UNC and NC State Trustees Weigh Tuition Increases

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Students at North Carolina’s two largest public universities could pay more starting in fall 2027, as trustees at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State take up tuition and fee proposals this week.

NC State is asking its board for a 3 percent tuition increase for in-state undergraduates who enroll in fall 2027, along with a 3 percent increase for undergraduates from out of state. Housing, dining, campus media and upkeep of the student center would also cost more under its fee requests. University board materials project the package would bring in a little more than $4.5 million, earmarked for academic quality and access and for faculty promotion raises.

UNC-Chapel Hill is taking a different route. It is not seeking any change in in-state undergraduate tuition, but it does want another 10 percent increase for out-of-state undergraduates, which works out to more than $4,700 a year and would push their tuition and fees past $54,000 annually. In-state students would still feel higher costs elsewhere: residence hall rates could climb 5 to 7.5 percent, student family housing 5 percent, on-campus apartments 6 to 10 percent, and meal plans about 6 percent on average, or nearly $1 extra for each meal. UNC also proposes a higher fee for its recreation and wellness center and a smaller cut to its dining debt service fee.

The proposals come one year after most UNC System campuses, including both schools, raised in-state undergraduate tuition 3 percent for fall 2026, the first such increase across the system since 2017. This year, system leaders on the Board of Governors again let campuses seek in-state undergraduate increases capped at 3 percent.

Because in-state undergraduate tuition is locked for four years, students who started this fall would not see a second increase. UNC trustees meet Wednesday and Thursday, and NC State trustees meet Thursday and Friday. Whatever the campus boards endorse still needs sign-off from system administrators and the Board of Governors, expected early in 2027.

Filed under: Raleigh NC Education News