The UNC System is a public university system made up of 16 universities and the nation's first public residential high school for gifted students. Learn about our institutions and affiliate organizations that are serving North Carolina in higher education, health care, public television, financial aid, online learning, and beyond.
Click on the stars on the map or explore our institutions page to learn more about the 17 unique institutions that make up the University of North Carolina System.
UNC System affiliates serve North Carolina in higher education, health care, television, and beyond.
247,927
students were enrolled in UNC System institutions in fall 2024
10,000+
students transferred into the UNC System from North Carolina community colleges in fall 2024
21,000+
military affiliated students were enrolled in institutions across the UNC System in fall 2023
North Carolina’s public universities have among the lowest tuition rates in the nation, backed by a constitutional mandate to keep college affordable for all our state’s people.
Through NC Promise, the state reduced tuition to $500 per semester for North Carolina students at four public universities: Elizabeth City State University; Fayetteville State University; the University of North Carolina at Pembroke; and Western Carolina University.
69%
of undergraduate students from North Carolina benefit from financial aid
$4,553
average annual tuition across the System for North Carolina undergraduates
From the mountains to the coast, students and faculty across the UNC System have made North Carolina a research and development powerhouse. Knowledge generated through our institutions’ cutting-edge research directly supports North Carolinians through advances in medicine, technology, agriculture and other areas.
$2.2B
in research grants and sponsored programs awarded across the UNC System in FY 2023
103
U.S. patents issued in FY 2023
The UNC System is North Carolina’s university. Medical and dental clinics keep North Carolinians healthy. Agriculture extension services help farmers increase their yields. Experts guide entrepreneurs in starting or expanding businesses. Schools of education prepare and support teachers in every part of the state. And our university museums, theaters, musicians, and publishers enrich the cultural life of North Carolina. Our work impacts communities in all 100 counties.
Commission for Public Higher Education created by public universities for public universities Boca Raton, FL (June 26, 2025) – Today, the Commission for Public Higher Education, a consortium of six public university systems, was unveiled. This Commission will create a first-of-its-kind accreditation model for public higher education institutions that will offer high-quality, efficient services prioritizing academic …
