Student Accounts News
"Per Credit Hour" is Replacing the "Stair Step" Model
May, 2021
Beginning Fall 2021 the UNC System will eliminate the “stair-step” model (see below) that has been used to bill main campus programs/courses for a number of years. It will be replaced with an equal tuition rate for main campus & distance education programs/courses. Tuition (including differential tuition) will be charged one rate per each credit hour up to the full-time enrollment levels. The per credit hour rates will be equal across all methods of instruction.
This means that all enrollment, beginning Fall 2021, will be billed at a per credit hour rate:
- Tuition will be charged up to 12-credit hours of enrollment for undergraduate students.
- Tuition will be charged up to 9-credit hours of enrollment for graduate students.
Any semester enrollment beyond these caps will not be billed additional tuition.
*Please note: Full-time enrollment status may be determined differently for purposes other than tuition billing; i.e. financial aid.
The Previously Used "Stair Step" Tuition Rate
Previously, tuition (excluding Distance Education) was assessed using the “stair-step” approach. Meaning, tuition was charged flat rates for certain ranges of credit hours up to the full-time enrollment level; 12-credit hours for undergraduates & 9-credit hours for graduates. The "stair step" tuition rates were applied through Spring 2021.
Below is an example of how tuition was charged under the “stair-step” method.
| UNDERGRADUATE TUITION | GRADUATE TUITION | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Hour | NC Resident | Non-NC Resident | Credit Hour | NC Resident | Non-NC Resident |
|
0 - 5 |
$555.38 |
$2,313.50 |
0 - 2 |
$589.88 |
$2,318.50 |
|
6 -8 |
$1,110.75 |
$4,627.00 |
3 - 5 |
$1,179.75 |
$4,637.00 |
|
9 - 11 |
$1,666.13 |
$6,940.50 |
6 - 8 |
$1,769.63 |
$6,955.00 |
|
12 or more |
$2,221.50 |
$9,256.00 |
9 or more |
$2,359.50 |
$9,724.00 |
