UNC System – UNC System

UNC System – UNC System
THE UNC SYSTEM
Affordable   |   EXCELLENT   |   For You
The Next NC Scholarship
UNC System Data
About the UNC Board of Governors
Who We Are
Who We Are
17 Institutions
One of them is for you.
Get to know the UNC System
Click on the stars on the map or explore our institutions page to learn more about the 17 unique institutions that make up the University of North Carolina System.
UNC System affiliates serve North Carolina in higher education, health care, television, and beyond.
Institutions & Affiliates
Our Students
256,530
students were enrolled in UNC System institutions in fall 2025
10,800+
students transferred into the UNC System from North Carolina community colleges in fall 2025
23,000+
military affiliated students were enrolled in institutions across the UNC System in fall 2025
WHAT WE OFFER
Affordable higher education
for all North Carolinians
A commitment to low tuition
North Carolina’s public universities have among the lowest tuition rates in the nation, backed by a constitutional mandate to keep college affordable for all our state’s people.
Through NC Promise, the state reduced tuition to $500 per semester for North Carolina students at four public universities: Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; University of North Carolina Pembroke; and Western Carolina University.
Learn more about NC Promise
69%
of undergraduate students from North Carolina benefit from financial aid
$4,553
average annual tuition across the System for North Carolina undergraduates
Strong return on investment
The median lifetime return on investment for students who earn a bachelor’s degree is nearly
$500,000
The median lifetime return on investment for students who earn a graduate degree is nearly
$1 million
Innovation through research
From the mountains to the coast, students and faculty across the UNC System have made North Carolina a research and development powerhouse. Knowledge generated through our institutions’ cutting-edge research directly supports North Carolinians through advances in medicine, technology, agriculture and other areas.
Learn more about UNC System research
$2.2B
in research grants and sponsored programs awarded across the UNC System in FY 2023
103
U.S. patents issued in FY 2023
A tradition of public service
The UNC System is North Carolina’s university. Medical and dental clinics keep North Carolinians healthy. Agriculture extension services help farmers increase their yields. Experts guide entrepreneurs in starting or expanding businesses. Schools of education prepare and support teachers in every part of the state. And our university museums, theaters, musicians, and publishers enrich the cultural life of North Carolina. Our work impacts communities in all 100 counties.
Learn more about our statewide impact
UNC System News
UNC Board of Governors votes to increase in-state undergraduate tuition for the first time in nine years
The UNC Board of Governors voted today to increase resident undergraduate tuition for the first time in nine years. The increase was capped at 3% Systemwide, averaging $125 per student.
UNC System study finds growing workforce gaps as economy expands
UNC System joins U.S. Census Bureau postsecondary employment outcomes initiative
UNC-Chapel Hill professor emerita wins 2025 Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr. Award
Public Meeting Notices
Project Kitty Hawk
Chapel Hill, NC
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
Located in North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and fulfill their responsibilities to create a sustainable future.
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
East Carolina University, located in Greenville, is the fourth largest university in North Carolina and the only one in the state with schools of medicine, dentistry, and engineering. The university is also known for being the top producer of medical school graduates who practice in North Carolina.
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC
Nestled in northeastern North Carolina, Elizabeth City State University is the most affordable institution in the UNC System and offers the only four-year degree program in aviation science in the state.
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville State University is a public historically black university in Fayetteville and is known for its affordability and accessibility for all North Carolinians. Founded in 1867, it is the second-oldest public institution in the state.
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
The largest historically black university in the nation, NC A&T is proud of its academic leadership in science and engineering. Based in Greensboro, the land grant doctoral university boasts more than 70,000 graduates who work everywhere from Silicon Valley to the halls of Congress to farms across North Carolina.
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
North Carolina Central University, a historically black university in the heart of Durham, offers programs in the sciences, education, law, business, nursing, and the arts, and boasts two research centers in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
NC State University
Raleigh, NC
Located in North Carolina’s state capital, NC State University is the largest university in the Carolinas and a world-renowned research powerhouse offering exceptional programs including engineering, agriculture, life sciences, textiles, and veterinary medicine.
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Durham, NC
A standout in the UNC System, the NC School of Science and Math is a world-class public residential high school specializing in STEM programs for high school juniors and seniors. Students can choose to attend NCSSM’s historic campus in Durham or its new campus in Morganton; online courses are available to students in any part of the state.
UNC Asheville
Asheville, NC
A liberal arts university located in the thriving mountain town of Asheville, UNC Asheville offers small classes, award-winning faculty, and a nationally acclaimed undergraduate research program that fosters connections between curiosity and critical thinking.
UNC-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
As the nation’s first public university, UNC-Chapel Hill is a leading global public research university with a legacy of nationally recognized teaching, groundbreaking research, and dedication to public service.
UNC Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Located in North Carolina’s largest city, UNC Charlotte offers competitive undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, with proximity to internships, research opportunities, and other career-launching activities.
UNC Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
UNC Greensboro is a minority-serving institution in Greensboro, serving nearly 18,000 students. The university offers hundreds of degree programs and certificates both on-campus and online and is highly ranked nationally for student success and economic mobility.
UNC Pembroke
Pembroke, NC
Located on 281 acres in southeastern North Carolina, UNC Pembroke is one of the most diverse campuses in the South, and the nation’s only four-year public institution founded by American Indians.
UNC School of the Arts
Winston-Salem, NC
The UNC School of the Arts is a top-ranked performing arts, visual arts, and filmmaking conservatory preparing high school, undergraduate, and graduate students for professional careers in dance companies, top orchestras, Broadway, and more.
UNC Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
With a world-class faculty, nationally ranked programs, and a unique coastal setting, UNC Wilmington offers a powerful academic experience and a diverse, driven, creative community.
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Western Carolina University’s 600-acre mountain campus is surrounded by one of the most biodiverse regions in the state, providing students with unparalleled research and access to a wide variety of degree programs.
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem State University is a historically black public university offering a rich curriculum rooted in liberal arts education and providing graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to develop creative solutions to complex problems.
UNC Health
Chapel Hill, NC
PBS North Carolina
Research Triangle Park, NC
The North Carolina Arboretum
Asheville, NC
The University of North Carolina Press
Chapel Hill, NC
The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)
Raleigh, NC