Financing Your UNC-Chapel Hill Education

How much does Carolina cost? How good a value is a Carolina education? How do I apply for scholarships and financial aid? How may I contact the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid? Are transfer students eligible for merit scholarships? Are international students eligible for scholarships or aid?

How much does Carolina cost? For the 2007–2008 academic year, we estimate the costs of full-time undergraduate enrollment to be: NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENT Tuition $3,705 $19,353 Fees $1,635 $1,635 Room $4,830 $4,830 Board $2,866 $2,866 Books and supplies $1,000 $1,000 Travel $560 $1,120 Personal $1,200 $1,200 Total $15,796 $32,004 One-time cost for a CCI computer starts at $1,431 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 outlined above. Please note that students in Health Affairs programs will pay different amounts based on their specific course of study. Note also that all costs are subject to change. TOP

How good a value is a Carolina education? While our estimated cost certainly isn't a small sum of money, we believe that Carolina is a real bargain. We offer an excellent academic and personal experience for a comparatively low price. It's worth noting that we're not the only ones who believe this. In February 2007, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine rated UNC-Chapel Hill its top value among public universities for the sixth consecutive time. Read the Kiplinger's article. TOP

How do I apply for scholarships and financial aid? To apply for need-based student aid, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/PROFILE no later than March 1. Both forms are available online, on the FAFSA and College Board websites. If you meet the March 1 deadline and are admitted, you’ll receive your aid notification by April 15. For more information about need-based student aid, please visit the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Please note that this office may send you general information about need- and merit-based aid regardless of your status in the admissions process. When you apply for admission, we’ll automatically consider you for merit-based scholarships and for the Honors Program. If you wish, you may provide supplemental material for the Robertson Scholarship. We also sponsor National Merit Scholars; if you're a National Merit Finalist, you'll need to indicate UNC-Chapel Hill as your first choice in order to qualify. To be considered for any music scholarships available, contact the Music Department to schedule an audition. These auditions are generally held in January and February. TOP

How do I contact the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid? We recommend that you start by reading over the office's extensive web resources -- including frequently asked questions about aid for first-year, transfer, and international students. The office is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. You may write, call, fax, or email. The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill P.O. Box 1080 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Phone number: (919) 962-8396 Fax number: (919) 962-2716 aidinfo@unc.edu TOP

Are transfer students eligible for merit scholarships? Transfer students are not eligible for merit scholarships through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. We encourage transfer students to seek private or non-institutional sources of scholarships and aid; the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid houses an excellent resource center that provides information about such sources. Students entering one of the professional schools should contact that school directly to inquire about any departmental awards. All transfer students are eligible for need-based aid and should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS/PROFILE application by the March 1 priority deadline. Since transfer applicants typically don't receive their admissions decisions until April, it is crucial that they meet the March 1 deadline for need-based aid and not wait until they learn whether they have been admitted to the University. TOP

Are international students eligible for scholarships or need-based aid? We are able to consider international students for a very limited number of merit scholarships. There is no separate application for these scholarships; we will consider your admissions application for any available merit scholarships. Students attending one of the 12 United World Colleges are eligible for the Davis Scholars Program. The Davis Scholars Program will award up to $10,000 to matriculating United World College graduates who are able to demonstrate financial need. In addition, UNC-Chapel Hill will provide the remaining costs of attendance to include full tuition, fees, room/board, and some travel costs. We regret that we can offer no financial aid for students who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States. Non-resident aliens must file a financial certificate indicating that they can pay for their educational expenses at UNC-Chapel Hill. Read more about admission for international students. TOP