University of North Carolina Wilmington College Portrait
University of North Carolina Wilmington601 S. College Road Wilmington, NC 28403
910-962-3000
University of North Carolina Wilmington
About The Institution
At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, passionate and engaged teaching, learning and research matter. UNCW is unique in its dedication to combining a small-college commitment to excellence in teaching with a research university's opportunities for student involvement in significant faculty scholarship. Our attractive and secure campus maintains an intimate learning environment for undergraduates, which integrates teaching and mentoring with research and service. It promotes and engages in high-quality scholarship, mater's-focused graduate education and selected doctoral programs. UNCW encourages intellectual and cultural diversity, fosters regional engagement and values individual growth and development which ultimately creates powerful learning experiences that give our graduates a competitive advantage in today's marketplace.
Living in the Seahawks Community
Seahawk spirit soars on campus. With 38 percent of our students living on campus, UNC Wilmington provides numerous opportunities to explore, grow, learn and have fun outside the classroom. Students are committed to being active, engaged, global citizens, volunteering more than 50,000 hours annually throughout the region and around the world. We have more than 220 student organizations, 19 NCAA Division 1 sports, 28 club sports teams and an active intrmural program. Students take advantage of all the Wilmington area has to offer with its relaxed lifestyle and historic charm and the natural beauty and advantages of a temperate coastal location.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 13,071 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 11,743 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 7,020 | 60% |
| Men | 4,723 | 40% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 66 | 1% |
| Asian | 217 | 2% |
| African American / Black | 514 | 4% |
| Hispanic | 542 | 5% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 13 | <1% |
| White | 9,814 | 84% |
| Two or More Races | 218 | 2% |
| International | 88 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 271 | 2% |
| Where do UNC Wilmington undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 85% |
| Other US States & Territories | 15% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are UNC Wilmington undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 13% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 22 - 26 | |
| Math | 22 - 26 | 550 - 620 |
| English | 21 - 27 | |
| Critical Reading | 540 - 620 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 64% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 94% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 84% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.8 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $14,196
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of North Carolina Wilmington varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 39% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,792. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 36% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,164. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UNC Wilmington Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 71% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 94% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 588 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 44% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 15% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 86% |
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Campus-based Housing
90% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
38% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Providing a safe campus for learning, living and working is one of UNCW's seven strategic goals. Each year, efforts to improve safety have grown exponentially as the university has implemented a number of initiatives, systems and protocols to ensure, as much as possible, the safety and security of faculty and staff. Among these are improved outdoor lighting and warning sirens, security cameras, intercoms, emergency call boxes, expanded dissemination and marketing of safety information, additional staffing and increased response capabilities of the police department and a comprehensive violence prevention and education program.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Single doctoral (other field)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at UNC Wilmington
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 97% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 61% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 26% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 86% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 24% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 56% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 66% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 14% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 98% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 75% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 68% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 56% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 87% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 78% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 69% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 87% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 56% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 86% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 92% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 85% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 2,628 |
| Master's | 443 |
| Total | 3,071 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 8% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 8% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 7% |
| Psychology, General | 7% |
| Marketing | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at University of North Carolina Wilmington |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Future Plans of 2009-10 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 92% four-year success and progress rate means that 92% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,897 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,284 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 87%
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Student Learning at University of North Carolina Wilmington
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
At UNCW, passionate and engaged teaching, learning and research matter. The assessment of student learning guides our curricula and is a critical component of the powerful UNCW learning experience, both for general and specialized education. We focus on how the university and every program of the university contribute to student development, comparing what students know when they begin their UNCW learning experience with what they know as they advance through our programs and with what they know when they graduate. In addition to taking advantage of nationally recognized assessment tools such as the Collegiate Learning Assessment and the National Survey of Student Engagement, UNCW utilizes graduation and retention rates, professional certification rates, regional and national awards, academic program review, applied learning experiences, surveys, and professional accreditation in measuring the successes of our students.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
- Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1107
Senior Score: 1215
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 25
Senior Score: 24
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1164
Senior Score: 1148
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1070
Senior Score: 1187
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 25
Senior Score: 24
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1164
Senior Score: 1156