About University of North Carolina Wilmington

Founded in 1947, University of North Carolina Wilmington. is a Public college. Located in North Carolina, which is a city setting in North Carolina, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 13,914 full time undergraduate students, and 1,826 full time graduate students.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 18:1. There are 618 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of North Carolina Wilmington include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate71%
Application Deadline
Application Fee75
SAT Range1130-1260
ACT Range22-26

Admissions at UNCW are considered Selective, with ,87% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 21 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

94% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 65% were in the top quarter, and 26% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of North Carolina Wilmington.

4%
“We”re apathetic”
33%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
6%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
69%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
10%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
1%
“I only go out in groups”
38%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
61%
“I feel extremely safe”
49%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
29%
“We bought the gear”
22%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
12%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
67%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
61%
“They keep regular office hours”
37%
“They”re always available”
2%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
25%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
69%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
4%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
27%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
43%
“We only party on weekends”
30%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
7%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
56%
“There might be people who do”
35%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
2%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
4%
“We”re apathetic”
33%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
6%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
69%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
10%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
1%
“I only go out in groups”
38%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
61%
“I feel extremely safe”
49%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
29%
“We bought the gear”
22%
“We live for the big game”
4%
“It”s not really our thing”
12%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
67%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
1%
“Available in class”
61%
“They keep regular office hours”
37%
“They”re always available”
2%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
25%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
69%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
4%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
27%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
43%
“We only party on weekends”
30%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
7%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
56%
“There might be people who do”
35%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
2%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

University of North Carolina Wilmington REVIEWS

Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship
  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    175 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    110 Students rated off-campus housing 4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    194 Students rated campus food 3.6 stars. 23 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    200 Students rated campus facilities 4.4 stars. 53 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    200 Students rated class size 4.3 stars. 47 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    199 Students rated school activities 4.2 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    200 Students rated local services 4.4 stars. 59 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    200 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 49 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of University of North Carolina Wilmington?

97 Students rated University of North Carolina Wilmington

Caroline - 12/18/2023

Beautiful campus and a good school! Wish there was more options and opportunities for dental interest. The area around campus has many shops and the beaches are beautiful I love living here. The classes are good but I feel like some professors could do more to make the tuition feel worth it.

edgar - 08/18/2023

It is a school located in a great area, Wilmington is a beautiful city and it is near the beach which attracts a lot of students. Academic wise the professors are great and available most of the time, there are free tutoring options as well. Hospitality wise the school has to improve, they have a 2 year rule where the first two years of a student have to be on campus and it can get very expensive, the stay there has not been that great as well. This year freshman student have to stay in overflow room with more than one student which is very weird.

Susan - 04/21/2023

I think the school is fantastic. The location is amazing, only 15 minutes to the beautiful beach of Wrightsville. There is plenty to do on campus, as well as the surrounding area. There's shopping, dining, entertainment, beach and much more. The freshman dorms are very new and the quad area outside the freshman dorms is amazing. They are building new outdoor recreation to include basketball courts and sand volleyball courts.

Victor - 02/22/2023

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a very good college that offers many opportunities to be successful. There are extracurriculars that are available that suits everyone's interests. They offer clubs such as art clubs, surf clubs, and language clubs. The academics offer majors that are suited to everyone and the professors are very engaging and helpful. The housing and food is also good that offers good living and nourishment for all students.

University of North Carolina Wilmington FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at University of North Carolina Wilmington?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of North Carolina Wilmington is 71%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    If I were able to talk to myself a year ago, I would have told myself that I had better learn how to cook and that UNC-W is the school that I should shoot for, not the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. I also would have told myself that I shouldn't be spending my money, but that I should instead be putting it all in the bank and not spending it all by eating off campus everyday, which was unnecessary. I could have kept that money in the bank and I would have been making at least a little bit of interest of off it, which I have learned at this point that any little bit can help a lot. I would have told myself to work hard in school, even though it was senior year, and to work hard at my job to earn all the money I could, and to work hard on my truck, because I've learned that having a vehicle at college would have allowed me to get a job.

    Read all  161 answers
  3. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    I consider the parking and housing to be the worst part of UNCW. The parking is sparse and very limited. There is barely any on-campus housing. I believe only freshman are guaranteed on-campus housing. The school is currently building new housing so that might help.

    Read all  35 answers
  4. Describe the students at your school.

    Mostly friendly but not helpful when studying for a test, they mostly stick to the same group of people and don't look to make other freinds

    Read all  34 answers
  5. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating thing about UNCW is attending the extension site. The extension site students, including myself, often feel like we are forgotten by the university. We do not have access to many services unless we drive over an hour to the main campus. We do not feel included in the main campus activties and social life.

    Read all  34 answers
  6. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    It is an amazing experience, milk it for all it's worth.

    Read all  34 answers
  7. What kind of person should attend this school?

    This school is not as ethnically diverse as other schools. Most of the students are caucasion, so someone that is not caucasion would have to be okay with the little diversity that this school has. Also, because this school has a great social environment, but is also very academically established, the student would need to know how to balance his or her academics and social life.

    Read all  29 answers
  8. What's unique about your campus?

    I think the best thing about UNCW is the environment of the University. I have never had a teacher that would not help a student. Everyone is friendly and excited to be here. It makes learning and a college experience so much more meaningful.

    Read all  26 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Since we are close to the beach, we offer a variety of clubs that are very eco-friendly and allow the student outdoors recreation opportunites not many other schools can offer. Community and student involvement is a big priority at the school and key to future success. Job fairs allow the students to ineract with career pathways on a one to one basis which bodes well in future career opportunities.

    Read all  26 answers
  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    UNCW is a happy campus. Students enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to study there. We have some brilliant and very interesting professors. Wilmington is a beach community. When not doing school work, the beach is the place to be.

    Read all  26 answers
  11. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Marine Biology and continuing to grow and improve in many ways

    Read all  24 answers
  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    It's five miles from the beach. It's got small programs with great instructor access. It's got six months of summer.

    Read all  21 answers
  13. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    A person that is not willing to put in the time and effort it takes to succede but instead only came to this school fo the beach. If a person like that were to attend this school, it would negativley affect all the students that my have a class with him or her. Their lack of enthusiasum or drive would take away from all that the other students could lean because it would also affect the teacher. This person's attitude would lead to a negative learning and teaching environment for everyone.

    Read all  16 answers
  14. What are the academics like at your school?

    The average class size at UNCW is only 21 students, which allows for students to get tons of one-on-one help from their professors. All classes at UNCW have at least one professor assigned and you will NEVER encounter a class taught primarily by a TA. All the professors in my major not only know my name, but will also approach me with opportunities and ask me about my life outside the classroom. I have never felt like a number at UNCW in any class that I have taken, whether it was a basic studies or a specialized course in my major.

    Read all  7 answers
  15. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    Anyone who visits UNCW will quickly notice that we are not your typical school; we are a community of students and faculty dedicated to not only furthering our educations, but also to furthering the stellar UNCW reputation. Not only is UNCW a tight knit community, but the City of Wilmington embraces the students with abundant internship and job opportunities. UNCW is a public school, but the campus is secluded and gives the feel of a smaller private institution. With Wrightsville Beach 10 minutes in one direction & downtown Wilmington 10 minutes in the other, the location of Wilmington allows for students and faculty to take advantage of both cultures.

    Read all  7 answers
  16. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    One of the stereotypes that is assumed about UNCW students is that we spend all the time at the beach and never go to class.

    Read all  6 answers
  17. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    No! UNCW's curriculum is definitely rigorous & takes a lot of time and commitment. The teaching faculty is dedicated to providing a challenging, but rewarding classroom experience. Also, UNCW's campus offers many extracurricular activities, with over 225 student organizations on campus. Overall, the UNCW experience is much more about the campus identity instead of the beach life.

    Read all  6 answers
  18. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Although UNCW sometimes has the reputation of being a suitcase school, nothing could be further from the truth. The campus does a great job of not shutting down on the weekends and, between the on-campus movie theater and the concerts/comedians that are brought to campus, there's always something to do. We even have organizations that are in charge of putting on events just for the weekends, such as paintball or ice skating trips. We do have a strong Greek life on campus, but choosing to be involved in Greek life, or not be involved, won't determine your social status at UNCW. All groups are completely open to anyone from UNCW campus joining and a lot of group members belong to multiple organizations on campus.

    Read all  5 answers
  19. What are your classes like?

    Being a Freshman and taking classes that are fairly random can be frustrating at times. I'm taking two science classes this semester which is pretty difficult. They aren't too hard by themselves but the tests do require studying. I'm also taking Intermediate French because I took it in high school and have found that French at UNCW is surprisingly fun.

    Read all  1 answers
  20. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    I would definitely agree that most of the people here enjoy the beach and it's the primary reason they chose to attend this school. However no one stays at a school just for the beach. I would also agree that most of people that attend UNCW are attractive but we are far from stupid or lazy. Classes are challenging despite the misleading location.

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

62%

female

38%

male

13,914

Total Undergrad Enrollment

1,826

Total Grad Students

15%

Out-Of-State

85%

In-State

N/A

International

Organizations

201

Student Organizations

13

Fraternities

13

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

32%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
2%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
7%
% White or Caucasian
77%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

71% of students attending University of North Carolina Wilmington receive some sort of financial aid. 23% were awarded federal grants. While 51% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$20,920

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,104

Books and Supplies

$10,060

Room and Board

32,084

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$11,421
$30 - $48K
$13,188
$48 - $75K
$17,014
$75 - $110K
$19,628
$110K & UP
$21,007

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

FIND SCHOLARSHIPS

Find your perfect match from over 3 million scholarships!

START YOUR SEARCH

CAN YOU GET INTO University of North Carolina Wilmington?

Complete your profile to see if this school is a fit for you, and what your chances of admitance are.

START YOUR SEARCH