How to Get Into UNCW: Acceptance Rate & Strategies

University of North Carolina Wilmington admissions: introduction

Are you considering applying to UNCW? You're in good company! In the last application cycle, about 16,000 students applied.

Keep reading to learn about acceptance rates, the GPA and standardized test scores that will make you competitive, tips for applying, and more.

It's a lot to keep track of. If you'd like some help navigating the UNCW admissions process, I'd be delighted to work with your family! You can book a one-on-one consultation here and sign up for online classes here.

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Bottom line up front

In case you're here just to see the numbers, here they are:

Overall acceptance rate: 69%
Transfer acceptance rate: 90%
SAT composite: 1220-1370
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 620-690
SAT Math: 600-680
ACT composite: 24-29
ACT Math: 23-27
ACT English: 23-29

University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington, NC

How hard is it to get admitted?

Not too tough. The overall acceptance rate is about 69%. To learn more about choosing safety, target, and reach schools, take Clarke College Insight's online course on "making the list." And read on for more specific admission statistics for men, women, and transfer applicants.

Acceptance rate

For first-year students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall acceptance rate was 69%. The overall acceptance rate for women was 72%, and the overall acceptance rate for men was 62%. Those acceptance rates include both rounds of admission, early action and regular.

Early action acceptance rate

UNCW does not publish its early action acceptance rate. Applying early action means you meet an earlier application deadline and hear back sooner, but you're not obligated to attend that college if admitted.

Transfer acceptance rate

For transfer students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall transfer acceptance rate was 90%. The transfer acceptance rate for women was 91%. The transfer acceptance rate for men was 89%. These numbers are so high because of students transferring from community colleges.

How hard is it to get off the waitlist?

Very easy. 90% of applicants on the waitlist were later admitted.

What is a good GPA for UNCW?

The minimum GPA for the whole UNC system is 2.5, but that GPA probably won't get you into UNCW. The average GPA of the last enrolled class was 4.04. UNCW also provides class rank information for the last freshman class:

Percent in top 10% of high school class: 17.9%
Percent in top 25% of high school class: 50.3%
Percent in top 50% of high school class: 88.5%
Percent in bottom 50% of high school class: 11.4%

If you’re in the top half of your class, UNCW is probably a good option. If you're in the lower half of your class, let’s talk about it.

What is a good SAT/ACT score for UNCW?

Comparing your SAT or ACT scores against those of the "middle 50" of colleges you're interested is a crucial step in deciding whether it's worth your time to apply. The middle 50 gives us more information than average scores do.

What is the middle 50? In statistics, another term for this range is the interquartile range: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. That may sound intimidating, but it's an easy concept to grasp once someone explains it to you.

The middle 50 range for test scores tells us what the middle half of freshmen UNCW students got on the test. That means a quarter of enrolled students got lower scores, and a quarter got higher scores.

Here are the middle 50 ranges for UNCW.

SAT score, composite: 1220-1370
SAT EBRW: 620-690
SAT Math: 600-680
ACT score, composite: 24-29
ACT Math: 23-27
ACT English: 23-29

If your scores are in those ranges, UNCW could be a good option for you. If your test scores fall below those ranges, it's probably best not to put UNCW on your list, unless you're a recruited athlete.

Tips for applying to UNCW

To get into UNCW, you need to meet its academic threshold and stand out in a good way among other applicants.

Demonstrate strong academic performance before fall semester of senior year. Specifically, aim to take as many AP, IB, or community college classes as you can, within reason. Get good grades in those tough classes. Your high school transcript--the classes you take and your high school GPA--are crucial for surviving the first round of cuts. To find out what "within reason" means and strategies to achieve that attractive transcript with minimal stress, take my online class on academics.
Send in ACT or SAT scores! Even at test-optional colleges like UNCW, score-submitters generally get in at higher rates. To find out the evidence-based way to achieve the highest score possible on standardized tests--with minimal stress and hassle and without taking time and attention away from schoolwork--take my online class.
Choose extracurriculars that are likely to fill a talent gap in the student body and focus on just a few. Aim to be specialized rather than well-rounded. For the full checklist of traits that will let you choose extracurriculars that you AND the admissions office will like, take my online class on extracurriculars.
Visit campus if you can, ideally some time when classes are in session. Arrange your visit through the admission office, or at least mention it to them by email, and try to meet with a student group and a professor of interest. Take notes and use them to write a compelling essay about why you like UNCW in particular. Those college-specific details are a great way for prospective students to show that they're likely to enroll if admitted.
Give your recommendation letter writers plenty of lead time, so no subconscious resentment about a last-minute hassle bleeds into their prose. The end of junior year is best. Equip them with brag sheets that do most of the work for them and show off your best traits.

For personalized guidance for your child's goals and strengths, you can book a one-on-one consultation here. I look forward to working with your family!

More about the University of North Carolina Wilmington

UNCW is different from the main University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill. If you're applying to a campus of the University of North Carolina, make sure it's the right one!
UNCW has few international students, about ten in each class. If you're interested in going to a college with lots of international students in the student body, there are probably better options for you.
UNCW is a fairly big school. It has about 14,000 students in its undergraduate program.
Business administration is one of the most popular majors at UNCW. Just under 20% of graduates take degrees in business administration.
Many of my clients are interested in studying computer science. At many colleges, computer science is one of the most popular majors, so aspiring compsci majors are thrown in a very competitive admission pool. This field is less popular at UNCW--just under 4% of students choose this major--so applicants who intend to major in it will probably face less competition in admission.