Purpose and History

For the Benefit of North Carolina Residents

The public institutions of higher education were established and are maintained by the State of North Carolina primarily for the benefit of qualified residents of North Carolina.

Permitting Non-Residents to Enroll

While the practice of permitting a limited number of non residents to enroll in the North Carolina public institutions of higher education is educationally sound, considerations of equity dictate that such students pay the approximate actual cost of their education, already provided by the citizen taxpayers of North Carolina in anticipation of present and future benefit to the State.

Reason for Higher Tuition Rates

It is the long standing practice of the State to require students who are not residents of the State to pay a higher rate of tuition than that charged to students whose legal residence in the State reasonably assures that they have already contributed, and will continue to contribute, substantially to the State in their capacity as resident citizens.