Is it actually easy to be accepted in state?

how hard is it to be accepted in state? i know the acceptance rate is about 50% but is that truly representative of how difficult it is? is the applicant pool very competitive or are there many underqualified applicants?

It’s still very difficult to get in to UNC in-state, particularly if you are from one of the more populous urban counties like Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford, etc. Lots of really smart kids in those counties that want to go to a great bargain of a university at in-state tuition. Kids from rural counties have a better shot. It doesn’t compare to the long odds that OOS students have, but a lot of smart, talented, in-state kids will get turned down every year.

It is much more difficult than 50% suggests.