Experiences. Unlimited.
Diverse ideas, talents, interests, and life experiences. Diverse racial, cultural, economic, and geographical backgrounds. And an endless array of diverse opportunities—to think deeply, to express yourself, to pursue your passions—both inside and outside the classroom. As a Carolina student, you’ll find that what it all adds up to is this: a diverse and dynamic community where new experiences, fresh insights, and new ways of viewing the world await you at every turn.
Did you know that:
- While 80 percent of our entering first—year students come from within our state, these North Carolinians themselves come from all over the country and the world. Last year’s entering North Carolinians were born in 47 different states and the District of Columbia and 61 different countries. And they’re great students—last year, 86.2 percent of all North Carolinians scoring 1400 or higher applied to Carolina and 45 percent of them enrolled.
- Applications from international students (first-year and transfer) have more than doubled in the last five years (from 702 in 2004 to 1,629 in 2009) and enrollment for first-year international students doubled (from 1% in Fall 2008 to 2% in Fall 2009)
- Over the last ten years, the percentage of African-American students in the entering class at Carolina has consistently ranked within the top three among all top-50 universities, public and private. We have had the highest percentage in six of those ten years—more than any other school.
- Over the last five years, Hispanic enrollment at Carolina has doubled (from 457 in 2004 to 974 in 2009) and Asian American enrollment has increased by nearly one third (from 1,016 in 2004 to 1,344 in 2009).
- In addition to their classroom education, Carolina students also take advantage of an extensive variety of experiential learning opportunities. Nearly 50 percent of them participate in breakthrough research projects. They choose from more than 30,000 internship opportunities across the globe. And, with 300 programs in 70 different countries to choose from, more of them study abroad than at most other public research universities in the nation.
- Our undergraduate student body of 18,000 is united by 600+ organizations, 33 residence halls (including 9 learning communities), a commitment to improving Chapel Hill and beyond, and the excitement of cheering on the 28 teams that compete in the NCAA.