The University of North Carolina is a multi-campus school based out of Raleigh. UNC progressively raised its GPA and test requirements from 2009 to 2013. For example, in 2009, a 2.0 minimum GPA was needed for admission. As of 2013, a minimum 2.5 GPA is required. Also, even though a GPA of 2.5 is the minimum needed to apply, the average GPAs of students admitted to UNC schools are typically higher.
Campus Averages
According to "The Princeton Review" profile of the Chapel Hill campus of UNC, the average GPA of its students was 4.5 on a weighted 4.0 scale as of 2013. Most admitted students had GPAs over 4.0, according to the school's profile of its 2012 class. The Wilmington Campus site also indicated that its mid-50 percentile range for admitted freshmen was 3.8 to 4.43, meaning that only 25 percent of students admitted had a GPA of 3.8 or below.
Additional Admissions Requirements
Along with meeting the GPA requirement, first-time applicants must also meet a minimum combined reading and math score on the SAT or a minimum composite ACT score to be considered. As of 2013, the standard was an 800 for the combined SAT or a 17 on the ACT. Again, the average scores of admitted students were higher. The UNC website does denote that 1 percent of new students each year can gain admission through a "chancellor's exception" on either grades or a test score. This policy allows the school to admit select, well-rounded applicants just below the threshold.