Admissions requirements at UNC, Duke, NC State, NCCU: Key differences, what we found
It’s back to school season, and very soon, it’ll be admissions season. High school students are starting to gather their application materials for the colleges in our area.
We looked at application deadlines, admissions information and acceptance rates for UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State University, Duke University and NC Central University, and share our findings here.
Note: The application fee at Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State costs $85, and NC Central’s costs $50. You can contact the school directly to see if you can get that waived.
Here’s what you should know about admissions at each college:
UNC-Chapel Hill: What to know about admissions
First-year applicants must have a minimum GPA or standardized test score to be considered for admission.
But UNC-CH waived the SAT or ACT requirement for fall 2023 or 2024 first-year applicants.
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 Advanced Placement exam scores to fulfill general education requirements, 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 2021’s acceptance rate was 19.2% — 42.2% for North Carolina applicants, and 10.5% for out-of-state applicants.
Race is factored into admission decisions.
A 2021 affirmative action case at UNC-CH ruled that the university can continue using race as a factor when considering applicants.
“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:
Oct. 15: Deadline for first-year Early Decision applicants to apply. Decisions are released Jan. 31.
Jan. 15: Deadline for first-year Regular Decision applicants to apply. Decisions are released March 31.
Feb. 15: Deadline for transfer students to apply. Decisions are released May 15.
(Source: admissions.unc.edu/apply/decisions)
Check out UNC-CH’s FAQ page for more admissions information: admissions.unc.edu/faqs
NC State: What to know about admissions
First-year applicants don’t have to submit SAT and ACT scores this year.
Due to limited testing opportunities because of COVID-19, 2022 and 2023 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 (which are optional), background and opportunities and the applicant’s individual story.
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 July 2020.
“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:
Nov. 1: Deadline for first-year Early Action applicants to apply. These applicants receive priority consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Decisions will be released Jan. 30.
Jan. 15: Deadline for first-year regular decision applicants to apply. Decisions will be released March 30.
Feb. 15: Deadline for transfer applicants. Decisions are released on a rolling basis starting April 15.
First-year applicants have until May 1 — or within 10 days if accepted after May 1 — to accept or decline offers of admission.
(Source: admissions.ncsu.edu/apply/deadlines)
Check out NC State’s FAQ page for more admissions information: admissions.ncsu.edu
Duke University: What to know about admissions
Duke is test-optional for both first-year applicants and transfer applicants in the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
Middle 50% range SAT scores for accepted students in the class of 2025 were between 1510 and 1560, and middle 50% range ACT scores were between 34 and 36.
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 slightly higher than last year’s.
The university admitted 4.6% of Regular Decision applicants to the Class of 2026. This is slightly higher than the 4.3% record low admission rate of the previous year.
These rates are both lower than the Class of 2024’s 6% and the Class of 2023’s 5.7%.
Dates to know:
Nov. 1: Deadline for Early Decision applicants. Decisions are released mid-December.
Jan. 3: Deadline for Regular Decision applicants. Decisions are released between late March and early April.
Check out Duke’s FAQ page for more admissions information: admissions.duke.edu/faqs
NC Central University: What to know about admissions
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).
NC Central waived SAT and ACT testing requirements.
Standardized tests are not required for admission for the 2022-23 school year.
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 typically has a high acceptance rate of these four.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate was 87%, per U.S. News and World Report.
The Division of Enrollment Management wouldn’t share the fall 2021 acceptance rate.
Dates to know:
Oct. 15: First priority deadline.
Nov. 15: Second priority deadline.
Jan. 15: Third priority deadline.
NC Central has a rolling admissions acceptance policy. There is no major difference in deadlines, but 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: nccu.edu/admissions
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