Project Kitty Hawk, an education technology nonprofit affiliated with the University of North Carolina System, has enrolled more than 3,000 adult learners since its first program launched in October 2023. As of January, 2,193 students are participating in one of the 19 online Flight Path degree programs supported by Project Kitty Hawk (PKH), which is more than double the enrollment from a year ago.
The initiative was established by the General Assembly in 2021 to support working adults seeking higher education. The average age of those enrolling is 32, and three-quarters work full time while studying. Over 80% of participants are North Carolina residents, and about 90% have previous experience with online learning.
PKH aims not only to enroll adult learners but also to help them succeed academically. Since the start of this academic year, term-over-term persistence across all students has reached 96%. So far, 96 Flight Path students have completed their degrees; that number is projected to rise to 200 by the end of the spring semester.
“We are proud of all the work we do to open public university doors to more working adults across this state. But we are proudest of our efforts to ensure those adult learners can not only enroll but successfully complete a high-quality degree or credential,” said PKH President and CEO Andrew Kelly. “Student success is our North Star.”
Flight Path programs are now available at four UNC System universities: North Carolina Central University, East Carolina University (ECU), Appalachian State University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T). North Carolina A&T began offering its first two Flight Path degree programs in January and plans to add two more in the fall—a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in human resources and a bachelor’s degree in political science.
“Launching our first two degree programs with Project Kitty Hawk has been an important step in expanding how we serve adult learners,” said Rosalind Dale, vice provost for engagement and outreach at North Carolina A&T. “This partnership has allowed us to move with intention—building strong operational foundations while staying true to A&T’s academic mission and institutional values.”
East Carolina University has enrolled over 1,200 students through Flight Path since its initial launch two years ago. ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers commented on the program’s impact: “East Carolina’s growth in online enrollment has never been stronger thanks to our partnership with Project Kitty Hawk. Our Flight Path programs are helping us counter the enrollment trends nationally and in Eastern North Carolina, creating access for adults statewide and helping provide additional financial stability at an unstable time in higher education.”
Two additional universities have recently joined PKH as partners: Winston-Salem State University will launch three new programs in fall 2026, while UNC Wilmington will introduce two undergraduate offerings during the same period. With these additions—including inaugural programs at both institutions—Project Kitty Hawk expects to offer nine new degree programs next fall for a total of 28 online degree and certificate options across the UNC System.
