Project Kitty Hawk (PKH), the University of North Carolina System’s affiliated education technology nonprofit, has helped university partners enroll more than 3,000 adult learners since the first program launched in October 2023.
As of January, 2,193 students were enrolled in one of the 19 online Flight Path degree programs supported by PKH, more than double the total enrollment reported a year ago.
Project Kitty Hawk, created by the General Assembly in 2021, is reaching working adults who want to further their education. Across all degree programs, the average age at enrollment is 32, with 75% of students working full time during enrollment. More than four-fifths of the students enrolled are North Carolina residents, and about nine in 10 have previous experience in online education.
Project Kitty Hawk’s mission is not simply to enroll adult learners, but to help them succeed. Significant investments in student success have driven increases in persistence across the board, with term-over-term persistence across all students clocking in at 96% since the start of this academic year. In total, 96 Flight Path students have completed their degrees, and that number is projected to grow to 200 by the end of the spring semester.
“We are proud of all the work we do to open public university doors to more working adults across this state. But we are proudest of our efforts to ensure those adult learners can not only enroll but successfully complete a high-quality degree or credential,” said PKH President and CEO Andrew Kelly. “Student success is our North Star.”
Flight Path programs are now available at four UNC System universities—North Carolina Central University, East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. North Carolina A&T launched its first two Flight Path degree programs in January and will add two more in the fall, including a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in human resources and a bachelor’s degree in political science.
“Launching our first two degree programs with Project Kitty Hawk has been an important step in expanding how we serve adult learners,” said Rosalind Dale, vice provost for engagement and outreach at North Carolina A&T. “This partnership has allowed us to move with intention—building strong operational foundations while staying true to A&T’s academic mission and institutional values.”
Longtime partners continue to grow and extend their reach through innovative online programs with Project Kitty Hawk. ECU has enrolled 1,268 students in Flight Path programs since the first degree launched two years ago. “East Carolina’s growth in online enrollment has never been stronger thanks to our partnership with Project Kitty Hawk,” said ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers. “Our Flight Path programs are helping us counter the enrollment trends nationally and in Eastern North Carolina, creating access for adults statewide and helping provide additional financial stability at an unstable time in higher education.”
Project Kitty Hawk is on track for more growth, as two additional universities have joined as partners. In January, Winston-Salem State University officially signed on and will launch its first three programs in fall 2026. This week, University of North Carolina Wilmington has joined to launch two undergraduate programs, also this coming fall.
Counting the inaugural programs at WSSU and UNCW, Project Kitty Hawk is expected to add nine new degree programs in fall of 2026, bringing the total to 28 online degree and certificate programs across the UNC System.