<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0gMpVi_1FSq6N6D00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0gMpVi_1FSq6N6D00" width="678" height="381" ><figcaption>UNC System President Peter Hans, pictured in 2024, said last year’s tuition increase brought in about $21 million, and state schools in the system are poised to hike costs again. (Makiya Seminera / AP Photo)</figcaption></figure>RALEIGH — Another tuition hike is on the horizon for UNC System schools following a UNC Board of Governors meeting last week. The rate increase is the second in two years after a nine-year freeze.UNC schools were greenlit to request rate increases of up to 3% for new in-state undergraduates. This increase means new in-state undergraduate students could be paying up to 6% more than they would have two years ago, depending on which school they attend.Nine of the 17 UNC schools increased tuition by 3% for the current academic year. Outliers included Appalachian State (2.5%) and UNC Asheville (1.5%). Winston-Salem State was the only school that didn’t raise rates. The system’s four NC Promise schools have their tuition capped by state law.Last year’s hikes were estimated to bring in about $21 million by 2030, according to UNC System President Peter Hans. Officials now estimate the second increase could add as much as $43 million by 2031.More student fee increases may also happen. Most fees are capped at 3%, but campuses could increase certain fees to maintain “core activities.”The Board of Governors (BOG) said it will review requests from UNC schools in the coming months, and if approved, the new rates would apply to the 2027-28 school year.UNC System Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Haygood, who presented a report on the tuition and fees to the BOG, cited inflation as the driver behind more hikes.“Several UNC System institutions also requested increases in resident graduate tuition rates, nonresident tuition rates, and graduate professional school rates, and to establish rates for new professional programs,” the report said.The increase was not unexpected, with the Committee on Budget and Finance approving increases to tuition and fees for the 2026-27 academic year during a meeting in late February.Not everyone on the BOG was happy with increasing rates again, with member Woody White saying the move was sending campuses a “green light” to raise rates and predicted most will ask for the full 3%.Fellow member Art Pope said he thought last year’s increase was supposed to be a one-time response to a late state budget while expressing concern increases would become “routine.”“I think we should go back to our original goal of keeping tuition flat,” Pope said.Other members argued the increases were needed and holding the line was unrealistic, citing increases to salaries and construction costs.The new 3% increase comes as the UNC System announced a new enrollment record of more than 260,000 students.“The North Carolina approach to higher education is working,” Hans said in a press release. “We’ve simplified enrollment and financial aid while highlighting the excellent value of a degree in our state.”“Our priorities remain accessibility, affordability, and quality. There are some real challenges ahead with the size of the traditional student population, but we’re in a strong position to keep attracting talent and delivering on our mission.”The press release says undergraduate enrollment rose 2.3% and total enrollment is up 1.4% over last year. Additionally, the number of transfer students rose by 3.6%.</div></body>

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RALEIGH — Another tuition hike is on the horizon for UNC System schools following a UNC Board of Governors meeting last week. The rate increase is the second in two years after a nine-year freeze. UNC schools were greenlit to request rate increases of up to 3% for new...

UNC System poised for another tuition hike

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RALEIGH — Another tuition hike is on the horizon for UNC System schools following a UNC Board of Governors meeting last week. The rate increase is the seco

UNC System poised for another tuition hike

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