Introduction and Overview

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. It is the first public university in the United States and one of the public Ivy League universities in the United States.

History and Establishment

The school was founded in 1789. On October 12, 1793, the foundation stone was laid on the ruins of the Episcopal Church and the school name was determined. On February 12, 1795, it was officially opened to the public and became the first state university in the United States to enroll students. It was forced to close in 1861 due to war and debt problems and reopened in September 1875.

School Strength

Faculty: As of August 2023, there are 4,085 teachers and 9,023 employees. The school has produced 3 Nobel laureates, 37 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 22 members of the National Academy of Medicine, 7 members of the National Academy of Engineering, 16 members of the National Academy of Sciences, and 84 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Academic achievements: The school has achieved fruitful results in academic research. As of December 2015, it has founded more than 150 companies, including 63 technology service companies, and employed more than 8,000 local employees in North Carolina.

Teaching resources: Its library system includes Davis Library, Health Sciences Library, Art (Sloan) Library and other professional libraries. As of August 2023, there are 5,034,459 resources of various types in the school library system.

Institutional nature

Public university, affiliated with the University of North Carolina system.

Educational philosophy

Committed to cultivating students' critical thinking, communication skills, creativity and leadership, focusing on interdisciplinary research and practical teaching, and encouraging students to actively participate in community service and global affairs to cultivate talents with global vision and social responsibility.

Key laboratories and disciplines

Key disciplines:

Medical field: The medical school is strong. As of 2021, the school has produced 2 Nobel Prize winners and 21 members of the National Academy of Medicine of the United States. The public health major ranks high in the world. The Gillings School of Global Public Health offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral courses and degrees in public health management.

Business field: Kenan-Flagler Business School is one of the best business schools in the world. It is known for its famous teachers, innovative research and five core values. It has cultivated many outstanding talents in business management, accounting, finance and other majors.

Information and library science field: The School of Information and Library Science was rated as the best library and information management program in the 2022 QS World University Rankings, and is in a leading position in information science, library science, digital curation and other majors.

Key laboratories: It has many professional research centers, including the Blood Research Center, the Bowers Alcohol Research Center, and the Carolina Center for Excellence in Cancer Nanotechnology.

Departments

The school has 15 colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Government, the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, the Graduate School, the School of Education, the School of Information and Library Science, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Law, the School of Social Work, the School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, the Adams School of Dentistry, the School of Nursing, the School of Business, and the School of Data Science and Society.

Rankings

Ranked as the fifth public school in the 2025 US News & World Report's Best Colleges Rankings, and ranked 22nd in the 2024 US News Comprehensive Rankings.

Costs

The cost of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is relatively reasonable, with lower tuition for in-state students and relatively higher tuition for out-of-state students. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the tuition for in-state undergraduates is approximately $8,980, and the tuition for out-of-state undergraduates is approximately $43,228; graduate tuition varies by major and college. In addition, other expenses such as accommodation, books, and living expenses need to be considered.

Campus Environment

Campus facilities: It has modern teaching buildings, libraries, laboratories, gymnasiums and other facilities. Davis Library is the main library and is one of the top scientific research libraries in North America. The school also has several museums and art centers, such as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Akron Art Museum, which provide students with rich cultural and academic resources.

Natural environment: Chapel Hill is a beautiful town with tree-lined campuses, pleasant environment, distinct seasons, and mild climate. There are parks and nature reserves around the campus, such as the North Carolina Botanical Garden and Jordan Lake, which provide students with a good place for leisure and outdoor activities.

Campus culture: The school's mascot is Ram Ramses, and it has a rich sports tradition and cultural activities, such as basketball, football, rugby and other competitions. In addition, the school has many student clubs and organizations covering various fields such as art, music, drama, academics, volunteers, etc. Students can participate according to their interests and hobbies.