Career orientation
highmarine science, business, nursing, education, film, sciences, and the liberal arts create visible professional pathways.
COLLEGE FIT GUIDE
Evidence checked · 2026-10-06
University of North Carolina Wilmington
UNC Wilmington is a public research university with strengths in marine science, business, nursing, education, film, sciences, and the liberal arts. A residential campus near the Atlantic makes coastal culture and environmental learning central to the experience.
- Undergraduate Research
- Academic choices and structure
- Separate institutional opportunity from individual access
QUICK READ
- Location
- Wilmington, North Carolina · Coastal small-city setting
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 14,922
- Aggregate admission rate
- 64.2%
- Average net price
- $20,109
FIT SNAPSHOT
How this environment may feel
These are directional interpretations of the college environment, not a score or universal verdict.
Learning by doing
highResearch, coastal fieldwork, clinical learning, film production, and internships connect programs with southeastern North Carolina.
Community closeness
neutralThe campus setting supports recurring contact and a recognizable community.
School spirit
moderateCampus traditions and student organizations provide shared entry points.
WHY IT MAY FIT
Consider University of North Carolina Wilmington if…
- You want marine science or film.
- You want a coastal setting.
- You want a residential public university.
- You want Wilmington internships.
POSSIBLE TENSIONS
It may not fit if…
- You do not want a major metropolitan campus.
- You do not want a small private college.
- You do not want minimal beach culture.
- You do not want a landlocked setting.
WHAT STANDS OUT
The environment behind the name
Undergraduate Research
Research, coastal fieldwork, clinical learning, film production, and internships connect programs with southeastern North Carolina.
Source: Undergraduate Research
Academic choices and structure
Programs in marine science, business, nursing, education, film, sciences, and the liberal arts sit within a public research university, with the campus setting influencing access, community, and daily life.
Source: Academics
A setting that shapes the experience
Wilmington, North Carolina gives students a distinct context for campus life, work, community, and recreation.
Source: Undergraduate Research
LOOK CLOSER
Questions worth asking before you decide
Use these prompts during a visit, an information session, or a conversation with a current student.
- 1
Separate institutional opportunity from individual access
UNC Wilmington documents substantial opportunities, but availability can differ by program, timing, prerequisites, capacity, and student initiative.
Source: Undergraduate Research
- 2
Interpret scale and selectivity carefully
Federal data report 14,922 undergraduates and an aggregate admission rate of 64.2%. These figures describe the institution, not an individual applicant’s probability or a particular program’s experience.
Source: University of North Carolina Wilmington institutional data
- 3
Use the current price for your circumstances
Federal data report an average net price of $20,109. This historical average is not a quote; residency, income, housing, aid eligibility, and program costs can materially change what a family pays.
Source: University of North Carolina Wilmington institutional data
FEDERAL CLERY DATA
Campus safety statistics, with context
Federal Clery records describe reported incidents within defined campus geography. They are not a measure of crime prevalence or an overall safety rating.
2024 reported on-campus offenses:36
Per 1,000 enrolled:1.9
Reporting campuses:3
COMPARE THE TRADEOFFS
Schools that sharpen the question
A useful comparison for students evaluating UNC Wilmington across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
A useful comparison for students evaluating UNC Wilmington across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
A useful comparison for students evaluating UNC Wilmington across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
EVIDENCE
Sources and method
View the reviewed sources
- Undergraduate Research - University of North Carolina Wilmington (official, retrieved 2026-10-06)
- Academics - University of North Carolina Wilmington (official, retrieved 2026-10-06)
- University of North Carolina Wilmington institutional data - U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (federal, retrieved 2026-10-06)
Navastra interprets UNC Wilmington’s documented academic environment, setting, opportunities, and federal reference fields through preference dimensions. The page describes documented structures, not every student’s experience. It does not calculate an individual fit score, predict admission, or estimate a financial-aid award. Read the methodology →
Programs, policies, costs, and campus life change. Verify current details with the college ↗
PERSONALIZE THE QUESTION