Navigating Tuition Costs at North Carolina Colleges
Paying for college can be daunting. North Carolina institutions are committed to providing quality education at an affordable cost. Understanding the various factors influencing tuition and fees is crucial for prospective students and their families. This article breaks down the components of college costs in North Carolina, including tuition rates across the University of North Carolina (UNC) System, cost of attendance considerations, and available financial aid resources.
Understanding the Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance (COA), sometimes called the "student budget," estimates what it costs a typical student to attend a college or university for one academic year. Each college or university determines an estimate of how much it will cost to attend school. Each student's cost of attendance is based upon full-time enrollment and residency. The COA is not a final bill but is an estimate of educational expenses for the period of enrollment. Don't be alarmed by the COA you see on your financial aid offer. Every student who applies for aid is assigned a cost of attendance.
The COA includes both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include charges a student pays directly to the university. You will be billed directly for University tuition and fees, on-campus housing, on-campus meal plans, student insurance and books billed through Student Stores, and your aid will be applied to that bill. Indirect costs include expenses the student will likely incur but will not pay directly to the university. Costs payable to others-also referred to as indirect, non-billable, or additional costs-are other expenses not paid directly to the school but associated with receiving an education. The school estimates these expenses, which may differ from student to student based on their circumstances.
Here's a breakdown of typical cost components:
- Tuition and Fees: These figures reflect the cost of tuition and fees for a student taking 12-18 credits during the fall and spring semesters (considered full-time). Tuition and fees are set by the University of North Carolina System. Fees will be assessed at a per-credit-hour rate for all students.
- Housing and Food: Your housing costs depend on which building and style room you choose. Housing, meals and more. Enjoy our dining options. Save money by purchasing a meal plan for the semester. N.C.
- Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: This is an estimate of books, course materials, supplies, and equipment for a typical student for the entire academic year. You will not be billed directly by N.C.
- Transportation: This estimates the cost of traveling to and from campus or operating and maintaining a vehicle.
- Personal Expenses: This is an estimate of costs for clothing, haircuts, entertainment, etc., for the year. Money spent on these types of items will vary from student to student. These items will not appear on your N.C.
- Loan Fees: There is an origination fee of 1.057% for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans, which is taken out of the loan before funds are sent to N.C. A&T State University. Only students who borrow these loans will have the actual loan origination fees after the loans are processed.
Tuition Trends in the UNC System
Next semester, incoming students at UNC System schools will see higher prices for tuition for the first time in nearly a decade. The Board of Governors allowed schools to increase tuition by up to 3% for in-state undergraduates. The hikes won’t apply to current students - only to incoming classes in fall 2026 and in the future. As the UNC Board of Governors approved universities’ new tuition rates at a meeting Thursday, board member Art Pope spoke out against the hikes, citing the rising cost of living and a proud legacy of keeping costs low for North Carolinians.
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Here are the new tuition rates for each institution in the UNC System:
- Appalachian State University will raise tuition 2.5% for in-state students and 3% for out-of-state students. The school will now cost $4,348 for in-state undergraduates. For out-of-state undergrads, that cost will be $23,208. For in-state graduate students, tuition will come to $5,525. For out-of-state graduate students, the cost is $23,238.
- East Carolina University is raising undergraduate tuition by 3% for in-state and out-of-state students. That brings in-state tuition to $4,585 and out-of-state tuition to $21,351. Costs aren’t increasing for graduate students.
- Elizabeth City State University isn’t raising tuition for in-state undergrads. Out-of-state undergrads will now pay $7,000. Costs aren’t increasing for resident or non-resident graduate students.
- Fayetteville State University isn’t raising tuition for in-state undergrads, holding it at $1,000. For out-of-state undergrads, tuition comes to $7,000. Costs for in-state graduate students are rising 7.3%, coming to $3,688. For nonresident graduate students, the cost is $15,403, a 6.2% increase.
- NC A&T State University will raise tuition by 3% across the board. That means $3,646 for resident undergraduates. For out-of-state undergrads, the cost is now $18,128. For in-state graduate students, costs come to $5,454. Out-of-state graduate tuition is also rising to $18,638.
- N.C. Central University is increasing costs by 3% across the board. The school will now cost $3,840 for in-state undergrads. For out-of-state undergrads, that cost will be $17,267. Costs come to $4,882 for in-state graduate students, and $18,589 for out-of-state graduate students.
- At NC State University, costs are increasing by 3% across the board. For in-state undergrads, tuition comes to $6,731. For out-of-state undergrads, NC State will cost $32,445. Costs will come to $10,537 for in-state graduate students. Nonresident grad students will see tuition rise to $32,474.
- UNC Asheville now costs $4,184 for in-state undergrads, a 1.5% increase. Costs won’t rise for nonresident undergrads and graduate students, both in-state and out-of-state.
- UNC-Chapel Hill will now cost $7,230 for in-state undergrads, a 3% increase. For out-of-state undergrads, costs will increase by 10%, coming to $47,472. Costs won’t rise for graduate students, both in-state and out-of-state.
- UNC Charlotte will raise in-state undergrad costs by 3% and all others by 10%. Resident undergrad tuition will now cost $3,926. For out-of-state undergrads, costs come to $22,018. For resident graduate students, the cost will come to $5,324. For non-resident graduate students, the number is $22,688.
- UNC Greensboro will raise costs by 3% across the board. The school will now cost $4,555 for in-state undergrads, and for out-of-state undergrads, $22,038 For graduate students, resident tuition comes to $5,536; for non-residents, it will cost $21,313.
- UNC Pembroke won’t increase tuition for in-state undergrads, but for nonresidents, tuition will increase to $7,000. Costs won’t rise for graduate students, both in-state and out-of-state. As an NC Promise institution, UNC Pembroke provides incredible value to you. UNC Pembroke bills tuition and fees on a per-credit-hour basis.
- UNC Wilmington will raise tuition by 3% across the board. The school will now cost $4,576 for in-state undergrads. For out-of-state undergrads, costs come to $23,275. For in-state grad students, that comes to $5,763; for out-of-state grad students, $23,325.
- UNC School of the Arts will charge in-state undergrads $6,691, a 3% increase. For out-of-state undergrads, the cost will be $24,831. For in-state graduate students, costs come to $10,296. For out-of-state graduate students, costs will rise to $24,999.
- Western Carolina University won’t raise tuition on in-state undergrads. For nonresident undergrads, costs come to $7,000. Costs won’t rise for graduate students, both in-state and out-of-state.
- Winston-Salem State University isn’t increasing costs for in-state undergrads. For out-of-state undergrads, the school will now cost $14,338, a 2% increase. For in-state graduate students, costs will come to $3,949, a 2% increase. For out-of-state graduate students, costs will also increase 2% to $14,695.
Residency and Tuition
Residency status plays a significant role in determining tuition costs. The Residency Determination Service (RDS) is the centralized system in North Carolina for determining residency for students. Please note, our admissions team is not responsible for making residency determinations.
Financial Aid and Affordability
We are committed to providing the best quality of education at an affordable cost, but we understand paying for college can still be a bit overwhelming. At Charlotte, we will help you navigate the options available for financing your education. The Net Price calculator is designed to give you an early estimate of your financial aid for the next year before aid offers are made. We use the CSS Profile to determine your eligibility for University grants.
UNC Charlotte Example
Listed below are the estimated costs for a full-time, undergraduate Charlotte student, one a NC Resident and one a Non-Resident of NC, living on campus during the 2024-2025 academic year, including tuition, fees, and room and board. The table below reflects the estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate student who is a NC Resident, living on campus for the academic year. The table below reflects the estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate student who is a Non-Resident of NC, living on campus for the academic year. Listed below are the estimated costs for a full-time, undergraduate Charlotte student, one a NC Resident and one a Non-Resident of NC, living on campus during the 2025-2026 academic year, including tuition, fees, and room and board. The table below reflects the estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate student who is a NC Resident, living on campus for the academic year. The table below reflects the estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate student who is a Non-Resident of NC, living on campus for the academic year.
UNC-Chapel Hill Example
We base our cost-of-attendance budgets on the average expenses of an undergraduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill. Individual costs are based on estimates and used to determine financial need, which means these expenses may vary. Once you receive your financial aid offer, you will be able to see if you owe the University money or if you will receive a refund. The following budgets are based on full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours).
Read also: NOCCCD: Your Guide
Additional Considerations
- Fixed Tuition: Effective in 2016, each incoming class of North Carolina resident undergraduates will have what is known as a “fixed tuition” rate - this means the tuition rate will not increase during the first eight consecutive semesters of Fall and Spring enrollment.
- Cost Adjustments: Once the add/drop period ends (each semester), the cost of attendance will be adjusted to reflect the actual hours enrolled.
- Housing Plans: Note: Beginning Fall 2024, all students' Housing Plans will default to an off-campus Cost of Attendance; this does not mean you live off campus. As students are assigned and billed on-campus housing, their Cost of Attendance will adjust to reflect accurate Housing Plans, and in some cases, aid may be adjusted.
Read also: Academic Pathways at UNC
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