University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Established with a charter in 1789 and admitting students in 1795, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill holds the distinction of being the first public university in the United States. It stands as one of the original eight Public Ivy schools and the sole public university to confer degrees in the 18th century. Presently, UNC encompasses 14 schools alongside the College of Arts and Sciences, offering a comprehensive range of academic programs, including 78 bachelor’s degrees, 112 master’s degrees, 68 doctorate programs, and seven professional degree programs. Its vibrant student body, approaching 30,000, receives instruction from a distinguished faculty exceeding 3,500 members, with nearly 90 percent of classes maintaining an intimate setting with fewer than 50 students. UNC boasts one of the nation's highest study-abroad rates, with nearly a third of its undergraduates experiencing international education across 325 programs spanning 70 countries before graduation. Nestled in the heart of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the university's sprawling campus, spanning approximately 730 acres, is subdivided into three distinct areas: north campus, housing classrooms and residences; middle campus; and south campus. Plans are underway to establish a new research park with expanded science facilities. Famed for its Tar Heels teams, UNC boasts a robust athletics program and holds charter membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference since its inception in 1953. With a formidable alumni network exceeding 300,000 individuals, UNC counts among its notable former students luminaries such as author Thomas Wolfe, Pulitzer Prize Winner Lenoir Chambers, and two Nobel laureates – Aziz Sancarco in chemistry and Olivier Smithies in Physiology/Medicine.