Tuition and Fees
For the 2009-2010 academic year, the total cost of full-time undergraduate enrollment is currently $18,000 for North Carolina residents and $36,000 for out-of-state residents. This cost includes tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies, travel, and a personal spending allowance. Some students will spend more or less than the estimate, depending on their tastes and circumstances. When we determine eligibility for need-based financial aid, we use the estimate above. Please note that students in Health Affairs programs will pay different amounts based on their specific course of study and that all costs are subject to change.
It is important to know that tuition and fees will increase over time. Over the last four years, annual increases in Carolina’s tuition and fees have averaged $317 (or 7.0 percent) for North Carolina students and $1,267 (or 7.2 percent) for out-of-state students. Those figures are comparable to annual increases at other public research universities, which during the same period have averaged $492 (or 7.5 percent) for resident students and $1,237 (or 6.7 percent) for non-resident students. Any increases in tuition help fund important University priorities that strengthen the education we offer and that add value to a Carolina degree.
In recent years, tuition increases have helped improve faculty salaries and academic advising and provide needbased financial aid. Any time tuition increases, we strengthen our funding for need-based aid, so that students who qualify for aid are fully protected from the impact of the increase.
Carolina's commitment to access and affordability is legendary. Our tuition and fees are among the lowest nationwide. We meet the full demonstrated need of all admitted students—typically 65% through grants and only 35% through loans—who apply for aid on time. We also promise a debt-free education to any eligible student whose imcome falls at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines through the Carolina Covenant. In addition to the Covenant, the University has a variety of other financial aid and scholarship opportunities for deserving students, no matter what their background may be.