UNC Wilmington: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public university with an acceptance rate of 66%. Located in southeastern North Carolina five miles from Wrightsville Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, UNC Wilmington is part of the University of North Carolina state university system.

UNCW undergraduates can choose from 55 bachelor's degree programs. Professional fields such as business, communications, education, and nursing are the most popular. UNC Wilmington wins high marks for value, and among North Carolina's public universities it is second only to UNC Chapel Hill for its four-year graduation rate. On the athletic front, the UNCW Seahawks compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association.

Considering applying to UNC Wilmington? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UNC Wilmington had an acceptance rate of 66%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 66 students were admitted, making UNCW's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

University of North Carolina Wilmington requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 46% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UNC Wilmington's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to UNCW scored between 590 and 660, while 25% scored below 590 and 25% scored above 660. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 580 and 660, while 25% scored below 580 and 25% scored above 660. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1320 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at UNC Wilmington.

Requirements

UNC Wilmington does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that UNCW participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

UNC Wilmington requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 63% of applicants submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UNCW's admitted students fall within the top 36% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UNC Wilmington received a composite ACT score between 22 and 27, while 25% scored above 27 and 25% scored below 22.

Requirements

UNCW does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, the University of North Carolina Wilmington superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of incoming University of North Carolina Wilmington freshman was 4.03, and over 80% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UNC Wilmington have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to UNC Wilmington. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, which accepts two-thirds of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, UNC Wilmington has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. UNCW is looking for an upward trend in grades combined with a rigorous course schedule. They are also looking for strong application essays and participation in meaningful extracurricular activities. Applicants are also encouraged to submit an optional letter of recommendation.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the majority of admitted students had high school grades in the "A" or "B" range, combined SAT scores of 1100 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 22 or better.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of North Carolina Wilmington Undergraduate Admissions Office.