UNC–Chapel Hill Releases Fall 2026 Incoming Student Profile

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC–Chapel Hill) has released its incoming student profile for fall 2026.

Incoming Student Overview

UNC–Chapel Hill welcomed a total of 6,325 new students for the fall 2026 semester.

• First-Year Students: 5,319

• Transfer Students: 1,006

• Total Applicants: 83,005

Unless otherwise noted, the statistics refer to enrolled students, including both first-year and transfer students.

The acceptance rate cannot be calculated using only the 83,005 applicants and 6,325 enrolled students. Enrollment figures represent students who actually enrolled, not the total number of students admitted.

Geographic Background

The fall 2026 incoming students represent:

• 98 countries

• All 50 U.S. states

• Washington, D.C.

• Puerto Rico

• 99 counties in North Carolina

Among students from North Carolina, 35% come from rural counties.

Student Background

• First-Generation College Students: 18.5%

• First-year students from high schools supported by the Carolina College Advising Corps: 214

• Transfer students from North Carolina community colleges: 45% of enrolled transfer students

• Students who participated in community service during high school: 78%

• Students who plan to pursue additional education after completing their undergraduate degrees: 80%

  
  

Extracurricular Activities

Incoming students participated in a variety of activities during high school.

• Community Service: 78%

• Sports: 64%

• Paid Work: 58%

• Arts and Music: 45%

• Student Government: 25%

• Internships: 24%

High School Class Rank

Among enrolled first-year students who submitted their high school class rank:

• 78% ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class.

• 94% ranked in the top 20% of their graduating class.

  
  

SAT and ACT Scores

The following figures represent the Middle 50% Range of the highest scores reported by enrolled first-year students who submitted test scores.

SAT

1400–1530

ACT

30–34

These scores represent the middle 50% range of enrolled students, not the score range of all admitted applicants or a minimum score required for admission.

College Credit

The following statistics reflect first-year students who requested college credit for college-level coursework.

AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate)

• Students who received credit for at least one course: 80%

• Students who received credit for at least five courses: 67%

  
  

Dual Enrollment

• Students who received credit for at least one course: 65%

• Students who received credit for at least five courses: 44%

  
  

Student Demographics

UNC–Chapel Hill reported the following racial and ethnic self-identification percentages among incoming students.

Racial or Ethnic Identity	Percentage
American Indian or Alaska Native	1.2%
Asian or Asian American	26.3%
Black or African American	7.8%
Hispanic, Latino or Latina	10.1%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0.3%
White or Caucasian	62.9%

Students may identify with more than one category, so the percentages may not add up to 100%.

Languages and International Background

The most commonly reported languages spoken by incoming students other than English are:

Language	Percentage
Spanish	18.6%
Mandarin Chinese	7.2%
Hindi	3.2%
French	3.1%
Korean	1.3%
German	1.0%

Additional statistics related to international backgrounds include:

• Students who attended high school outside the United States: 9%

• Students who hold citizenship in a country other than the United States: 13%

Intended Majors

The five most popular intended majors among incoming students are:

1. Biology

2. Business Administration

3. Economics

4. Political Science

5. Psychology

   
   

These are the intended majors students indicated upon entering the university and may differ from the majors they ultimately declare.

Special Programs and Scholarships

The following figures represent enrolled first-year students who were offered opportunities through special programs or scholarships.

• Selected for Honors Carolina: 588 students

• Recipients of University Scholarships: 290 students

• Selected as Morehead-Cain or Robertson Scholars: 77 students

Featured Incoming Students

UNC–Chapel Hill highlighted three incoming students: Griffin Fitzgerald, Monica Grenadier-Macaes, and Sydney Mathis.

Griffin Fitzgerald

Griffin Fitzgerald spent two years mentoring children with PANDAS, a rare autoimmune condition with which he has also been diagnosed.

He plans to study Biomedical Engineering and contribute to improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases through research in nanotechnology and materials science.

Monica Grenadier-Macaes

Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Monica Grenadier-Macaes has experience leading volunteer activities in Brazil.

She hopes to continue participating in community service and collaborative activities at UNC while exploring research opportunities.

Sydney Mathis

Sydney Mathis, from Clinton, North Carolina, has a strong interest in marketing.

She hopes to become involved in student organizations such as Carolina Women in Business, as well as study abroad opportunities and summer research programs.

Official Source

UNC–Chapel Hill — Meet Carolina’s Newest Class

Source: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Undergraduate Admissions

The official page does not indicate a specific publication date.