University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in United States - US News Best Global Universities
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University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

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Chapel Hill, NC 27599 United States |

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#41 in Best Global Universities

Summary

University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill is a public institution that was founded in 1789. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,355, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 729 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill's ranking in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #28. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,021; out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,200.

The University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, often referred to as UNC, offers a wide range of student activities. Popular student organizations include The Daily Tarheel, UNC’s student newspaper, and WXYC, the student-run radio station. Nearly 20 percent of students are members of Greek life. Chapel Hill, which surrounds UNC, is often considered one of the best college towns in the country, offering music, restaurants and shopping. Almost half of all undergraduates live on campus in one of the residence halls or apartment complexes. The North Carolina Tar Heels are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and are known for their men’s basketball team, which maintains a storied rivalry with nearby institution Duke University and is one of the most successful programs in college basketball. Former players include Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.

UNC is divided into a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate programs include the highly ranked Kenan—Flagler Business School, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Social Work, Eshelman School of Pharmacy and School of Government. At least 82 percent of each freshmen class must be from North Carolina, as dictated by state law. Actor and former professional basketball player Rick Fox, the 11th president of the United States James K. Polk, and former U.S. Senator John Edwards all earned degrees from UNC.

University Data

Total number of students

30,845

Number of international students

2,814

Total number of academic staff

3,934

Number of international staff

321

Number of undergraduate degrees awarded

4,826

Number of master's degrees awarded

2,398

Number of doctoral degrees awarded

1,211

Number of research only staff

1,578

Number of new undergraduate students

4,844

Number of new master's students

2,010

Number of new doctoral students

2,026

More from This School

Rankings

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is ranked #41 in Best Global Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

Global Universities Rankings

Subject Rankings

2022-2023 Indicator Rankings

Thirteen indicators were used to calculate this institution's overall Best Global Universities rank. Here is a breakdown of how this institution ranked relative to other schools for each indicator.

Read the Methodology

Global score

76.7

Global research reputation

#42

Regional research reputation

#23

Publications

#61

Books

#82

Conferences

#391

Normalized citation impact

#122

Total citations

#45

Number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#46

Percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#103

International collaboration - relative to country

#1144

International collaboration

#1161

Number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#36

Percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#111

Arts and Humanities overall score

62.5

Arts and Humanities global research reputation

#59

Arts and Humanities regional research reputation

#20

Arts and Humanities publications

#74

Arts and Humanities books

#138

Arts and Humanities normalized citation impact

#146

Arts and Humanities total citations

#82

Arts and Humanities number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#70

Arts and Humanities percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#129

Arts and Humanities international collaboration - relative to country

#190

Arts and Humanities international collaboration

#324

Biology and Biochemistry overall score

63.7

Biology and Biochemistry global research reputation

#43

Biology and Biochemistry regional research reputation

#23

Biology and Biochemistry publications

#72

Biology and Biochemistry normalized citation impact

#52

Biology and Biochemistry total citations

#40

Biology and Biochemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#44

Biology and Biochemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#51

Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration - relative to country

#529

Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration

#439

Biology and Biochemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#38

Biology and Biochemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#63

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology overall score

54.2

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology publications

#142

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology conferences

#197

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology normalized citation impact

#12

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology total citations

#51

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#61

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#16

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology international collaboration - relative to country

#253

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology international collaboration

#164

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#23

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#13

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems overall score

61.7

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems publications

#84

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems conferences

#173

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems normalized citation impact

#46

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems total citations

#61

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#80

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#112

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems international collaboration - relative to country

#207

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems international collaboration

#219

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#67

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#89

Cell Biology overall score

64.8

Cell Biology publications

#62

Cell Biology conferences

#27

Cell Biology normalized citation impact

#14

Cell Biology total citations

#30

Cell Biology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#37

Cell Biology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#37

Cell Biology international collaboration - relative to country

#275

Cell Biology international collaboration

#214

Cell Biology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#17

Cell Biology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#10

Chemistry overall score

69.9

Chemistry global research reputation

#72

Chemistry regional research reputation

#25

Chemistry publications

#276

Chemistry normalized citation impact

#59

Chemistry total citations

#152

Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#173

Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#144

Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country

#776

Chemistry international collaboration

#632

Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#128

Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#114

Clinical Medicine overall score

79.0

Clinical Medicine global research reputation

#20

Clinical Medicine regional research reputation

#16

Clinical Medicine publications

#34

Clinical Medicine normalized citation impact

#273

Clinical Medicine total citations

#32

Clinical Medicine number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#32

Clinical Medicine percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#136

Clinical Medicine international collaboration - relative to country

#252

Clinical Medicine international collaboration

#644

Clinical Medicine number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#32

Clinical Medicine percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#190

Computer Science overall score

63.7

Computer Science global research reputation

#204

Computer Science regional research reputation

#38

Computer Science publications

#153

Computer Science conferences

#237

Computer Science normalized citation impact

#22

Computer Science total citations

#79

Computer Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#116

Computer Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#63

Computer Science international collaboration - relative to country

#369

Computer Science international collaboration

#394

Computer Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#181

Computer Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#267

Economics and Business overall score

56.2

Economics and Business global research reputation

#59

Economics and Business regional research reputation

#25

Economics and Business publications

#96

Economics and Business normalized citation impact

#49

Economics and Business total citations

#66

Economics and Business number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#60

Economics and Business percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#34

Economics and Business international collaboration - relative to country

#273

Economics and Business international collaboration

#302

Economics and Business number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#80

Economics and Business percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#98

Education and Educational Research overall score

43.3

Education and Educational Research publications

#38

Education and Educational Research conferences

#169

Education and Educational Research normalized citation impact

#87

Education and Educational Research total citations

#56

Education and Educational Research number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#49

Education and Educational Research percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#79

Education and Educational Research international collaboration - relative to country

#142

Education and Educational Research international collaboration

#161

Education and Educational Research number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#116

Education and Educational Research percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#116

Endocrinology and Metabolism overall score

72.1

Endocrinology and Metabolism publications

#75

Endocrinology and Metabolism conferences

#27

Endocrinology and Metabolism normalized citation impact

#7

Endocrinology and Metabolism total citations

#29

Endocrinology and Metabolism number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#40

Endocrinology and Metabolism percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#21

Endocrinology and Metabolism international collaboration - relative to country

#161

Endocrinology and Metabolism international collaboration

#171

Endocrinology and Metabolism number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#20

Endocrinology and Metabolism percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#9

Engineering overall score

51.5

Engineering global research reputation

#229

Engineering regional research reputation

#59

Engineering publications

#834

Engineering conferences

#584

Engineering normalized citation impact

#57

Engineering total citations

#583

Engineering number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#662

Engineering percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#268

Engineering international collaboration - relative to country

#636

Engineering international collaboration

#502

Engineering number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#369

Engineering percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#77

Environment/Ecology overall score

66.3

Environment/Ecology global research reputation

#54

Environment/Ecology regional research reputation

#22

Environment/Ecology publications

#131

Environment/Ecology normalized citation impact

#341

Environment/Ecology total citations

#153

Environment/Ecology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#133

Environment/Ecology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#241

Environment/Ecology international collaboration - relative to country

#569

Environment/Ecology international collaboration

#505

Environment/Ecology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#245

Environment/Ecology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#490

Gastroenterology and Hepatology overall score

75.5

Gastroenterology and Hepatology publications

#18

Gastroenterology and Hepatology conferences

#6

Gastroenterology and Hepatology normalized citation impact

#54

Gastroenterology and Hepatology total citations

#13

Gastroenterology and Hepatology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#17

Gastroenterology and Hepatology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#73

Gastroenterology and Hepatology international collaboration - relative to country

#29

Gastroenterology and Hepatology international collaboration

#92

Gastroenterology and Hepatology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#13

Gastroenterology and Hepatology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#64

Geosciences overall score

44.2

Geosciences global research reputation

#139

Geosciences regional research reputation

#52

Geosciences publications

#344

Geosciences normalized citation impact

#83

Geosciences total citations

#276

Geosciences number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#232

Geosciences percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#58

Geosciences international collaboration - relative to country

#423

Geosciences international collaboration

#387

Geosciences number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#256

Geosciences percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#172

Immunology overall score

63.4

Immunology global research reputation

#32

Immunology regional research reputation

#21

Immunology publications

#17

Immunology normalized citation impact

#138

Immunology total citations

#31

Immunology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#29

Immunology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#147

Immunology international collaboration - relative to country

#48

Immunology international collaboration

#144

Immunology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#28

Immunology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#113

Infectious Diseases overall score

71.0

Infectious Diseases publications

#12

Infectious Diseases conferences

#4

Infectious Diseases normalized citation impact

#150

Infectious Diseases total citations

#19

Infectious Diseases number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#15

Infectious Diseases percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#128

Infectious Diseases international collaboration - relative to country

#17

Infectious Diseases international collaboration

#88

Infectious Diseases number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#33

Infectious Diseases percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#152

Materials Science overall score

67.5

Materials Science global research reputation

#273

Materials Science regional research reputation

#39

Materials Science publications

#445

Materials Science normalized citation impact

#3

Materials Science total citations

#173

Materials Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#145

Materials Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#6

Materials Science international collaboration - relative to country

#406

Materials Science international collaboration

#305

Materials Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#102

Materials Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#7

Mathematics overall score

70.5

Mathematics global research reputation

#38

Mathematics regional research reputation

#20

Mathematics publications

#116

Mathematics normalized citation impact

#109

Mathematics total citations

#82

Mathematics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#82

Mathematics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#120

Mathematics international collaboration - relative to country

#396

Mathematics international collaboration

#329

Mathematics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#31

Mathematics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#44

Microbiology overall score

70.4

Microbiology global research reputation

#28

Microbiology regional research reputation

#14

Microbiology publications

#49

Microbiology normalized citation impact

#5

Microbiology total citations

#6

Microbiology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#12

Microbiology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#11

Microbiology international collaboration - relative to country

#283

Microbiology international collaboration

#246

Microbiology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#8

Microbiology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#15

Molecular Biology and Genetics overall score

70.1

Molecular Biology and Genetics global research reputation

#47

Molecular Biology and Genetics regional research reputation

#24

Molecular Biology and Genetics publications

#36

Molecular Biology and Genetics normalized citation impact

#32

Molecular Biology and Genetics total citations

#19

Molecular Biology and Genetics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#25

Molecular Biology and Genetics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#61

Molecular Biology and Genetics international collaboration - relative to country

#345

Molecular Biology and Genetics international collaboration

#306

Molecular Biology and Genetics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#18

Molecular Biology and Genetics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#30

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology overall score

48.6

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology publications

#199

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology conferences

#336

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology normalized citation impact

#18

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology total citations

#124

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#121

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#35

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology international collaboration - relative to country

#248

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology international collaboration

#179

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#100

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#47

Neuroscience and Behavior overall score

60.7

Neuroscience and Behavior global research reputation

#97

Neuroscience and Behavior regional research reputation

#29

Neuroscience and Behavior publications

#63

Neuroscience and Behavior normalized citation impact

#84

Neuroscience and Behavior total citations

#54

Neuroscience and Behavior number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#51

Neuroscience and Behavior percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#56

Neuroscience and Behavior international collaboration - relative to country

#281

Neuroscience and Behavior international collaboration

#336

Neuroscience and Behavior number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#46

Neuroscience and Behavior percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#58

Oncology overall score

63.4

Oncology publications

#46

Oncology conferences

#41

Oncology normalized citation impact

#101

Oncology total citations

#37

Oncology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#32

Oncology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#70

Oncology international collaboration - relative to country

#224

Oncology international collaboration

#258

Oncology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#32

Oncology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#87

Pharmacology and Toxicology overall score

79.1

Pharmacology and Toxicology global research reputation

#8

Pharmacology and Toxicology regional research reputation

#2

Pharmacology and Toxicology publications

#22

Pharmacology and Toxicology normalized citation impact

#121

Pharmacology and Toxicology total citations

#22

Pharmacology and Toxicology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#23

Pharmacology and Toxicology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#143

Pharmacology and Toxicology international collaboration - relative to country

#328

Pharmacology and Toxicology international collaboration

#258

Pharmacology and Toxicology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#12

Pharmacology and Toxicology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#69

Physical Chemistry overall score

64.0

Physical Chemistry publications

#324

Physical Chemistry conferences

#274

Physical Chemistry normalized citation impact

#24

Physical Chemistry total citations

#154

Physical Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#143

Physical Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#35

Physical Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country

#428

Physical Chemistry international collaboration

#331

Physical Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#113

Physical Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#33

Physics overall score

42.8

Physics global research reputation

#208

Physics regional research reputation

#76

Physics publications

#556

Physics normalized citation impact

#503

Physics total citations

#572

Physics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#608

Physics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#616

Physics international collaboration - relative to country

#645

Physics international collaboration

#661

Physics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#415

Physics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#230

Plant and Animal Science overall score

70.8

Plant and Animal Science global research reputation

#75

Plant and Animal Science regional research reputation

#27

Plant and Animal Science publications

#324

Plant and Animal Science normalized citation impact

#36

Plant and Animal Science total citations

#185

Plant and Animal Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#177

Plant and Animal Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#71

Plant and Animal Science international collaboration - relative to country

#376

Plant and Animal Science international collaboration

#409

Plant and Animal Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#81

Plant and Animal Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#13

Psychiatry/Psychology overall score

75.4

Psychiatry/Psychology global research reputation

#29

Psychiatry/Psychology regional research reputation

#20

Psychiatry/Psychology publications

#14

Psychiatry/Psychology normalized citation impact

#88

Psychiatry/Psychology total citations

#19

Psychiatry/Psychology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#15

Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#43

Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration - relative to country

#75

Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration

#338

Psychiatry/Psychology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#28

Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#161

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health overall score

77.3

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health publications

#4

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health conferences

#36

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health normalized citation impact

#206

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health total citations

#6

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#8

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#143

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health international collaboration - relative to country

#128

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health international collaboration

#262

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#8

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#193

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging overall score

66.6

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging publications

#58

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging conferences

#12

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging normalized citation impact

#73

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging total citations

#57

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#48

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#38

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging international collaboration - relative to country

#16

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging international collaboration

#118

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#53

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#63

Social Sciences and Public Health overall score

79.5

Social Sciences and Public Health global research reputation

#14

Social Sciences and Public Health regional research reputation

#7

Social Sciences and Public Health publications

#10

Social Sciences and Public Health normalized citation impact

#134

Social Sciences and Public Health total citations

#8

Social Sciences and Public Health number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#10

Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#168

Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration - relative to country

#132

Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration

#535

Social Sciences and Public Health number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#12

Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#174

Space Science overall score

33.0

Space Science global research reputation

#115

Space Science regional research reputation

#30

Space Science publications

#220

Space Science normalized citation impact

#155

Space Science total citations

#214

Space Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#187

Space Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#99

Space Science international collaboration - relative to country

#28

Space Science international collaboration

#177

Space Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#210

Space Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#186

Surgery overall score

56.3

Surgery publications

#74

Surgery conferences

#55

Surgery normalized citation impact

#169

Surgery total citations

#87

Surgery number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#96

Surgery percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#203

Surgery international collaboration - relative to country

#28

Surgery international collaboration

#168

Surgery number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#57

Surgery percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#92

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