“Coastal North Carolina public R2 research university with a marine science focus”
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) is a mid-size public doctoral university — part of the 17-campus UNC System — located on a 661-acre coastal campus in Wilmington, North Carolina, roughly equidistant between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River. Founded in 1947 as Wilmington College and elevated to full UNC-system membership in 1969, UNCW today enrolls approximately 18,000 students across four colleges and schools and is informally known as "UNC by the Sea." Its location is not just a marketing hook: UNCW's marine, coastal, and environmental programs rank nationally and leverage the university's Center for Marine Science, a research facility with direct seawater access a few miles from the main campus. Academically, UNCW is best known for a cluster of nationally recognized marine and coastal sciences — marine biology, oceanography, coastal engineering, and environmental sciences — plus a highly regarded MFA in creative writing, a growing film studies program, and professional programs in nursing and business. The Cameron School of Business is AACSB-accredited and strong in finance, analytics, and coastal economics; the School of Nursing runs BSN and advanced practice programs with clinical placements across New Hanover Regional Medical Center and southeastern North Carolina health systems. Classes are medium-sized, teaching is prioritized, and undergraduate research is a strong feature — UNCW's marine biology majors typically begin field and lab work in their sophomore or junior year, with access to the R/V Cape Fear and a regional Atlantic undersea research program. For international students, UNCW offers a distinctive combination: an affordable UNC-system out-of-state tuition (about $24,000/year plus living), a coastal college town that's walkable, safe, and welcoming, and a mid-size student body where international students are integrated rather than anonymous. The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) provides full F-1 advising, and UNCW publishes a dedicated STEM-designated programs list so international applicants can choose majors that qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension — a material benefit for post-graduation US work plans. Wilmington itself has a growing film industry (dubbed "Hollywood East"), expanding tech startups, and quick access to Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte markets for internships and post-graduation careers.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Overall
Carnegie Classification
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority for admission and scholarship consideration
Regular Decision
Final deadline for fall admission
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$7,277
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$24,152
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
UNCW's flagship academic unit, spanning humanities, social sciences, creative writing, and film studies. Home to the nationally recognized MFA program and the Department of Film Studies.
Houses marine biology, oceanography, coastal engineering, chemistry, and computer science; works closely with the off-campus Center for Marine Science.
AACSB-accredited undergraduate and graduate business school with strengths in finance, information systems, and international business; home of the Cameron Executive Network.
Includes nursing (CCNE-accredited), social work, and recreation/exercise science programs with strong clinical partnerships in southeastern North Carolina.
Teacher-preparation programs licensed by the State of North Carolina, with undergraduate and graduate paths in elementary, middle, and secondary education.
4 years
One of the most highly regarded undergraduate marine biology programs in the US, with access to the Center for Marine Science, field vessels, and conservation-genetics and marine ecology concentrations; a major national feeder to marine graduate programs.
4 years
A rare undergraduate engineering degree focused explicitly on coastal and nearshore systems — hurricane resilience, shoreline dynamics, sediment transport — offered by very few US universities.
3 years
A consistently well-ranked low-residency-optional MFA program with strong placement in literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry; home to the literary magazine Ecotone and Lookout Books imprint.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $24,152
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
