As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, North Carolina is strengthening its support for those who serve through three new laws that make a University of North Carolina System education more affordable and accessible for military families.
Home to more than 1 million military and military-affiliated residents, including one of the nation’s largest active-duty populations, North Carolina has made education a key part of how the state supports those who serve.
The Military Tuition and Residency Act (S.B. 118), the Military Tuition Assistance Act (H.B. 373) and the Military Deferred Enrollment Act (H.B. 378), all enacted this year, expand tuition benefits and enrollment flexibility for UNC System military-affiliated students. The laws take effect this academic year.
S.B. 118 grants in-state tuition rates to qualifying veterans who live outside North Carolina. H.B. 373 allows UNC System institutions to offer discounted tuition to service members who receive federal or state military tuition assistance, helping close the gap between aid and full tuition costs. H.B. 378 guarantees at least a five-year enrollment deferment for Armed Forces service members and their spouses, as well as a two-year deferment for members of the reserve Armed Forces and their spouses, ensuring these applicants can begin their studies during or after completing their service period.
“These benefits reflect North Carolina’s deep respect for military families and our belief that service should lead to opportunity,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We’re grateful to the General Assembly and to Gov. Stein for their bipartisan support in making higher education more affordable for those who serve. By lowering costs, awarding credit for military service and expanding flexibility, we’re helping more service members build successful futures here in North Carolina.”
This fall, North Carolina’s public universities enrolled more than 23,000 military-affiliated students, the highest total in UNC System history. Enrollment in this group—including veterans, active-duty service members and military family members—has increased 6% since last year, continuing a four-year trend of growth.
“North Carolina’s public universities are proud to serve those who serve our country,” said Wendy Murphy, chair of the UNC Board of Governors. “Our campuses see every day how veterans and military families enrich our classrooms and communities. These new policies strengthen that connection and ensure those families have every opportunity to succeed.”