We compared admissions requirements at UNC, Duke, NC State, NCCU. Here’s what we found
While early applications to UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, NC Central and Duke have been submitted, many high school seniors are still in the application process — polishing their personal essays, requesting letters of recommendation and figuring out if they want to take another SAT or ACT exam.
How do these four schools stack up when it comes to admission requirements and acceptance rates? What are the key dates to hit for each school?
We looked at the requirements for each university, and found that when it comes to prerequisites for admitting students, the schools have some things in common. Just one example: All four schools are test-optional this year. The biggest difference we found was in the rate at which applicants are actually accepted.
In each case, we used the most recent information available on the school websites.
Also note that Duke, NC State and UNC-CH each have an $85 application fee (you can contact the school directly to see if and how you can get it waived). NC Central charges $50 per application.
Here’s more detail about admissions at each college.
UNC-Chapel Hill
First-year applicants must have a minimum GPA or standardized test score to be considered for admission.
However, UNC-CH waived the SAT or ACT requirement for fall 2022 first-year applicants. Outside of fall 2022 applicants, students who have not taken either the ACT or SAT will not be considered for admission.
Students who earn at least a 2.5 weighted high school grade point average — or a minimum test score of a 19 on the ACT or 1010 on the SAT — are eligible for review by any of the UNC System schools, including Chapel Hill.
UNC-CH allows 3’s, 4’s and 5’s on Advanced Placement exams, depending on the subject. Some SAT II scores, along with a few other standardized exams, can be transferred for UNC credit hours.
The UNC System has a strict ratio for first-year accepted students.
A UNC System policy mandates that no more than 18% of out-of-state first-year undergraduate students may enroll on UNC campuses.
Fall 2020’s acceptance rate was 24% — 48% for North Carolina applicants, and 14% for out-of-state applicants.
Race is factored into admission decisions.
A recent affirmative action case at UNC-CH ruled that the university can continue using race as a factor when considering applicants.
An anti-affirmative action group took up this issue in 2014, when an organization called Students for Fair Admissions sued UNC-CH, claiming the university unfairly uses race in its admissions process. It argued that the school gives preference to Black and Hispanic students — deterring white and Asian-American students — when considering applications. The group wants race and ethnicity eliminated from the admissions process.
“We seek qualities including intellect, talent, curiosity, and creativity; leadership, kindness, and courage; as well as honesty, perseverance, perspective, and diversity,” UNC-CH says on its admission website. “We also consider race or ethnicity as one of these many factors, if a student chooses to share it on a standard Common Application or Coalition for College Application.”
Dates to know:
First-year early action applicants had to apply by Oct. 15, and the decision is released by Jan. 31. First-year regular decision applicants must apply by Jan. 15, and the decision is released by March 31.
First-year applicants have until May 1 to accept or decline offers of admission.
Check out UNC-CH’s FAQ page for more admissions information.
NC State
First-year applicants don’t have to submit SAT and ACT scores this year.
Due to limited testing opportunities because of COVID-19, fall and spring 2022 first-year applicants are not required to submit SAT and ACT scores. If you choose to submit your test scores, you can create a super-score by self-reporting the highest subscore from each section across your test dates.
NC State looks for academic achievement, interest in major, accomplishments and involvement, standardized test scores, background and opportunities and the applicant’s individual story. Undergraduate applicants from outside North Carolina are reviewed using the same criteria as applicants from North Carolina.
NC State allows 3’s, 4’s and 5’s on Advanced Placement exams, depending on the subject. Some International Baccalaureate exam scores can be transferred for NC State credit hours.
International applicants are required to submit a few more materials, such as proof of English proficiency and proof of financial ability.
NC State has affirmative action policies in place.
“NC State maintains an affirmative action program designed to create and maintain diversity in its educational programs and activities, its workforce, and in its contracts with outside entities,” the university’s website states. This policy was first issued in 1999 and updated last summer.
“Affirmative action” means positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education and culture from which they have been historically excluded, per Stanford’s Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
NC State, per the UNC System, has the same out-of-state criteria as UNC-CH.
NC State is limited to enrolling not more than 18% of total new undergraduate students from outside the state, per the UNC System.
Fall 2021’s acceptance rate was 47.4%.
Dates to know:
Fall entry first-year applicants receive priority consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Note these dates when applying:
Early action applicants must apply by Nov. 1, and the notification date is Jan. 30.
Regular decision applicants must apply by Jan. 15, and the notification date is March 30.
First-year applicants have until May 1 — or within 10 days if accepted after May 1 — to accept or decline offers of admission.
Two weeks after you submit your application, you’ll receive an email with credentials to log into wolfPAW, where you can stay up to date on the status of your application.
Check out NC State’s FAQ page for more admissions information.
Duke University
Duke is test-optional for both first-year applicants and transfer applicants in the 2021-22 admissions cycle.
Middle 50% range SAT scores for accepted students in the class of 2024 were between 1500 and 1570, and middle 50% range ACT scores were between 34 and 35.
Students opting out of submitting standardized test scores are still eligible to receive Duke’s merit scholarships.
Duke only allows 4’s and 5’s on Advanced Placement exams, depending on the subject, for transfer credit. High International Baccalaureate exam scores are accepted, among other standardized tests.
Duke’s acceptance rate is shrinking.
The university admitted 4.3% of regular decision applicants to the Class of 2025, according to the dean of undergraduate admissions. Only 44% of applicants submitted SAT or ACT scores.
This is lower than the Class of 2024’s 6% and the Class of 2023’s 5.7%.
Dates to know:
Early Decision is a binding program for students whose top choice is Duke. Note these dates when applying:
Early Decision applicants must apply by Nov. 1, and decisions are released mid-December.
Regular decision applicants must apply by Jan. 4, and decisions are released at the end of March or beginning of April.
Check out Duke’s FAQ page for more admissions information.
NC Central University
Admissions requirements follow the UNC System.
Applicants must have either a 2.5 weighted high school GPA or a minimum test score on the ACT (19) or SAT (1010).
The average high school GPA was 3.1 for fall 2020 new students. The average SAT score was an 888.
NC Central waived SAT and ACT testing requirements.
Students applying for Spring 2022, Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 terms have waived standardized testing requirements, per a university spokesperson.
NCCU, like all UNC System schools, accepts 3’s or higher on Advanced Placement exams for college credit. Students are also allowed to take the College Level Examination Program and International Baccalaureate exams to get a jumpstart on NCCU requirements.
NCCU has a high acceptance rate of these four.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate was 87%, per U.S. News and World Report.
Applicants can check the status of their applications with NCCU’s EaglePromise Portal.
Dates to know:
The first priority deadline is Oct. 15.
The second priority deadline is Nov. 15.
The third priority deadline is Jan. 15.
NC Central has a rolling admissions acceptance policy. There is no major difference in deadlines, a university spokesperson said. However, students are able to get their decisions, acceptance letters, next steps and scholarship awards earlier.
Check out NCCU’s FAQ page for more admissions information.
Do you have a story about applying to college that you’d like to tell us? Are there any other admissions requirements we should know about? Email kcataudella@newsobserver.com, or check out our resources to ask questions and submit anonymous tips.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 7:35 AM.
