The UNC Policy Manual
1000.2.3.1[R]
Adopted
01/06/26
Regulation on Tuition Discounts for
Military-affiliated and Employer-sponsored Students
I.
Purpose. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. State § 116-143(d1)(2)
and § 116-143(d1)(3)[1]
and Section 1000.2.3 of the UNC Policy Manual, Policy on Tuition Discounts
for Military-affiliated and Employer-sponsored Students, This regulation is
intended to provide guidance to constituent institutions regarding the
implementation of these tuition discounts.
II.
Definitions. The following operational definitions apply
to this regulation:
A.
“Qualifying
Military Student” means a student who is a resident for tuition purposes under
G.S. 116-143.1 and receives either (i) federal military tuition assistance
funds or (ii) military tuition assistance funds for members of the North
Carolina National Guard under Article 15 of Chapter 127A of the General
Statutes.
B.
“Employer-Sponsored
Financial Support Program” means a program in which the employer of a student
has committed to provide financial support to the student to offset the costs
of tuition or fees in the student’s degree or credential program.
C.
“Degree
or Credential Program” refers to those degrees, certificates, or credentials
approved under Section 400.1 of the UNC Policy Manual, Policy on Academic
Program Planning.
D.
“Enrolling
Institution” means a constituent institution of the University of North
Carolina in which a qualifying military student or student enrolled in an
employer-sponsored financial support program is enrolled and receiving academic
credit.
E.
“Tuition”
means the tuition charged for credit instruction, regardless of when the
instruction occurs or by what means it is delivered.
F.
“Year”
refers to an academic year of fall semester, spring semester, and the summer
sessions that follow, unless otherwise specified.
III.
Military
Tuition Discount. Maximum Allowable Discount and Use of Partial Discounts. In
accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-143(d1)(2) the maximum discount that can
be offered to a qualifying military student is the difference in maximum amount
of military tuition assistance funds and the applicable tuition. Constituent institutions are encouraged to
offer the maximum allowable discount to all qualifying military students. However, should a constituent institution
determine that it cannot absorb the maximum foregone tuition revenue partial
discounts are allowable. This includes
but is not limited to a reduced discount rate, discounts to targeted student
populations (e.g., qualifying military students enrolled in low wage-earning
programs or high state workforce need programs), or discounts that are specific
to individual degree or credential programs or other offerings.
IV.
Employer-Sponsored
Financial Support Programs.
A.
Maximum
Allowable Discount and Use of Partial Discounts. In accordance with N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 116-143(d1)(3) the discount may be up to the difference in the maximum
amount provided by the employer and the applicable tuition. Constituent institutions, in their
discretion, may offer partial discounts.
B.
Requesting
Approval for an Employer-Sponsored Financial Support Program. Constituent
institutions requesting approval for an employer-sponsored financial support
program shall provide the UNC System Office information on the following
considerations:
1.
Sponsoring
employer,
2.
Degree
or credential program(s) (including title and 6-digit CIP),
3.
Prevailing
tuition rate for aforementioned degree or credential program(s) (prior to
discount),
4.
Proposed
discount,
5.
Estimated
student enrollment for Years 1-3 of the program,
6.
Estimated
tuition discounts for Years 1-3 of the program.
Upon approval, a constituent
institution may modify its degree or credential program offerings under the
employer-sponsored financial support program without additional approval. This
does not apply to any modifications to sponsoring employer and/or discount.
V.
Enrolling
Institution Responsibility.
A.
Eligibility
Determination. Each institution must
have a clearly defined process to ensure that tuition discounts are only
applied to qualifying students.
B.
Student
Records and Reporting Requirements.
Applied discounts will be recorded in institutional student records and
include the discount type (i.e., “Military Tuition Discount” or
“Employer-sponsored Discount”) and the applied discount amount. To meet annual legislative reporting
requirements, the UNC System Office will compile data from constituent
institution’s ERP to determine the number of students and total discount amount
by academic term and by discount type.
VI.
Fixed
Tuition Benefit. Tuition discounts for qualifying military students and
qualifying employer-sponsored financial support programs shall not be subject
to the fixed tuition benefit provided under N.C.G.S. § 116-143.9 and Section
1000.1.1 of the UNC Policy Manual, Policy on Tuition Rates, and may be
discontinued, modified, or amended from time-to-time by the constituent
institution without notice.
VII.
Other
Matters.
A.
Effective
Date. The requirements of this
regulation shall be effective on the date of adoption of this regulation by the
president.
B.
Relation
to Federal and State Laws and Policies.
The foregoing regulation is meant to supplement, and does not purport to
supplant or modify, those statutory enactments, regulations, and policies which
may govern or relate to the subject matter of this regulation.
[1] The published North Carolina General Statutes include changes through SL 2024-58. N.C.G.S 116-143 was updated as a part of SL 2025-17. See "Caveats" at https://www.ncleg.gov/Laws/GeneralStatutes#caveats.