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College Comparison

UNC Chapel Hill vs The University of Alabama: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

UNC Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

School

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUNC Chapel HillAlabama
Acceptance Rate18.7%wins75.8%
SAT Range (25th–75th)1370–1530wins1170–1400
ACT Range (25th–75th)30–34wins24–31
Tuition (Out-of-State)$39,330$33,200wins
Avg Net Price$12,983wins$22,150
Median Earnings (10 yr)$72,200wins$59,221
Graduation Rate92.1%wins73.7%
Retention Rate97.2%wins86.1%
Student–Faculty Ratio15:1wins19:1
Total Enrollment20,55632,323wins

Verdict

Based on the data above, UNC Chapel Hill edges out Alabama on 8 of 10 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

UNC Chapel Hill Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 18.7%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1370–1530
  • ACT Range (25th–75th): 30–34
  • Avg Net Price: $12,983

Alabama Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $33,200
  • Total Enrollment: 32,323

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