wilmington students say, "It's a school at the beach that still has high academic standards," and students laud "the small class sizes and opportunities for personal relationships with professors." Students boast about "UNCW's impressive student-to-faculty ratio" and agree that "this academic community is supportive." An English major says, "Most of my professors are great." "There are a few in there who are boring…but for the most part they're engaging, interesting people who know their subject and care about their students." One student says, "The trick is to talk to upperclassmen for suggestions and put a lot of thought into registration," and another adds, "There have been several classes that I wasn't expecting to get much out of that I've just loved because of the professor." The consensus is that "your true experience is based on your commitment," and students say you'll be rewarded if you "Just take time to utilize the amenities UNCW provides you."

02. Rankings

Rankings and Lists

03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Applicants Icon
Applicants
16,860
Acceptance Icon
Acceptance Rate
69%
GPA Icon
Average HS GPA
4.04

Deadlines

Early Action
November 1
Regular
February 1

SAT & ACT Test Scores

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
620 - 690

SAT Math

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
600 - 680

SAT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1220 - 1300

ACT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
24 - 29

What would you score on the digital SAT today?

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Testing Policies

Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional

Other Admission Factors Academic

Admission Factors Icon
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Admission Factors Icon
Academic GPA
Admission Factors Icon
Standardized Test Scores
Admission Factors Icon
Application Essay

Selectivity

4. Cost, Tuition, Expenses

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$19,063
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,130
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
4420
Transportation for Commuters
$1,810
On-Campus Room and Board
12120
Approximate Expenses per year
$38,543

Students Also View These Schools

05. Academics

Student Faculty Icon
Student/Faculty
17 : 1
Acceptance Icon
Total Faculty
1,232
Terminal Degree Icon
Terminal Degree
808

Gender

Women
701
Men
531
Minority
170
International
93

Class/Lab sizes

Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19

Rating

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
56%
Graduate in 5 years
70%
Graduate in 6 years
72%

University Degrees

Bachelor's
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate

06. Student Body

What students say:

The University of North Carolina—Wilmington, "has a laid-back atmosphere and a close-knit student body" on a "beautiful" campus. One student says, "It's awesome: beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, fantastic people, great atmosphere...basically everything you could ask for in a college experience." Clubs on campus are described as "numerous" and "accessible," and students say the "staff and administrators are dedicated to students' development as learners, leaders, and engaged citizens." However, there is disagreement about the level of enthusiasm on campus, with some saying, "You feel the teal' wherever you go" and others lamenting the lack of a football team and feeling that "If you're looking for school spirit, UNCW may not be quite the place for you." Students unite to plead for "a bigger library to house all the students eager to learn," saying, "It gets VERY crowded." Students also request "more access to computers and printers across the campus." Although students are pleased with the community created by residential housing, particularly the "support" of the housing staff such as RAs, many believe the "rooms could stand an upgrade."

Gender

65% female35% male

Out of State

13% are out
of state
87% are
in-state

Students

83% are
full time
17% are
part time

Student Body Profile

Total Undergraduate Enrollment
14,294
Foreign Countries Represented
64

Student Body Demographics

American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.44%
Asian
1.88%
Black
4.42%
Hispanic
8.27%
Caucasian
78.69%
Unknown
1.60%
International
1.15%

07. Mental Health

08. Campus Life

What students say:

The University of North Carolina—Wilmington is "a beautiful place full of enthusiastic students and dedicated faculty." Students rave about the marine biology and film programs and highlight the creative writing department's "impeccable reputation." Located in sunny Wilmington students say, "It's a school at the beach that still has high academic standards," and students laud "the small class sizes and opportunities for personal relationships with professors." Students boast about "UNCW's impressive student-to-faculty ratio" and agree that "this academic community is supportive." An English major says, "Most of my professors are great." "There are a few in there who are boring…but for the most part they're engaging, interesting people who know their subject and care about their students." One student says, "The trick is to talk to upperclassmen for suggestions and put a lot of thought into registration," and another adds, "There have been several classes that I wasn't expecting to get much out of that I've just loved because of the professor." The consensus is that "your true experience is based on your commitment," and students say you'll be rewarded if you "Just take time to utilize the amenities UNCW provides you."

Students
34%
First-Year Students
94%
Campus Environment
Small Urban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes

9. Campus Visits

Campus Visits Contact

Reilee Linner
Campus Visitation Coordinator
Location Icon
UNCW Admissions Office 601 South College Rd Wilmington, NC 28403-5904
Phone icon
910-962-3243

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center

Phone icon
910-962-3243

Campus Tours

Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Academic Year
Times:
Varies
Average Length:
2 hours

Visits

CLASS VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

FACULTY AND COACH VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly
Advance Notice
Other
 

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews:
No
Information Sessions:
Not Available

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Campus Tours


TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS

Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is within 6 miles of campus. Shuttle buses, city buses, and taxi services are available.


DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO CAMPUS

I-40 becomes NC 132/College Road. Continue traveling south on College Road approximately 3 miles. Turn left onto Hurst Drive at the traffic light.

LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Contact the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce at (910) 762-2611 or the Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau at (910) 341-4030.


10. Sports & Athletics

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Athletic Division I

Participate in intercollegiate sports
2%

Men's Sports (Seahawks)

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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Diving
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Golf
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Soccer
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Swimming
Icon
Tennis
Icon
Track Field Outdoor

Women's Sports (Seahawks)

Icon
Basketball
Icon
Cross Country
Icon
Diving
Icon
Golf
Icon
Soccer
Icon
Softball
Icon
Swimming
Icon
Tennis
Icon
Track Field Outdoor
Icon
Volleyball

11. Housing & Activities

Hosting Features

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Disabled Student
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Dorms Coed
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Frat Sorority
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Theme Housing

Special Needs Admissions

Director
Leigh Fickling
College Entrance Tests Required
Yes
Interview Required
No

Student Activities

Registered Student Organizations
331
Number of Honor Societies
9
Number of Social Sororities
14
Number of Religious Organizations
20
Join a fraternity
11%
Join a sorority
8%

12. Student Services

Sustainability

School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes

Green rating

80%

Food budget spent on local/organic food

0%

CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

Please visit The Princeton Review's page on campus safety for additional resources:

Visit Page
Warning Icon

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/

Other Information

Campus-wide Internet Network
Checkmark icon
Fee for Network Use
X Mark icon
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Checkmark icon
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
X Mark icon
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Checkmark icon
Description Dell, Apple for students

13. Financial Aid

Dates

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Notification DateMar 21

Required Forms

FAFSA
School

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$2,644
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$2,694
Average Need-Based Loan
$3,895
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
34%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$34,324
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$2,644
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes

Available Aid

Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Aid

01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Nursing Scholarships
03 - Need-Based Federal Pell
04 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
05 - Need-Based SEOG
06 - Need-Based State Scholarships
07 - Need-Based United Negro College Fund

Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):

01 - College/university loans from institutional funds
02 - State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes

14. Career Services & Jobs

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
56%
Graduate in 5 years
70%
Graduate in 6 years
72%

Career Services

01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Interest Inventory
04 - Internships
05 - Regional Alumni

Opportunities at School

01 - Experiential
02 - Internship

15. Majors

Down Arrow Icon

01 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.

  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
  • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography.
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02 BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Business Administration and Management, General.
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04 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance.
  • Computer Graphics.
  • Computer Science.
  • Information Technology.
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05 EDUCATION.

  • Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching.
  • Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities.
  • Elementary Education and Teaching.
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching.
  • Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching.
  • Music Teacher Education.
  • Special Education and Teaching, General.
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06 ENGINEERING.

  • Computer Engineering, Other.
  • Engineering, Other.
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07 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.

  • Creative Writing.
  • English Language and Literature, General.
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08 FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.

  • French Language and Literature.
  • German Language and Literature.
  • Spanish Language and Literature.
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09 HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other.
  • Public Health, General.
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
  • Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist.
  • Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy.
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10 HISTORY.

  • History, General.
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11 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.

  • Mathematics, General.
  • Statistics, General.
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12 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

  • International/Global Studies.
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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14 PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General.
  • Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
  • Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management, General.
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15 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

  • Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other.
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16 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

  • Chemistry, General.
  • Geology/Earth Science, General.
  • Oceanography, Chemical and Physical.
  • Physics, General.
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17 PSYCHOLOGY.

  • Psychology, General.
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19 SOCIAL SCIENCES.

  • Anthropology.
  • Criminology.
  • Economics, General.
  • Geography.
  • Political Science and Government, General.
  • Sociology.
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20 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production.
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General.
  • Music, General.

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