UNC Chapel Hill SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 13, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1390 to 1530
Half of enrolled students at UNC Chapel Hill scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1530, and one quarter below 1390.
- Acceptance rate
- 15.3%
- ACT range
- 28 to 34
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Undergraduates
- 20,880
- School type
- Public university
UNC Chapel Hill SAT Scores and Admissions
UNC Chapel Hill admitted about 15 percent of applicants and enrolled students whose SAT scores ran 1390 to 1530 in the middle 50 percent. One number shapes everything about applying here: UNC is required by state policy to fill most of its class with North Carolina residents. In state applicants face far better odds than the 15 percent overall rate, while out of state admission is intensely competitive. Where you live changes how you should read every other number on this page.
UNC is a public flagship in Chapel Hill with about 21,000 undergraduates and a strong academic reputation across the sciences, journalism, and the liberal arts. It was test optional in the most recent federal data, so its enrolled scores reflect submitters. The 140 point band leaves room for a score in the low 1400s to be competitive, particularly for in state applicants. Out of state applicants should aim toward the top of the band. Our score plans can help you target a score that fits your residency.
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UNC Chapel Hill SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at UNC Chapel Hill, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 690 | 750 |
| Math | 700 | 780 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1390 | 1530 |
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1390 to 1530
UNC Chapel Hill Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into UNC Chapel Hill, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with UNC Chapel Hill's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into UNC Chapel Hill by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at UNC Chapel Hill, based on its reported 1390 to 1530 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 1240 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1240 is well below the 1390 to 1530 range at UNC Chapel Hill. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1340 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1340 falls just short of UNC Chapel Hill's 25th percentile of 1390. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1460 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1460 sits inside the 1390 to 1530 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1530 | At the 75th percentile | A 1530 matches the 75th percentile at UNC Chapel Hill, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1560 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1560 beats the 75th percentile at UNC Chapel Hill. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to UNC Chapel Hill's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1390, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1530, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1390 | To reach 1530 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +390 points | +530 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +290 points | +430 points | All score plans |
| 1200 | +190 points | +330 points | All score plans |
| 1300 | +90 points | +230 points | 1300 to 1600 plan |
| 1400 | Already there | +130 points | 1400 to 1600 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for UNC Chapel Hill?
How you read UNC's 1390 to 1530 band depends heavily on residency. Below 1390 you are under the enrolled 25th percentile, which is workable for a strong in state file but a real disadvantage out of state. From 1390 to 1530 you are inside the enrolled range. Above 1530 your score is a genuine strength, which matters most for the competitive out of state pool.
Enrolled ACT scores ran 28 to 34. Keep two things in mind. First, these are enrolled submitters, so the admitted range runs lower, especially among test optional applicants. Second, the residency mandate means out of state admission is far tougher than 15 percent, so non residents should treat the upper half of the band as their real target. In state applicants have more flexibility, but a score in range still strengthens the file.
UNC Chapel Hill GPA Requirements
UNC expects a strong academic record in rigorous courses, and for a public flagship, GPA and course rigor carry real weight, particularly for the competitive out of state pool. There is no fixed cutoff, but competitive applicants typically present mostly A grades in a demanding schedule of honors and AP or IB courses. In state applicants have somewhat more room, given the residency mandate, but strong academics remain essential.
In concrete terms, that usually means an unweighted GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range, earned across a demanding schedule. Because the SAT band is fairly wide and the school is test optional, a strong GPA can carry meaningful weight, and a solid score paired with a rigorous transcript is a realistic competitive profile, especially in state. The diagnostic shows you where your score really stands, section by section, before you plan your prep.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at UNC Chapel Hill typically present a GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. A mostly A record across a demanding schedule is the baseline that keeps an application in the running.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
UNC Chapel Hill SAT Testing Policy
UNC Chapel Hill considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1460, the middle of UNC Chapel Hill's range. If you are below 1390, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 13, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to UNC Chapel Hill?
UNC Chapel Hill was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1460+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1390 to 1460
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1390
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at UNC Chapel Hill. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against UNC Chapel Hill's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
UNC Chapel Hill ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at UNC Chapel Hill scored between 28 and 34 on the ACT, alongside the 1390 to 1530 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, UNC Chapel Hill states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 34 | 1490 to 1520 |
| 33 | 1450 to 1480 |
| 32 | 1420 to 1440 |
| 31 | 1390 to 1410 |
| 30 | 1360 to 1380 |
| 29 | 1330 to 1350 |
| 28 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside UNC Chapel Hill's ACT middle 50 percent.
How UNC Chapel Hill Reviews SAT Scores
UNC reviews applications with real attention to academic rigor, essays, and, crucially, residency. At a 15 percent overall admit rate, in state applicants face better odds and out of state applicants face a much tougher bar. The SAT is one meaningful factor whose weight depends on where you live and how the rest of your file looks.
The practical approach is to understand your residency situation clearly, then target a score that fits it: solidly in range for in state applicants, toward the top of the band for the competitive out of state pool. Pair your score with a rigorous transcript and essays that show a genuine reason for choosing UNC, and remember that the test optional policy gives you room to apply without a score that does not support your file.
How to Get Into UNC Chapel Hill
Aim for 1530 or higher if you want your SAT to clear UNC's 75th percentile, which matters most for out of state applicants facing the toughest odds. If you are starting in the low 1400s, the gap is reachable with focused work on your weaker section. Our 1350 to 1550 score plan targets this band with a week by week structure. The diagnostic gives you a real score and a section breakdown in one sitting. Because UNC's out of state pool is so competitive, non residents should aim toward the top of the band, while in state applicants can treat a score in the middle as solid support for a strong overall file. Point your prep at the section costing you the most points, and give math extra attention if you are targeting a quantitative program.
How Hard Is It to Get Into UNC Chapel Hill?
UNC Chapel Hill admits about 153 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 20,880. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 847 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: UNC Chapel Hill's 25th percentile score of 1390 already beats roughly 93% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1530 sits around the 99th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to UNC Chapel Hill: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside UNC Chapel Hill, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs UNC Chapel Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNC Chapel Hill | 1390 to 1530 | 15.3% | This page |
| Yale | 1470 to 1570 | 3.9% | Harder to get into than UNC Chapel HillSAT about 60 higher |
| Duke | 1500 to 1570 | 5.7% | Harder to get into than UNC Chapel HillSAT about 75 higher |
| NYU | 1480 to 1560 | 9.2% | Harder to get into than UNC Chapel HillSAT about 60 higher |
| Washington University in St Louis | 1500 to 1570 | 12.1% | Similar oddsSAT about 75 higher |
| Georgetown (DC) | 1390 to 1550 | 12.9% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | 1400 to 1520 | 14.0% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These UNC Chapel Hill SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 13, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for UNC Chapel Hill disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked UNC Chapel Hill's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
UNC Chapel Hill SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into UNC Chapel Hill?
UNC Chapel Hill's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1390 to 1530. Aim for at least 1390 to be competitive, and 1530 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1390 a good SAT score for UNC Chapel Hill?
A 1390 sits at UNC Chapel Hill's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1390 to 1530. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1530 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at UNC Chapel Hill?
UNC Chapel Hill does not report a single composite average in the federal data, so the middle 50 percent range is the most precise figure available: enrolled students scored between 1390 and 1530.
Does UNC Chapel Hill require SAT scores?
No. UNC Chapel Hill was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is UNC Chapel Hill test optional for 2026-2027?
UNC Chapel Hill was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for UNC Chapel Hill?
UNC Chapel Hill's middle 50 percent ACT range is 28 to 34. Aim for at least 28 to be competitive and 34 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at UNC Chapel Hill.
What GPA do you need to get into UNC Chapel Hill?
Admitted students at UNC Chapel Hill typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is UNC Chapel Hill's acceptance rate?
UNC Chapel Hill admits about 15.3% of applicants, which makes it highly selective. A strong SAT score helps your application stand out in a pool this competitive.
What are my chances of getting into UNC Chapel Hill?
UNC Chapel Hill admits about 15.3% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1390 to 1530 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.8 to 4.0. A score above 1530 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against UNC Chapel Hill's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for UNC Chapel Hill?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does UNC Chapel Hill superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and UNC Chapel Hill does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 13, 2026.
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