Higher education in North Carolina, 1993-2016

in North Carolina

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Higher education
Enrollment statistics
Tuition statistics
Financial aid statistics
Retention rates
Graduation rates
Higher education funding

North Carolina's higher education system is composed of 149 colleges and universities. Of these, 75 are public institutions, 50 are nonprofit private schools, and 24 are for-profit private institutions.^[1]

Higher education policy decisions can affect college access, the retention of students and the eventual completion of their degrees, student rights on campus, students' financial burden in the form of debt, and their employment prospects after graduation. Click on the tabs below to learn more about higher education in North Carolina.

Overview

Overview

Total number of schools: 149

Public schools: 75

State agency: North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

Retention rate: 69%[2]

Graduation rate: 61.2%[3]

Average public in-state tuition: $6,578

Total funding for public higher education: $3,726,028,884

Funding per full-time student: $8,562

Higher education in the United States • Education policy • Education policy in the United States • Public education in North Carolina

Overview

Higher education policy refers to the decisions made by the federal government, state legislatures, higher education boards, and colleges and universities themselves. These decisions can affect how state funding is allocated, who sets tuition and at what level, campus resources available for academically struggling students, degrees and programs offered, and state financial aid eligibility and award amounts, as some examples. Higher education entities also set policies that manage campus environments, such as the prohibition or allowance of guns on campus and rules regarding free speech and student protests.^[4]

Generally speaking, there are four types of postsecondary educational institutions in the United States:^[5][6]

1. Public two-year institutions, which are most commonly known as community colleges, typically "award associate degrees in vocational fields [and] prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions." These schools are financed in large part with public funds. Catawba Valley Community College is an example of a public two-year institution in North Carolina.^[5][6]
2. Public four-year colleges and universities award baccalaureate and/or graduate degrees. Traditionally, a distinction has been made between colleges and universities, with colleges awarding only four-year degrees and universities awarding both four-year and graduate-level degrees; however, these two terms are often used interchangeably today. Like their two-year counterparts, public four-year colleges and universities are financed largely with public funds. North Carolina A & T University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are examples of public four-year institutions in North Carolina.^[5][6]
3. Private nonprofit institutions can vary dramatically in size, course offerings, and mission. These institutions do not receive public funding directly. Instead, private nonprofit schools are financed primarily by tuition, gifts, and endowments. These schools do not generate profit. Duke University and Greensboro College are examples of private nonprofit institutions in North Carolina.^[5][6]
4. Private for-profit institutions typically specialize in vocational education. Like their nonprofit counterparts, these schools do not receive public funds. These mainly online universities generally serve older students and endeavor to generate profits. Examples in North Carolina include ITT Technical Institute and King's College.^[5][6]

The University of North Carolina, chartered in 1789 and opened in 1795, was the state's first public university. However, there were several private colleges and academies that were open prior to the University of North Carolina. Several of these colleges have since closed. However, two schools, Salem College and Louisburg College, have roots that can be traced back to the late 1700s.^[7][8]

As of July 2016, there were 75 public colleges and universities in North Carolina, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These are listed in the table below.^[1]

Public postsecondary institutions in North Carolina
School	Type
Alamance Community College	Two-year
Appalachian State University	Four-year
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	Two-year
Beaufort County Community College	Two-year
Bladen Community College	Two-year
Blue Ridge Community College	Two-year
Brunswick Community College	Two-year
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute	Two-year
Cape Fear Community College	Two-year
Carolinas College of Health Sciences	Two-year
Carteret Community College	Two-year
Catawba Valley Community College	Two-year
Central Carolina Community College	Two-year
Central Piedmont Community College	Two-year
Cleveland Community College	Two-year
Coastal Carolina Community College	Two-year
College of the Albemarle	Two-year
Craven Community College	Two-year
Davidson County Community College	Two-year
Durham Technical Community College	Two-year
East Carolina University	Four-year
Edgecombe Community College	Two-year
Elizabeth City State University	Four-year
Fayetteville State University	Four-year
Fayetteville Technical Community College	Two-year
Forsyth Technical Community College	Two-year
Gaston College	Two-year
Guilford Technical Community College	Two-year
Halifax Community College	Two-year
Haywood Community College	Two-year
Isothermal Community College	Two-year
James Sprunt Community College	Two-year
Johnston Community College	Two-year
Lenoir Community College	Two-year
Martin Community College	Two-year
Mayland Community College	Two-year
McDowell Technical Community College	Two-year
Mitchell Community College	Two-year
Montgomery Community College	Two-year
Nash Community College	Two-year
North Carolina A & T State University	Four-year
North Carolina Central University	Four-year
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	Four-year
Pamlico Community College	Two-year
Piedmont Community College	Two-year
Pitt Community College	Two-year
Randolph Community College	Two-year
Richmond Community College	Two-year
Roanoke-Chowan Community College	Two-year
Robeson Community College	Two-year
Rockingham Community College	Two-year
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	Two-year
Sampson Community College	Two-year
Sandhills Community College	Two-year
South Piedmont Community College	Two-year
Southeastern Community College	Two-year
Southwestern Community College	Two-year
Stanly Community College	Two-year
Surry Community College	Two-year
Tri-County Community College	Two-year
University of North Carolina at Asheville	Four-year
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Four-year
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Four-year
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Four-year
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Four-year
University of North Carolina School of the Arts	Four-year
University of North Carolina Wilmington	Four-year
Vance-Granville Community College	Two-year
Wake Technical Community College	Two-year
Wayne Community College	Two-year
Western Carolina University	Four-year
Western Piedmont Community College	Two-year
Wilkes Community College	Two-year
Wilson Community College	Two-year
Winston-Salem State University	Four-year
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - North Carolina"

State agencies

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, or NCSEAA, is a state-sponsored education authority that is commonly used to help students pay for post-secondary education. It also creates reports on financial trends in education and other information that can assist families and students in planning their education. This agency also designs programs to ensure that all money loaned by the state is collected.^[9]

Admissions

Enrollment

See also: Higher education enrollment statistics

According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, college enrollment typically rises during economic downturns and declines as the economy improves. In 2014, higher education enrollment nationwide was 8.6 percent higher than pre-recession levels in 2008. However, enrollment has been declining since 2012. Full-time enrollment in higher education institutions rose sharply following the recession before peaking in 2011 and then dropping off.^[10]

College enrollment in North Carolina followed this trend; between 2012 and 2014, full-time enrollment decreased from about 412,349 to about 402,199. In 2014, full-time college enrollment in North Carolina was 12.5 percent higher than in 2008. Click [show] on the green bar below the bar chart to view full-time public university enrollment in North Carolina as compared to surrounding states.

Full-time enrollment in public postsecondary institutions, FY 2008 to FY 2014
State	FY 2008 (pre-recession)	FY 2009	FY 2012	FY 2013	FY 2014	1-year change	5-year change	Change since recession
North Carolina	357,601	385,792	412,349	410,622	402,199	-2.1%	4.3%	12.5%
Georgia	310,759	330,866	379,004	354,989	347,733	-2.0%	5.1%	11.9%
South Carolina	150,333	158,252	175,236	175,321	172,049	-1.9%	8.7%	14.4%
Virginia	281,940	294,436	325,517	320,481	318,166	-0.7%	8.1%	12.8%
United States	10,254,148	10,721,466	11,563,321	11,288,232	11,137,541	-1.3%	3.9%	8.6%
Note: Full-time enrollment excludes medical students.[10] Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014"

Demographics

Enrollment by race and ethnicity

In North Carolina, total enrollment—full-time and part-time—in all public and private higher education institutions amounted to 575,198 in fall 2013. About 60.1 percent of these students were white. Black students comprised approximately 25.2 percent of the total postsecondary student population in North Carolina. During that time, 61.8 percent of the state's general population was white and 25.9 percent was black, with other ethnic groups comprising the remainder. The table below lists demographic information for both postsecondary students and the general population in North Carolina and surrounding states.^[11]

Higher education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2013
State	Population category	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	Pacific Islander	American Indian/Alaska Native	Two or more races	Non-resident alien
North Carolina	Postsecondary students	60.1%	25.2%	5.6%	2.8%	0.1%	1.2%	2.1%	2.9%
General population	61.8%	25.9%	5.8%	2.9%	0.2%	1.2%	2.2%	N/A
Georgia	Postsecondary students	50.5%	33.6%	5.6%	4.4%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	3.3%
General population	52.2%	34.7%	5.8%	4.5%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	N/A
South Carolina	Postsecondary students	62.5%	28.0%	3.5%	1.5%	0.1%	0.4%	2.2%	1.8%
General population	63.7%	28.5%	3.6%	1.5%	0.1%	0.4%	2.2%	N/A
Virginia	Postsecondary students	58.7%	22.2%	6.7%	5.7%	0.3%	0.4%	3.2%	2.8%
General population	60.4%	22.9%	6.9%	5.8%	0.3%	0.4%	3.3%	N/A
United States	Postsecondary students	56.9%	14.1%	15.2%	5.9%	0.3%	0.8%	2.7%	4.1%
General population	59.3%	14.7%	15.8%	6.1%	0.3%	0.8%	2.9%	N/A
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 306.60. Fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity of student and state or jurisdiction: 2013"

Enrollment by sex

In 2013, 58.7 percent of all postsecondary students in North Carolina were female, which was higher than the national rate of 56.5 percent. The table below lists postsecondary student enrollment by sex in North Carolina and surrounding states.^[12]

Higher education enrollment by sex, 2013
State	Total students	Male students	Percentage	Female students	Percentage
North Carolina	575,198	237,340	41.3%	337,858	58.7%
Georgia	533,424	218,143	40.9%	315,281	59.1%
South Carolina	257,844	105,675	41.0%	152,169	59.0%
Virginia	583,755	252,000	43.2%	331,755	56.8%
United States	20,375,789	8,860,786	43.5%	11,515,003	56.5%
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 304.30. Total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, sex, and state or jurisdiction: 2012 and 2013"

Affirmative action

See also: Affirmative action and Affirmative action in North Carolina

Federal law requires government contractors and other departments and agencies receiving federal funding to develop and implement affirmative action plans for the hiring process. Public colleges and universities are considered federal contractors and must utilize affirmative action in their employment practices. However, many private and public colleges and universities across the country have also implemented similar measures in their admissions processes. These actions are typically voluntary, although a handful of states have adopted rules that require state universities to take affirmative action in admissions.^[13][14][15]

Affirmative action admissions programs were undertaken by public and private universities alike, beginning in the late 1960s and 1970s. Some universities initially established quotas in order to achieve a demographically diverse student body; these quotas were outlawed by the United States Supreme Court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke in 1978.^[13][16]

Affirmative action can also take other forms, such as targeted outreach campaigns. Today, a common form of affirmative action in college admissions is that of racial preferences. A preference occurs when a group of applicants is more likely to be admitted than other applicants with similar or better qualifications due to other factors, such as race or ethnicity. Preferences are also sometimes extended towards women, athletes, and children of alumni. The use of racial preferences may be related to college selectivity: scholars such as law professor Richard Sander have found that preferences are strongest at elite institutions.^{[13][16][17][18]}

Eight states have enacted laws banning the consideration of race in university admissions. As of March 2015, North Carolina was not one of these states. However, in November 2014, consideration of race in admissions at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill was challenged in a lawsuit by the Project on Fair Representation. As of April 2015, the matter was still under consideration by the courts. Of 16 public four-year universities in North Carolina, seven reported considering race in admissions, as indicated in the chart below.^[19][20][21]

Consideration of race at public four-year universities in North Carolina
School	Race/ethnicity is...	School selectivity*
Very important	Important	Considered	Not considered
Appalachian State University					Somewhat selective
East Carolina University					Less selective
Elizabeth City State University					N/A
Fayetteville State University					Somewhat selective
North Carolina A & T State University					Somewhat selective
North Carolina Central University					Very selective
North Carolina State University					Somewhat selective
University of North Carolina at Asheville					Somewhat selective
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill					Very selective
University of North Carolina at Charlotte					Somewhat selective
University of North Carolina at Greensboro					Somewhat selective
University of North Carolina at Pembroke					Somewhat selective
University of North Carolina School of the Arts					Very selective
University of North Carolina Wilmington					Somewhat selective
Western Carolina University					Very selective
Winston-Salem State University					Somewhat selective
Sources: The College Board, "Big Future". Reproduced with permission. CollegeData, "College 411" *Note: This scale of college selectivity comes from The College Board and is measured as follows: Most selective, less than 25 percent admitted; Very selective, 25 percent to 50 percent admitted; Somewhat selective, 50 percent to 75 percent admitted; Less selective, more than 75 percent admitted; Open admission, all or most admitted.

Click [show] to learn more about the data

Information on which colleges consider race in admissions came from individual college profiles provided by two websites that aim to assist students in choosing a college: The College Board and CollegeData. Such information was reported to The College Board by the colleges themselves. Note that schools may have updated their policies since reporting them. To see the data: College Board: Click the link to the college's profile provided in the table below. Click "Applying" on the side menu and scroll down. Listed will be several criteria of admission into the college, separated by importance. If Race/Ethnicity is not listed, it was not reported as considered by the college's admissions officers. CollegeData: Click the link to the college's profile provided in the table below. Scroll down to the section titled "Selection of Students" to see a chart of admission criteria ranked from "Very Important" to "Not Considered." Links to school profiles School School profiles School School profiles College Board CollegeData College Board CollegeData Appalachian State University Link Link East Carolina University Link Link Elizabeth City State University Link Link Fayetteville State University Link Link North Carolina A & T State University Link Link North Carolina Central University Link Link North Carolina State University Link Link University of North Carolina at Asheville Link Link University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Link Link University of North Carolina at Charlotte Link Link University of North Carolina at Greensboro Link Link University of North Carolina at Pembroke Link Link University of North Carolina School of the Arts Link Link University of North Carolina Wilmington Link Link Western Carolina University Link Link Winston-Salem State University Link Link

Student costs

See also: Higher education tuition statistics

In-state and private tuition

Tuition accounts for just a portion of student costs; in many states, the cost of room and board equals or surpasses the cost of tuition at public universities. However, unlike room and board, tuition has risen much faster than inflation, increasing by 40 percent between the 2005-2006 and the 2015-2016 school years. The consumer price index increased by 21.5 percent over the same time period. Some studies suggest that universities have increased tuition as a response to state budget cuts, while others correlate rising tuition with the availability of financial aid.^[22][23][24]

In the 2013-2014 academic year, the national average in-state cost for tuition and required fees at a public four-year school totaled $8,312. For a private four-year school, the average was $25,696. In North Carolina, these figures were lower for public institutions and higher for private institutions: $6,578 and $27,284, respectively. Public university tuition in the state increased 56 percent between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. The graph below displays average tuition prices in North Carolina as compared to the nationwide average for each year during that time. Hover over the points to view precise figures. The table below the graph compares 2013-2014 average annual tuition costs in North Carolina with those in surrounding states.^[23][25]

Note: Discrepancies in data between the line graph and the table below are due to differing sources of information.

Higher education tuition and fees at 4-year institutions, 2013-2014 (in current dollars)
State	Public in-state	Private
2012-2013	2013-2014	Percent change	2012-2013	2013-2014	Percent change
North Carolina	$6,223	$6,578	5.7%	$26,336	$27,284	3.6%
Georgia	$6,325	$6,614	4.6%	$22,456	$23,521	4.7%
South Carolina	$10,691	$11,066	3.5%	$20,990	$21,769	3.7%
Virginia	$9,866	$10,531	6.7%	$21,524	$22,280	3.5%
United States	$8,070	$8,312	3.0%	$24,525	$25,696	4.8%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 330.20. Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by control and level of institution and state or jurisdiction: 2012-13 and 2013-14"

Out-of-state tuition

See also: Higher education tuition statistics

Public postsecondary schools receive some of their funding from their state's government. This money in turn comes from taxation of the state's residents. Since neither out-of-state students nor their parents paid that state's taxes, the schools charge these students additional tuition to account for the difference. This additional charge is a significant increase over in-state tuition in all 50 states. In the 2013-2014 school year, out-of-state students nationwide paid an average of $22,603 in annual tuition and required fees, 272 percent higher than the in-state average of $8,312.^[23]

Students attending public postsecondary institutions in North Carolina from outside of the state were required to pay an average of $20,410, a 310 percent difference over the average in-state tuition of $6,578. The average out-of-state tuition price for North Carolina was lower than the national average by about $2,200. The table below compares in-state and out-of-state tuition figures for North Carolina with those of surrounding states.

Average annual in-state and out-of-state tuition and required fees, 2013-2014
State	Average in-state tuition	Average out-of-state tuition	Percent difference
North Carolina	$6,578	$20,410	310%
Georgia	$6,614	$23,730	359%
South Carolina	$11,066	$27,040	244%
Virginia	$10,531	$28,578	271%
United States	$8,312	$22,603	272%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here. Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 330.20. Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by control and level of institution and state or jurisdiction: 2012-13 and 2013-14"

Financial aid

See also: Higher education financial aid statistics

The federal government provides financial aid to undergraduate students in the form of grants and loans. Notable grants administered by the United States government include Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). Loan programs administered by the federal government include the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and Federal Perkins Loan Program. Perkins Loans have an interest rate of 5 percent, while Direct Loans have interest rates that vary based on the date of disbursement and the loan type: loans disbursed between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2017, have interest rates ranging from 3.76 percent to 7.21 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average default rate on Perkins Loans was 11.8 percent for borrowers who entered into repayment in 2012; the rate reflects borrowers who defaulted prior to September 30, 2014. This is compared to average default rates of 7.2 percent on home loans and 2.23 percent on credit card loans in 2014.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31]}

In addition, colleges and universities often offer institution-specific financial aid to their students, and individual states may also administer student financial aid programs. According to the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the states disbursed approximately $11.7 billion in state-based financial aid to postsecondary students in the 2013-2014 academic year. This represented about 5 percent of all financial aid provided to undergraduate students, according to the College Board. North Carolina awarded $407.37 million in state-based financial aid during that time. The table below provides state-based aid figures for North Carolina and surrounding states in 2013-2014.^[32][33]

Total state-based financial aid, 2013-2014 (in millions)
State	Need-based grant aid	Non-need-based grant aid	Non-grant aid	Total
North Carolina	$326.54	$7.21	$73.62	$407.37
Georgia	-	$569.92	$2.56	$572.49
South Carolina	$60.64	$298.96	$2.8	$362.4
Virginia	$162.24	$90.25	$216.22	$468.7
United States	$7,491.27	$2,446.92	$1,756.51	$11,694.70
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here. Source: National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, "45th Annual Survey Report on State-Sponsored Student Financial Aid"

Student debt

See also: Student debt in higher education in the United States

Student debt is a major concern for both parents and students. According to the Institute for College Access and Success, in school year 2013-2014, an average of 62 percent of all students nationwide graduated with debt at an average of about $27,779 per borrower. The state with the lowest average debt held by students was Utah, where average student debt was about $18,921. Conversely, students who graduated from colleges and universities in Delaware held an average of about $33,808 in debt, the highest in the country.^[34][35]

During the 2013-2014 school year, about 61 percent of postsecondary students at both public and private schools in North Carolina graduated with debt. Average debt held amounted to about $25,218, ranking 37th highest in the country. The table below compares the average student debt, percentage of graduates with debt, and national rankings of North Carolina and surrounding states.

Average student debt and percentage of graduates with debt, 2013-2014
State	Average debt	National rank	Percentage with debt	National rank
North Carolina	$25,218	37	61%	27
Georgia	$26,518	24	62%	23
South Carolina	$29,163	14	59%	31
Virginia	$26,432	25	60%	28
United States	$27,779	--	62%	--
Source: CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data"

While tuition for private schools is typically higher than that of public schools, debt does not always follow this same pattern. The Institute for College Access and Success analyzed data on student debt held by graduates of public and private schools. They found that in the 2013-2014 school year, about 60 percent of students nationwide who graduated from a public institution had debt, which averaged about $25,665 per borrower. For private schools, they found that approximately 65 percent of students graduated with an average of $28,498 in debt. However, in some states, such as New Hampshire, students on average graduated from private schools with less debt than those who graduated from public schools.^[34][35]

During the 2013-2014 school year, about 62 percent of graduates from North Carolina's public schools graduated with an average of $24,358 in debt. About 60 percent of private school students graduated with an average of $28,012 in debt. As this data shows, students who graduated from public schools during this year had less debt on average than those who graduated from private schools. The table below compares these statistics for North Carolina with those of its surrounding states.

Average student debt from public and private colleges, 2013-2014
State	Public in-state institution	Private institution
Average debt	Percent of graduates with debt	Average debt	Percent of graduates with debt
North Carolina	$24,358	62%	$28,012	60%
Georgia	$25,582	62%	$29,917	62%
South Carolina	$29,106	58%	$29,532	66%
Virginia	$27,368	57%	$24,502	67%
United States	$25,902	60%	$29,657	64%
Source: CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data"

Outcomes

Retention rates

See also: Higher education retention rates

Retention rates indicate the percentage of freshmen postsecondary students who enroll the following academic year as sophomores. According to the NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis:^[36]

“	Students are more likely to drop out of postsecondary education during the first year than any other time. If a state can implement policies that help to increase retention rates either within institutions or through transfer, the likelihood of students persisting to graduation is far greater.[36][37]	”
—NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis

Compared to neighboring states, North Carolina had the second-highest total retention rate in the 2013-2014 school year at 69 percent. The table below compares retention rates in North Carolina and surrounding states.^[38]

Higher education retention rates, 2013-2014
State	Total	Public	Private nonprofit	Private for-profit
2-year	4-year	2-year	4-year	2-year	4-year
North Carolina	69%	57%	83%	44%	73%	66%	45%
Georgia	68%	53%	78%	52%	77%	59%	41%
South Carolina	65%	51%	79%	53%	69%	67%	63%
Virginia	74%	63%	87%	100%	72%	59%	58%
United States	71%	60%	79%	62%	80%	68%	54%
Source: CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data"

Graduation rates

See also: Higher education graduation rates

The table below, built from data compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education, details graduation rates for North Carolina and surrounding states. Although postsecondary schools are classified as four-year and two-year institutions, relatively few students actually complete degrees within these time frames. At four-year schools, students commonly take between four and six years to complete their degrees. Likewise, students at two-year institutions commonly take three years to complete their degrees. To illustrate this point, both four-year and six-year graduation rates are provided in the table below (only three-year rates are provided for two-year institutions, owing to a lack of information regarding two-year completion rates).^[39]

At public four-year colleges in North Carolina, 37.5 percent graduated within four years, while 61.2 percent graduated within six years. Compared to neighboring states, North Carolina had the second-highest six-year completion rate for four-year public institutions. About 17.6 percent of North Carolina students at public two-year colleges graduated within three years.^[40]

Graduation rates by state, 2013
State	Four-year institutions	Two-year institutions
Completion within four years	Completion within six years	Completion within three years
Public	Private nonprofit	Private for-profit	Public	Private nonprofit	Private for-profit	Public	Private for-profit
North Carolina	37.5%	49.2%	11.3%	61.2%	58.5%	22.6%	17.6%	68.0%
Georgia	27.6%	44.0%	9.8%	54.5%	57.0%	19.8%	19.0%	52.4%
South Carolina	41.7%	37.4%	47.8%	60.6%	48.4%	57.5%	11.9%	73.1%
Virginia	51.6%	43.6%	18.3%	70.5%	56.2%	24.5%	22.0%	66.6%
United States	33.3%	52.8%	23.3%	57.6%	65.4%	33.2%	19.4%	63.1%
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Graduation rates by state"

Study on college affordability and outcomes

College affordability and student debt have become major issues in higher education policy, particularly since the 2008 recession. The College Affordability Guide is an organization that evaluates colleges for their value, which is defined as providing a high-quality education that is affordable "not only for the average student, but for lower-income students as well." According to the College Affordability Guide, there are 13 colleges in North Carolina that provide high-quality education at an affordable price. The College Affordability Guide's rankings consider a number of factors and are based on the idea that income-appropriate tuition, completing one's studies, and being able to pay back one's loans are the key elements of a worthwhile college experience. Colleges considered the best value by the guide meet the following criteria:^[41]

• Tuition at an average net price of $15,000 per year or less after financial aid for families making $48,000 per year or less
• At least 50 percent of students graduate or transfer
• At least 50 percent of students are actively paying down student loan debt three years after graduation

Additionally, all colleges considered are not-for-profit, offer associate or higher degrees, and have at least one non-standard way for students to earn college credits, such as AP or CLEP credit. The table below lists the colleges in North Carolina that the College Affordability Guide considers to be the best value. The colleges are in no particular order. Full rankings and descriptions of the colleges can be found here.

Most affordable colleges in North Carolina, 2016
College	Average net price	Percent of students graduating or transferring	Percent of students repaying loans
Appalachian State University	$8,000	82.0%	91.1%
East Carolina University	$10,000	76.0%	85.2%
Johnston Community College	$7,000	53.0%	55.1%
University of North Carolina at Asheville	$8,000	79.0%	83.5%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	$6,000	92.0%	94.3%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	$8,000	73.0%	85.8%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	$8,000	75.0%	82.2%
University of North Carolina Wilmington	$11,000	85.0%	85.6%
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	$9,000	62.0%	65.9%
Salem College	$12,000	65.0%	82.6%
Wingate University	$14,000	51.0%	86.7%
Winston-Salem State University	$6,000	65.0%	56.6%
Western Carolina University	$9,000	78.0%	82.0%
Source: College Affordability Guide, "2016 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina"

Funding

Total state funding

See also: Higher education funding and North Carolina state budget and finances

Higher education funding mechanisms differ depending on the type of institution. Public colleges receive the lion's share of their funding from state and local governments. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, state and local appropriations accounted for 53 percent of higher education revenues nationwide in 2013. By contrast, private institutions do not receive direct government funding. Instead, these institutions rely primarily on tuition, gifts, and endowments.^[42][43]

The 2008 recession led to decreased public higher education funding as college enrollment increased:

“	By 2012, the tuition revenues collected by public universities in 20 states covered more educational costs than did state-provided dollars.[37]	”
—Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education[44]

While there have been moderate increases in state allocations between 2012 and 2015, the average amount of spending "is still 15 percent less, per student, than before the economic downturn," according to a study by the State Higher Education Executive Offices (SHEEO).^[45]

According to Grapevine, which is published by Illinois State University's Center for the Study of Education Policy and SHEEO, financial support for public higher education in North Carolina totaled $3.7 billion in fiscal year 2015, a 0.7 percent decrease over fiscal year 2013. The table below lists higher education fiscal support figures for North Carolina and surrounding states.^[46]

State funding for higher education
State	Fiscal year 2013	Fiscal year 2014	Fiscal year 2015	Percent change
North Carolina	$3,751,478,952	$3,617,627,709	$3,726,028,884	-0.7%
Georgia	$2,624,294,318	$2,790,040,144	$2,897,661,906	10.4%
South Carolina	$910,405,772	$909,110,205	$970,219,549	6.6%
Virginia	$1,712,075,324	$1,780,468,378	$1,810,767,689	5.8%
United States	$72,493,483,464	$76,950,508,609	$80,973,621,292	11.7%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here. Source: Grapevine, "Table 1: State Fiscal Support for Higher Education, by State, Fiscal Years 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15"

Funding per student

According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, average adjusted public postsecondary appropriations per full-time student declined 13.3 percent from fiscal year 2009 to 2013 on average in the United States. In North Carolina, appropriations per full-time student declined 11.0 percent during that same period. The table below lists adjusted public higher education appropriations per full-time student for North Carolina and surrounding states in fiscal years 2009, 2013, and 2014.^[10]

Public higher education appropriations per full-time student (in constant 2014 dollars)
State	Fiscal year 2009	Fiscal year 2013	Fiscal year 2014	1 year change	5 year change	Change since recession
North Carolina	$9,619	$8,851	$8,562	-3.3%	-11.0%	-21.7%
Georgia	$8,497	$6,836	$7,297	6.7%	-14.1%	-23.2%
South Carolina	$6,092	$4,891	$4,894	0.0%	-19.7%	-36.5%
Virginia	$6,215	$4,635	$4,779	3.1%	-23.1%	-26.1%
United States	$7,553	$6,215	$6,552	5.4%	-13.3%	-18.9%
Notes: "Educational appropriations are a measure of state and local support available for public higher education operating expenses including ARRA funds, and exclude appropriations for independent institutions, financial aid for students attending independent institutions, research, hospitals, and medical education." "Adjustment factors, to arrive at constant dollar figures, include Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), Enrollment Mix Index (EMI), and Higher Education Cost Adjustment (HECA). The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is not a measure of inflation over time." Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014"

Study on college affordability and outcomes

College affordability and student debt have become major issues in higher education policy, particularly since the 2008 recession. The College Affordability Guide is an organization that evaluates colleges for their value, which is defined as providing a high-quality education that is affordable "not only for the average student, but for lower-income students as well." According to the College Affordability Guide, there are 13 colleges in North Carolina that provide high-quality education at an affordable price. The College Affordability Guide's rankings consider a number of factors and are based on the idea that income-appropriate tuition, completing one's studies, and being able to pay back one's loans are the key elements of a worthwhile college experience. Colleges considered the best value by the guide meet the following criteria:^[47]

• Tuition at an average net price of $15,000 per year or less after financial aid for families making $48,000 per year or less
• At least 50 percent of students graduate or transfer
• At least 50 percent of students are actively paying down student loan debt three years after graduation

Additionally, all colleges considered are not-for-profit, offer associate or higher degrees, and have at least one non-standard way for students to earn college credits, such as AP or CLEP credit. The table below lists the colleges in North Carolina that the College Affordability Guide considers to be the best value. The colleges are in no particular order. Full rankings and descriptions of the colleges can be found here.

Most affordable colleges in North Carolina, 2016
College	Average net price	Percent of students graduating or transferring	Percent of students repaying loans
Appalachian State University	$8,000	82.0%	91.1%
East Carolina University	$10,000	76.0%	85.2%
Johnston Community College	$7,000	53.0%	55.1%
University of North Carolina at Asheville	$8,000	79.0%	83.5%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	$6,000	92.0%	94.3%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	$8,000	73.0%	85.8%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	$8,000	75.0%	82.2%
University of North Carolina Wilmington	$11,000	85.0%	85.6%
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	$9,000	62.0%	65.9%
Salem College	$12,000	65.0%	82.6%
Wingate University	$14,000	51.0%	86.7%
Winston-Salem State University	$6,000	65.0%	56.6%
Western Carolina University	$9,000	78.0%	82.0%
Source: College Affordability Guide, "2016 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina"

Faculty

Faculty

See also: Higher education faculty statistics

Across the country, as student enrollment at postsecondary institutions has changed, so has the faculty. To meet rising demand, the number of faculty increased nationwide by just over 55 percent, from 515,684 to 800,611, between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years. In North Carolina, the total number of faculty rose from 17,186 to 27,491. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the college faculty profession has one of the fastest growth rates in the nation and will see a 19 percent increase in jobs between 2012 and 2022.^[48][49][50]

Employment status

While the total number of faculty at public colleges and universities continued to rise over the previous two decades, the portion of faculty who work part time rose more quickly. By the mid-1990s, part-time faculty comprised over half of total instructional faculty, a figure which continued to increase before leveling off in 2013. In the 2013-2014 school year, just over 55 percent of instructional faculty nationwide worked part time. The number of part-time faculty, including teaching and research assistants, outnumbered full-time faculty in all but 11 states. The number of teaching and research assistants alone outnumbered full-time faculty in five states. North Carolina was not one of these states. According to the Southern Regional Education Board,^[48][49]

“	The fact that part-time faculty and teaching/research assistants are a majority of the instructional staff does not mean they do a majority of the instruction, because part-time faculty members and teaching/research assistants typically do not teach as many classes as full-time faculty members. Part-time faculty members generally do not have campus committee assignments or participate in student activities.[37]	”
—Southern Regional Education Board[48]

In North Carolina, the percentage of all part-time faculty, including graduate assistants, increased from 52.1 percent to 52.8 percent between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years. Below is a table that provides figures on full-time and part-time faculty employment in North Carolina as compared to surrounding states.^[49]

Employment status of instructional faculty at public four-year institutions
State	1993-1994	2013-2014
Full time faculty	Part time faculty	Graduate assistants	Part-time total as a percent of all faculty*	Full time faculty	Part time faculty	Graduate assistants	Part-time total as a percent of all faculty*
North Carolina	8,238	295	8,653	52.1%	12,967	3,370	11,154	52.8%
Georgia	6,458	1,552	2,241	37.0%	11,095	3,590	10,583	56.1%
South Carolina	4,152	337	2,196	37.9%	5,254	2,487	3,539	53.4%
Virginia	8,772	455	1,439	17.8%	13,067	4,940	9,360	52.3%
United States	265,469	83,579	166,636	48.5%	359,586	163,962	277,063	55.1%
*"Part-time total" includes teaching and research assistants, who also work part time. Source: Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables"

Salaries

According to the Southern Regional Education Board, although the salaries of full-time faculty at public four-year institutions are higher than the those of the average American worker, their growth has not kept pace with the average rate of salary increases across all professions. However, salary growth at private institutions has outpaced the national average rate. From the 2008-2009 to the 2013-2014 school years, the average salary for full-time instructional faculty at public four-year institutions nationwide rose from $76,009 to $79,293. In North Carolina, the average salary decreased from $79,395 to $78,318. The table below provides faculty salary information for the school years 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for North Carolina and surrounding states. Dollar figures have not been adjusted for inflation.^[49]

Average salaries of full-time instructional faculty at public four-year institutions, 2013-2014
State	Average salary 2008-2009	Average salary 2013-2014	Percent change	Inflation-adjusted percent change
North Carolina	$79,395	$78,318	-1.4%	-6.0%
Georgia	$73,603	$73,968	0.5%	-7.2%
South Carolina	$69,305	$75,515	9.0%	-2.8%
Virginia	$80,440	$87,041	8.2%	-3.0%
United States	$76,009	$79,293	4.3%	-1.5%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here. Source: Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables"

Demographics

Over the previous two decades, the proportions of female, black, and Hispanic faculty members at public colleges and universities nationwide increased to reach their highest levels ever in the 2013-2014 school year. In North Carolina, 44.7 percent of full-time college faculty were female, 11 percent were black, and 3 percent were Hispanic. Female and Hispanic representation in college faculty at that time was higher than in the 1993-1994 school year. However, the percentages of faculty who were female, black, and Hispanic still fell below the proportions of both the general and college student populations who were female, black, and Hispanic. Click [show] on the green bar below the pie charts to view demographic information for full-time faculty at public four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina from the 1993-1994 to the 2013-2014 school years. For this reason, the pie chart displays a different figure for 'Other' than the table.

Demographics of full-time faculty at public four-year colleges and universities
State	Year	Total full-time faculty	Percent men	Percent women	Percent white	Percent black	Percent Hispanic	Percent other*
North Carolina	1993-1994	8,239	70.5%	29.5%	83.8%	11.0%	1.1%	4.1%
2013-2014	12,967	55.3%	44.7%	76.7%	11.0%	3.0%	8.8%
Georgia	1993-1994	6,458	67.5%	32.5%	87.2%	7.5%	0.9%	4.3%
2013-2014	11,095	55.6%	44.4%	76.6%	8.9%	3.1%	11.0%
South Carolina	1993-1994	4,152	69.8%	30.2%	88.0%	6.7%	1.1%	4.2%
2013-2014	5,254	56.9%	43.1%	80.0%	8.4%	2.9%	7.8%
Virginia	1993-1994	8,772	72.4%	27.6%	87.2%	7.6%	0.9%	4.3%
2013-2014	13,067	59.3%	40.7%	79.7%	6.7%	2.8%	10.3%
United States	1993-94	265,685	70.2%	29.8%	87.1%	4.8%	2.2%	6.0%
2013-2014	359,586	57.7%	42.3%	77.9%	5.4%	4.3%	11.8%
*Represents Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indian/Alaskan Native Source: Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables"

Recent news

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See also

• Public education in North Carolina
• North Carolina state budget and finances
• Historical higher education information in North Carolina

Higher education in the 50 states

Click on a state below to read more about higher education in that state.

Footnotes

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