The University of North Carolina System Factsheet
The UNC System is an economic engine for North Carolina — with 16 public universities from the mountains to the sea and one of the nation’s best math and science high schools — all cultivating talent and driving innovation. This year, the UNC System’s universities are serving more students than ever — a quarter of a million people — delivering rigorous, affordable education and a remarkable return on investment to both graduates and the public. Bucking national trends, North Carolina’s public universities are growing and thriving. Graduation rates are up, student debt is down, and long-term outcomes for graduates are stronger than ever.
KEY FACTS
• The UNC System enrolls more than 256,000 students, including 33,000 who transferred from the state’s community colleges and 23,000 military-affiliated students.
• The UNC System is focused on access, affordability and student success. The System logged nine years without a tuition increase for resident undergraduates. Four NC Promise institutions have in-state tuition of $500 per semester. The state also provides generous financial aid to families who earn $80,000 or less through the NEXT NC scholarship.
• Debt is falling among UNC System graduates — 48% of North Carolina students graduated with federal loan debt in 2025, compared to 60% five years ago.
• Four-year graduation rates are climbing and consistently surpass the national average.
• UNC degrees continue to deliver strong returns, according to a 2023 independent study. Graduates of North Carolina’s public universities earn an average of $500,000 lifetime income premium compared to those who do not attend; and nearly $1 million for those who earn advanced degrees.
• The same study found that 90% of low-income graduates experience upward economic mobility, upholding the university’s core promise of life-changing opportunity.
• The UNC System is a research powerhouse, bringing in $2.2 billion in grants and funded research in 2023, advancing the frontiers of science and bolstering local economies.
• Each year, UNC institutions graduate thousands of engineers, health professionals, teachers, and other essential workers to meet the needs of a growing, complex economy in North Carolina and across the country.
• UNC Health operates 19 hospitals and an extensive health care network across the state, providing broad access to life-saving care.
• The UNC System serves the state in countless other ways — including PBS North Carolina, the North Carolina Arboretum, and the museums, planetariums, and sports and performance venues that enrich North Carolina’s cultural life.
