RALEIGH (February 23, 2023) – Public officials seldom attract attention when they don’t change something for seven years. 

But in an era when the public complains about the cost of higher education, the UNC Board of Governors voted today to keep tuition for in-state undergraduates at the state’s 16 public universities the same for a seventh consecutive year in 2023-24. 

“That is seven years with no increase in tuition,” said Board Chair Randy Ramsey. “Which is really remarkable.”

The state also guarantees that incoming undergraduates will see no increase in tuition for eight semesters at UNC System schools.

THE BOARD ALSO adopted its requests for the 2023 session of the General Assembly, which include:

• Inflationary Raises. System officials note that due to inflation and a tight labor market, universities are struggling to recruit and retain top talent. They request funds commensurate with the raises granted other state agencies, as well as an inflationary reserve to match salaries in targeted high-demand fields. Officials say a worker who made $70,000 in 2019 has lost $7,988 in real earnings, and some 48% of UNC employees make less than $70,000. Each 1% increase in salary and benefits costs the state $34.1 million.

• Inflation increases for operating costs. Through December, utility costs alone have risen 16% in a year. The UNC System spent $186 million in 2021-22 on electricity, gas, water and other utilities.

• $16.8 million to offer tenured UNC System faculty a voluntary retirement incentive to reduce overall personnel costs. The program would be given to institutions affected most by reduced enrollment: NC Central, UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State and East Carolina University.

• A reduction of $16.7 million in state support, based on a combination of enrollment and performance measures in a new funding model. System officials say in-state students completed 2.9% fewer credit hours in 2022, but they expect enrollment to modestly rebound in 2023. Ramsey said the new model rewards “student outcomes over student enrollment.” UNC Greensboro and UNC Asheville would both see reduced cuts in funding due to a cap the Board placed on enrollment-based adjustments. 

• $10.5 million to assist students at risk of dropping out due to financial challenges. The program would be based on a similar model at Georgia State University. It would allow Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, NC A&T, NC Central, UNC Asheville, UNC Pembroke and Winston-Salem State help students with financial shortfalls proceed to graduate. Though graduation rates have increased over the past decade, nearly 27,000 students with at least 60 credit hours have stopped out of UNC System schools since 2017.

• $8.6 million for cybersecurity improvements.

• $10 million for Distinguished Professorship Matching Funds, to match private dollars donors have already contributed  to support endowed professorships.

High-Demand Programs

In addition, the UNC System will request for expansion of certain high-demand programs and efforts to improve student completion:

• $6.1 million for ECU to increase primary care health providers.

• $10 million for N.C. A&T State to expand its role as a research university, as well as $10.7 million to expand agricultural research and extension services.

• $5.5 million for NC State University to expand class size for veterinary students from 100 to 125.

• $10.5 million for UNC Chapel Hill to expand its computer science program.

• $6 million for UNC Charlotte to expand capacity in its data and computer science programs.

• $2 million for UNC Pembroke to expand health providers in five surrounding counties.
• $8 million for UNC Wilmington to expand programs in critical workforce areas, including nursing, cybersecurity, data science, education and pharmaceuticals.

• $7 million for Western Carolina University to expand engineering graduates in the region.

• $5.5 million for Appalachian State to launch its new campus in Hickory in Fall 2023.

• $2 million for East Carolina University to offer merit scholarships to talented students from the region.

• $5 million for UNC Greensboro to offer new “Prosperity Scholarships” to high-achieving students.

• $1 million for additional mental and physical health support at the UNC School of the Arts.

• $1.5 million for additional dining, housekeeping and security at the NC School of Science and Mathematics.

• $3.1 million for audio and video production upgrades at PBS North Carolina.¹

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¹ https://www.northcarolina.edu/apps/bog/doc.php?id=67237&code=bog.