This is a list of notable alumni who attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).
- Lavonne J. Adams (1986), poet and author
- Claudia Bassols, (transferred) actress
- Brandon Beane (1998), Buffalo Bills General Manager
- Brett Blizzard (2003), professional basketball player
- John R. Bell, IV (2001), Majority leader of the North Carolina House of Representatives
- Mark Byington (1998), basketball coach
- Devontae Cacok (2019), professional basketball player
- John Calipari (transferred) basketball coach
- Craig Callahan (2003), professional basketball player; Most Valuable Player of the Czech Republic's National Basketball League
- Kona Carmack (2000), model and actress
- Marc Antonio Carter (2008), professional basketball player
- Martha Cheney (1975), author
- Billy Donlon (1999), basketball coach
- Matt Fish (1992), professional basketball player
- John Goldsberry (2006), professional basketball player
- Carl Hart, (transferred) professor at Columbia University
- Dax Harwood, professional wrestler
- Chris Hatcher (2006), professional baseball player
- Bill Haywood (1964), professional baseball player
- Kirsten Holmstedt (2006), author and journalist
- Martin Jarmond, Athletic Director at UCLA
- Phoebe Jeter, Air Defense Artillery Officer
- Greg Jones professional baseball player
- Rick Jones (1975), baseball coach
- Brad Knighton (2007), professional soccer player
- Anna Kooiman (2005), reporter
- Todd Lickliter (transferred), basketball coach
- Matt Lutz (2001), actor
- Cecil Malton (1996), current professional basketball coach in Latvia
- Brandon Miller (2012), professional soccer player
- Jill Mikucki (1996), microbiologist, Antarctic researcher
- Hekuran Murati (2010), minister of finance, labor and transfers of the Republic of Kosovo
- Derek Nikitas, author
- Joshua Poteat (1993), poet
- Bevin Prince (2003), actress
- John Raynor (2006), professional baseball player
- Cecil R. Reynolds (1975), psychologist
- Brian Rowsom (1989), professional basketball player
- Bill Saffo, Mayor of Wilmington
- Terry Schappert, television host, commentator
- Adam Smith (born 1992), basketball player for Hapoel Holon in the Israel Basketball Premier League
- Addison Spruill, professional basketball player
- Cody Stanley (2010), professional baseball player
- John M. Tyson (1974), judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals
- Skeet Ulrich (did not graduate) actor
- Shaun Utterson (2012), professional soccer player
- Jacob VanCompernolle (2014), professional soccer player
- Christopher Warner (1991), Anglican bishop
- Carl Willis (1990), baseball coach
- Joseph Warwick (2003), VP, Marketing Spectrum