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 6,325 new students, including 5,319 first-year students and 1,006 transfer students, are beginning their Tar Heel journeys.

Students were selected from more than 83,000 total applicants. This year’s incoming first-year and transfer students represent 99 North Carolina counties, 50 states, Northern Mariana Islands, Armed Forces Pacific, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and 98 countries worldwide.

“North Carolina is growing, and Carolina must grow with it,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “As the state’s flagship public university, we have a responsibility to create more opportunities for talented students from every part of North Carolina. Welcoming the largest incoming class in our history is an important step in serving our state and preparing the leaders who will help shape its future.”

This fall’s incoming class is a talented, smart and community-centered group. Most students graduated near the top of their class and still found significant time to work, serve their communities and lead initiatives at community, state and national levels. Carolina is not the end of the journey for these students, just the next step in long, successful academic and professional careers.

Among the more than 5,000 students from North Carolina, 35% come from a rural county. Of all incoming students, 18.5% will be the first in their families to graduate from college and 10% are Carolina Covenant scholars.

Among the incoming first-year class are 214 students from 61 high schools served by the Carolina College Advising Corps, a public service of the University that seeks to increase college-going rates and postsecondary success among low-income, first-generation college students from under-resourced high schools.

The University continues to support robust transfer pathways. About 45% of the enrolling transfer class is transferring from a North Carolina community college. The transfer class includes 121 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.

• 78% of incoming first-year students ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.
• 94% of incoming first-year students 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 44% received credit for at least five courses.
• On the SAT, the middle 50% of incoming first-year students scored between 1400 and 1530.
• On the ACT, the middle 50% of incoming first-year students scored between 30 and 34.

Incoming students, first-years and transfer students bring a wide range of experiences and interests:

• 78% of incoming students participated in community service.
• 64% of incoming students played sports.
• 58% of incoming students did paid work.
• 45% of incoming students engaged in arts and music.
• 25% of incoming students participated in student government.
• 24% of incoming students completed internships.

“Each data point for this incoming class represents a student with their own story, ambitions and perspectives,” said James Orr, senior vice provost for student success. “We’re excited to welcome this talented group of students from across North Carolina and beyond. We know that getting to Carolina is just the beginning of a student’s journey, and we’re committed to ensuring that once they arrive, they have the resources, community and opportunities to make the most of their experience.”

All data points contain preliminary data as of the census date. Values may change as data are reviewed and finalized, with final figures expected in late October 2026.

For more information, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.