The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

In 1795, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill became the first state university to open its doors to students and is one of the oldest state universities in the nation.

Since then, UNC has earned a reputation as one of the nation's very best public universities. The beauty of the surrounding campus provides a stunning backdrop for this tradition of academic excellence.

The central campus area occupies over 700 acres, with stately colonial buildings and brick walkways that meander between 200 year old trees.

Together, these make UNC-Chapel Hill one of the most attractive academic settings in the nation. Of the approximately 25,500 students enrolled in fall 2001, around 9,600 were graduate and professional students.

A contributing aspect of UNC-Chapel Hill's appeal is the town of Chapel Hill itself. This scenic college town has a population of about 51,500, and is located midway between the Great Smokey Mountains and the Carolina Coast.

Chapel Hill is renowned for its many cultural and recreational activities, including professional and community theaters; a variety of music types and venues; museums of art, science, history, and natural history; a planetarium; botanical gardens; and parks.

Franklin street lies at the heart of Chapel Hill and boasts many fine restaurants and an exciting nightlife. With numerous entertainment and sporting events, Chapel Hill guarantees to provide something to suit all tastes. The quality of student life is high, and students can walk to campus in ten minutes, or live in the woods a ten-minute drive away.

The Carolina beaches, Outer Banks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Blue Ridge Mountains are only a few hours' drive away for occasional day or weekend trips out of town.