In-state undergraduates across the University of North Carolina System will face tuition increases next year for the first time since 2017. The UNC Board of Governors approved the hike Thursday, raising average tuition from $4,684 to $4,809 for new students. Current students will not be affected under the system’s tuition guarantee.
University of North Carolina System officials said the increase reflects rising operating costs and inflation pressures. The board also approved an average 1 percent increase in student fees. Last year, universities were invited to request tuition hikes of up to 3 percent.
Most campuses will implement the full 3 percent increase for in-state students. Appalachian State University proposed a smaller 2.5 percent hike, while UNC Asheville will raise tuition by 1.5 percent. Both schools are located in western North Carolina communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and serve a large portion of mountain-region counties.
Tuition will remain frozen at $500 per semester for in-state students attending NC Promise institutions, including Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina University.
System leaders noted that the nine-year tuition freeze coincided with a decline in student debt levels. The percentage of graduates carrying student loans fell from 62 percent in 2017 to 48 percent in 2025.
Only one board member, Art Pope, opposed the increase. Pope argued that the projected $5.9 million in additional revenue would place unnecessary strain on North Carolina families amid inflation and slower income growth. He cited state appropriations rising from $2.8 billion in 2021 to $3.7 billion in 2025, a 32 percent increase, and said tuition revenue has grown 26 percent during that period.
Pope contended that the university system’s core mission is to educate as many North Carolinians as possible while keeping costs low. He suggested reducing administrative overhead and expanding enrollment rather than raising tuition.
Supporters of the increase maintain that modest adjustments are necessary to maintain academic quality and operational stability. The decision marks the end of one of the nation’s longest tuition freezes in a major public university system.
