University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$10,038
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$3,753
$30k - $48k
$5,729
$48k - $75k
$11,619
$75k - $110k
$19,088
$110k+
$22,881
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$8,989
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$37,550
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$12,254
Books and Supplies
$1,290
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
100%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
23%
Average Aid Per Year
$17,339
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
23%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,355
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$13,601
Students receiving state aid
21%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$4,295
Students receiving federal aid
22%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,355
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$121,094,544
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$21,819,005

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
22%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,375
Students receiving federal loans
21%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$4,375
Average Other Loans Per Year
$6,554
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$14,024
Loan Default Rate
2%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$147

What Students Are Saying

This University is renowned as having top tier academic programs; some have even referred to it as a southern ivy league school. With this revered quality in education, it is astonishing that the tuition is less than $17,000 dollars a year, whereas other institutions that rival the prestige of UNC are over $35,000 a year. At Carolina you are definitely getting more than what you are paying for, I would consider it the steal of the century!
Alexia from Apex, NC
While I have not attended other universities in addition to this one, I am confident in saying that a UNC education is an excellent deal for minimal amount of financial difficulties I have had. The financial aid office is always helpful and has worked with me to find options for paying for school. I am an RA in the Upper Quad community, and this has really helped me as a source of income during the year in addition to the excellent leadership skills I have built. If you do not decide that an RA position is your cup of tea, there are plenty of on-campus options for jobs during school, especially on Franklin street in downtown Chapel Hill and with the university (Undergrad Library, Honor Court, Teaching Assistants). Whatever you choose, UNC is affordable enough to where you can find a way to pay for school!
Cyrus from Greensboro, NC
This is a great value school, especially for in-state students. The tuition is only about $15,000 for one of the best educations in the country. Unfortunately there is not much by way of on-campus jobs. The majority of on-campus jobs are offered through work study, which can only be received by the federal government. The Rec center, the libraries and the Union do hire non-work study students, but those jobs go quick, so be sure to grab them as soon as possible. Other than that, students would have to resort to Franklin Street which can be a 20-30 minute walk from some dorms. Also, Franklin only provides food and retail jobs, so people who don't work well in those situations are out of luck. Also, many of the food services on Franklin do not close on the weekends until after the P2P stops running so a walk home in the middle of the night would be necessary if you don't have a car (which you most likely won't if you are a first-year). There are a lot of jobs advertised in the Daily Tar Heel everyday, so those in dire need of a job can surely find something.
Jessica from Wilmington, NC
UNC is an excellent value college. Kiplinger consistently rates UNC among the best values in the nation! Compared to nearby Duke University, UNC students can receive a similar degree for less than half the price. Not bad for a public university. The cost of living in the surrounding community is rather cheap and finding a job isn't hard considering the growing economy of the region and the wealth of businesses surrounding Chapel Hill.
As a student from North Carolina, UNC is a great deal based off of the education you are receiving. It is obviously more expensive for out of state students, but every out of state student loves Carolina.
Rebecca
Carolina is not cheap. But, college in general is not cheap, and I have heard many praises sung about how Carolina offers a good education for it's price. Which it does. But just know, the university can be a little stingy with their awards - you are required to fill out both a FAFSA and a university document, the CSS Profile. In my experience, the CSS Profile intially excluded me from a lot of need based grants that I, ahem, needed. There is an appeals process that they try and keep quiet about, but I encourage you to contact the financial aid office and ask if there is anything you can do to earn more money towards your tuition. I'm sad to say that Carolina - both it's students and faculty - can be pretentious, but shake off the haters. Your earned your spot there!
Emily from Charlotte, NC
UNC has a private school education at a public school cost, but you get so much more than an ivy league-worthy education for your money. Tuition covers student tickets to athletic events, use of the 2 on-campus gyms, the many soccer fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts, and access to the 2 pools. Campus shuttles and the local bus system are also free to students for getting around campus.
Olivia from Roxboro, NC
UNC offers the best education for a great price, compared to colleges that share is caliber. I have many friends from out-of-state, and they say UNC was a great choice for them, both for education and costs.
Kasey