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University of North Carolina at Charlotte

#455 in US ranking Charlotte, NC
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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University of North Carolina at Charlotte award
University of North Carolina at Charlotte award

Cost

Cost / year
$23,556
Tuition & fees
$7,020
Avg. aid
$8,611
Receiving aid
75%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
80%
SAT range
1140–1330
ACT range
21–28

Outcomes

Graduation rate
69%
Median salary
$49,204
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of University of North Carolina at Charlotte?

UNC Charlotte is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval of an individual degree program.

Some programs also have field-specific accreditation. Examples include accreditation associated with eligible engineering programs through ABET, business programs through AACSB, and qualifying professional programs in areas such as nursing, architecture, and social work. Programmatic accreditation must be checked for the exact degree a student intends to pursue, particularly when professional licensure is the goal.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to federal student-aid eligibility. It does not, by itself, guarantee that another college will accept a course for transfer or that a graduate will meet a state licensing board's requirements; those decisions involve separate rules.

What are the admission requirements at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?

First-year applicants to UNC Charlotte generally submit an undergraduate application and a high school transcript showing completion of required college-preparatory coursework. Applicants completing an approved high school equivalency route should follow the university's instructions for documenting that credential.

The university considers academic performance and the courses taken in high school. Class rank and recommendations may be considered, but they are not generally listed as required. SAT and ACT policies can change by entry term and applicant category, so applicants should check the rule for their intended semester rather than assume scores are mandatory or irrelevant. Among enrolled first-time students in the reported admissions data, the median submitted SAT composite was 1220; because only a minority submitted SAT scores, that figure is not a typical score for the entire entering class.

UNC Charlotte admitted about 80% of first-time applicants in the reported cycle. That is an institution-wide admission rate, not a prediction for an individual applicant or a more selective major. Applicants educated outside the United States may need additional credential review and proof of English proficiency, including a qualifying language test where required. Deadlines, essays, and supplementary requirements should be checked for the specific term and program.

What are the application fees and waivers at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?

The reported standard undergraduate application fee is $75. An application fee pays for processing an application; it is separate from tuition, orientation charges, and any payment requested after admission.

Applicants with financial need may be eligible for a fee waiver, but eligibility and the request method depend on the application route and applicant category. A student seeking a waiver should review the application's waiver questions and admissions instructions before submitting and paying, since a payment already made may not be refundable. Graduate and other specialized applications can have different fees.

What types of ROTC programs are available at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?

UNC Charlotte has on-campus Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC opportunities. These programs let eligible students combine university coursework with officer-training requirements; participation is not the same thing as joining a varsity team or simply taking a military-studies elective.

Scholarship eligibility, medical and physical standards, commissioning requirements, and any service obligation depend on the branch and a student's status. Interested applicants should speak with the relevant ROTC unit before relying on a scholarship as part of their financial plan. Students considering another military branch should verify whether a current cross-enrollment arrangement exists rather than assume one is available on campus.

What are the requirements for transfer students at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?

UNC Charlotte accepts transfer applications for fall, spring, and summer entry. Transfer applicants generally submit an application and official transcripts from every college attended; high school records may also be required depending on the amount of completed college work and the applicant's circumstances.

The university's transfer review takes account of transferable credits, college GPA, and any requirements for the intended major. Applicants with fewer completed college credits may receive closer review of their high school preparation. A transfer student should check the current credit and GPA thresholds for the intended entry term, rather than treating general university eligibility as admission to a restricted program.

UNC Charlotte provides transfer-credit guidance and participates in North Carolina transfer pathways, including the statewide Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for eligible community-college students. An agreement can clarify how qualifying courses transfer, but it does not guarantee entry to every major. The decisive step for degree planning is an official evaluation of how accepted credits satisfy UNC Charlotte requirements, not just a count of credits awarded. The university also recognizes some credit-by-exam routes, including qualifying CLEP results.

What types of study abroad programs are available at University of North Carolina at Charlotte?

UNC Charlotte offers study-abroad advising and routes that can include semester programs, exchanges, shorter faculty-led courses, and approved programs run with outside partners. Availability differs by destination, term, and academic field.

Students should arrange academic approval before committing to a program: a course taken overseas may be accepted for credit without satisfying the particular requirement they hoped to complete. Program fees, travel, insurance, visa costs, and financial-aid treatment also vary. The university's education-abroad advisers can help students compare programs and identify the approval steps for their major.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admissions Factors

SAT range
1140–1330
4001600
ACT range
21–28
136
Acceptance rate
80%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
80%
North Carolina
75%
US
78%

24% of admitted students enrolled (4,657 of 19,015)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admissions

Applicants
Total: 23,887
Admission
Total: 19,015
Enrolled
Total: 4,657
Women
Men

How to Apply to University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Regular application deadline

June 1

Application fee

$75

Early Decision

No

Early Action

Yes, deadline November 1

University of North Carolina at Charlotte First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 4,174
Out-of-state: 405
International: 42

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 4,657
Transfer: 2,568

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1220

Median composite ACT score

24

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

27%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

16.1%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

Yes

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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