The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has approved an increase in tuition for in-state undergraduate students, marking the first such rise in nine years. The board set a systemwide cap at 3%, which will result in an average increase of $125 per student.
With this decision, the average tuition across the UNC System will move from $4,684 to $4,809 for the 2026-27 academic year. This change applies only to new students entering that year; current students will not see any adjustment to their tuition rates.
“Low tuition is at the heart of our compact with the people of North Carolina,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We’re focused on reducing administrative costs, keeping student debt down, and making sure every UNC degree delivers value for our graduates.”
Mandatory student fees are also set to rise by an average of 1% during the same academic year. These fees are legally capped at a maximum increase of 3%. When combined, annual tuition and fees will now average $7,644 across twelve universities within the system that do not participate in NC Promise.
Last year, university leaders announced they would permit schools to propose up to a 3% tuition hike due to increased operating expenses and inflation pressures. Since freezing in-state undergraduate tuition in 2017, there has been a notable reduction in both student loan debt levels and borrowing amounts among graduates.
In 2017, about 62% of graduates from the UNC System had student loan debt upon completing their degrees. By 2025, this figure dropped to 48%. Additionally, between 2018 and 2025 there was a reported decrease of approximately 35% in total borrowing by students.
“For so much of the UNC System’s history, the debate was not about if tuition would go up, but about how much it would go up,” said UNC Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy. “This Board, working with our president and our chancellors, changed that expectation. We created a new affordability baseline for North Carolinians, one that prioritizes families and their needs.”
Tuition at NC Promise schools remains unchanged at $500 per semester for resident undergraduates. Through the Next NC Scholarship program—which is available to families earning $80,000 or less—students receive at least $5,000 annually toward attending any UNC System university. For those attending NC Promise institutions (Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; University of North Carolina Pembroke; Western Carolina University), this amount covers all tuition and fees.
