Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Worth It?
Chapel Hill, NC · Small city · 20,752 students · Data: College Scorecard, June 2026 release
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a R1 Research University located in small city in Chapel Hill, NC. It enrolls approximately 20,752 students. The acceptance rate is 15%, making it highly selective. 91% of students finish within 6 years (150% of normal time) — a strong result. With $72,200 median earnings and $14,000 median debt, median debt equals about 2 months of gross pay (estimate) — a solid ROI. 81% of borrowers are making progress on their loans 3 years after leaving school (College Scorecard).
Liberal-leaning student body
4.86 liberal students for every 1 conservative student (FIRE survey). Free speech rank 31 of 261, grade C-.
Full campus politics breakdown →Source: FIRE 2027 College Free Speech Rankings (student survey fielded 2026 by College Pulse)
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