Carolina welcomes largest first-year class ever
The incoming class of 5,094 new students represents 98 North Carolina counties and 80 countries.
UNC-Chapel Hill enrolled its largest first-year class in school history, a milestone that reflects record interest in a Carolina education. A total of 6,191 new students, 5,094 first-year students and 1,097 transfer students are beginning their Tar Heel journeys.
Students were selected from a record 84,317 total applicants, a 15% increase from 73,192 applicants in 2024. First-year applications have increased 45% in the last five years.
This year’s incoming first-year students represent 98 North Carolina counties, 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and 80 countries worldwide.
All data points are verified as of Aug. 29, the University’s official enrollment reporting date.
Supporting access and affordability
Among the incoming first-year class are 192 students from one of the 81 partner high schools served by the Carolina College Advising Corps, a public service of the University that seeks to increase college-going rates and post-secondary success among low-income, first-generation college students from under-resourced high schools.
The University continues to support robust transfer pathways. Forty-six percent of the enrolling transfer class is transferring from a North Carolina community college. The transfer class includes 122 students who come to Carolina from partner community colleges served by the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program. C-STEP is designed to enable community college students to transfer to and graduate from Carolina and partners with 14 community colleges across the state.
Academic strength
- 69% of the incoming class ranked in the top 10% of their high school class
- 87% ranked in the top 20% of their high school class
- 65% of incoming first-year students received dual enrollment credit for at least one course and 42% received credit for at least five courses
- On the SAT, the middle 50% of incoming first-year students scored between 1400 and 1520
- On the ACT, the middle 50% of incoming first-year students scored between 29 and 34
North Carolinians
Among the 4,949 students from North Carolina, 34% come from a rural county.
First in their families
Of all incoming students, 18% will be the first in their families to graduate from college.
Financial aid
Among all incoming students, 11% will have the opportunity to graduate debt-free under the Carolina Covenant program.
Extracurricular snapshot
Incoming students bring a wide range of experiences and interests:
- 76.3% participated in service
- 61.3% played sports
- 59.3% held part-time work
- 44.5% engaged in arts and music
- 25.3% participated in student government
- 21.4% completed internships
“We are delighted to welcome an extraordinary group of new Tar Heels to Carolina this year,” said Rachelle Feldman, vice provost for enrollment. “Our incoming class brings a wonderful mix of talents, perspectives and experiences from across North Carolina, the nation and the world. Their academic achievements and diverse backgrounds are a testament to the strength and appeal of our community. At Carolina, we remain deeply committed to providing access and opportunity and we look forward to supporting these students as they begin their journeys and make their mark on our campus and beyond.”
Below is a chart of entering first-year and transfer students between fall 2025 and fall 2024 showing how they identify.
| How Students Identify | Fall 2025 | Fall 2024 |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Asian or Asian American | 25.7% | 25.8% |
| Black or African American | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| Hispanic, Latino, or Latina | 11.1% | 10.1% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| White or Caucasian | 62.5% | 63.8% |
The University has long been one of the only public universities to meet the full demonstrated financial need of all undergraduates who qualify to receive federal financial aid.
For more information, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.
