The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

About The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

UNCG is an independently accredited, degree-granting public university within the statewide UNC System. It was created by the North Carolina legislature on February 18, 1891, and opened in 1892. Originally established to educate women, it admitted its first African American students in 1956 and began admitting men to the general student body in 1964. The university became part of the consolidated UNC System in 1971, while retaining its own chancellor and board of trustees within the system’s governance structure. The university holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Its stated degree authority extends through baccalaureate, master’s, educational-specialist, and doctoral awards, and its accreditation was reaffirmed in December 2024. An active 2026–27 catalog confirms continuing operations and current academic offerings. For prospective students, UNCG combines the breadth of a multidisciplinary public university with several modes of study. Its academic organization includes arts and sciences, business and economics, education, health and human sciences, nursing, visual and performing arts, a graduate school, an honors college, and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. The university also supports online programs. This range can suit students seeking either a conventional residential experience or greater scheduling flexibility, although program availability, delivery format, and admission requirements must be checked individually.

For Fall 2027 first-year entry, the university’s currently published schedule lists Early Action on November 1, 2026, with supporting materials due December 15 for merit-scholarship consideration. Regular Decision applications are due March 1, 2027, with materials due March 15. Applications arriving after March 1 may be reviewed on a space-available, rolling basis. These dates apply to first-year undergraduate admission; transfer, second-degree, visiting, spring, summer, and graduate applicants follow different schedules. First-year applicants may use the UNCG application or Common Application. Required items include the application, a $65 nonrefundable fee or accepted waiver, the UNC System community-standards questionnaire, and an official high-school transcript. Applicants must complete the UNC System’s prescribed secondary-school coursework. Under the currently published testing rule, students with a weighted high-school GPA of at least 2.50 but below 2.80 must submit an ACT score of at least 17 or SAT score of at least 930; scores are optional for students above the stated GPA threshold. Applicants should recheck this policy for their entry term. International applicants have additional requirements, including proof of English proficiency, passport documentation, and applicable academic records. Undergraduate and graduate international requirements differ. Graduate admission is jointly managed by the Graduate School and the relevant program, which may require portfolios, auditions, tests, or other materials and sets its own deadlines. Every applicant should consult the page for the exact student type and intended program before submitting.

UNCG offers undergraduate and graduate education across seven principal disciplinary units: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Bryan School of Business and Economics, School of Education, School of Health and Human Sciences, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, and School of Nursing. Lloyd International Honors College provides an enhanced undergraduate pathway, while the Graduate School coordinates advanced study across the disciplinary units. The academic mix covers liberal arts, sciences, mathematics, business, teacher preparation, health fields, nursing, and the creative and performing arts. The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering provides a specialized setting connecting scientific study with research and application. Students interested in interdisciplinary work can also examine programs listed outside the traditional colleges and schools. UNCG’s program directory includes campus-based and online degrees, as well as certificates and licensure options; applicants should confirm whether a particular offering is fully online, campus-based, or subject to separate professional requirements. Undergraduates who have not selected a major can enter Exploratory Studies and use advising to investigate academic interests. The university also identifies faculty-guided research, service, and community projects as ways to extend learning beyond coursework. Graduate admission is decentralized: applicants must satisfy Graduate School requirements as well as the standards, materials, capacity limits, and deadlines established by the individual program. Prospective students in regulated or professionally accredited fields should verify program-level accreditation and placement requirements separately from UNCG’s institutional accreditation.

Key Highlights

• Public constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System
• Established by legislative enactment in 1891
• Institutionally accredited to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees
• Active 2026–27 university catalog confirms current operations

Student Life & Environment

Student life combines residential options, organizations, recreation, athletics, arts, leadership, and service. The university’s campus-life directory lists more than 300 student groups, giving students routes into academic interests, cultural communities, performance, service, and campus governance. Intramural activities and recreation complement UNCG’s Division I intercollegiate athletics program. Housing and Residence Life manages residence halls, room assignments, housing applications, contracts, and residence policies. Accommodation types vary, and students should compare the current room rate, contract terms, meal-plan requirements, and application timetable before committing. Graduate students have an on-campus option at Lofts on Lee in Spartan Village, a mixed residential and commercial area. Housing availability should not be assumed until an assignment is confirmed. Support resources include academic advising, accessibility services, health and counseling services, the Dean of Students, military-affiliated services, international programs, and the Spartan Open Pantry. Career and Professional Development serves undergraduate and graduate students with career exploration, résumé review, internship and job-search assistance, mock interviews, career events, and access to Handshake. Students can also seek on-campus employment and Federal Work-Study opportunities, subject to eligibility and available positions. Together, these services provide practical support, but students should investigate the hours, eligibility rules, and appointment arrangements for resources they expect to use regularly.

Location & Surroundings

UNCG’s main campus is at 1400 Spring Garden Street in Greensboro, a city in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region. The setting offers access to downtown, community organizations, employers, cultural venues, shopping, and other colleges while retaining a defined university campus. The institution’s history is closely connected to Greensboro, whose residents supported the original site and buildings. Students can move around campus on the university’s free Spartan Chariot shuttle network. Greensboro Transit Agency buses connect the campus with downtown and the broader city, including shopping and other higher-education institutions; UNCG students can ride fare-free after obtaining the required UMO code. Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation routes also serve campus, with a student fare discount available through the designated program. Students bringing cars should budget for permits and note that lots may be restricted by user category. Visitor and hourly parking are available in designated decks and metered locations. Because transport schedules, route coverage, and parking rules can change, commuters should check current services against their class times before choosing housing or buying a permit.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, UNCG lists annual main-campus undergraduate tuition and required fees of $7,864 for North Carolina residents and $25,347 for nonresidents. Its tuition overview adds a standard-double housing estimate of $6,433 and an unlimited meal plan of $5,209, producing listed direct totals of $19,506 and $36,989 respectively. Graduate tuition and fees are listed separately at $8,845 in state and $24,622 out of state. Online-program rates also differ from main-campus rates. Certain programs and courses may carry additional charges. These figures are not a complete personal budget. UNCG’s cost-of-attendance calculations also account for books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and housing style. Actual charges depend on residency classification, degree level, program campus type, credit load, academic program, housing, and meal selection. Students seeking the in-state rate must complete North Carolina’s official residency determination; simply living in the state while attending university does not establish eligibility. Financial-aid applicants should use the university’s current cost-of-attendance page and net-price calculator rather than treating the published sticker price as their final cost. Career and Professional Development supports career exploration, internship searches, résumés, interviews, employment searches, graduate-school preparation, and entrepreneurship. These services can improve preparation and access to opportunities, but the university does not promise a particular job, employer, or salary.