There are 178 colleges in North Carolina - 76 public and 102 private schools. At North Carolina colleges, the Cost of Attendance (COA)—including tuition, fees, books, housing, dining, and personal living costs—has climbed steadily over the past decade, increasing the financial burden on students and families relying on scholarships or student loans.
North Carolina Colleges Key COA Trends (2016-2025)
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at North Carolina colleges:
- On-Campus: The COA has risen by 14.27%.
- Off-Campus: The COA has risen by 14.29%.
- 2024-2025 Total COA: the average total COA is $38,662 when living on campus and $39,168 when living off campus.
North Carolina Colleges Tuition & Fees Changes
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type |
10-Year Increase (2016-2025) |
2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
| Public, In-State |
9.14% (from $6,984 to $7,622) |
$7,622 |
| Public, Out-of-State |
4.37% (from $20,113 to $20,992) |
$20,992 |
| Private Colleges |
22.53% (from $22,899 to $28,057) |
$28,057 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 4.37%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 16.33% over the same period.
Living and Other Costs
Living Costs (Room & Board, Other Expenses):
- At North Carolina colleges, living costs increased by 32.32% for on-campus and 31.76% for off-campus.
- The average living cost for 2024-2025 is $16,563 (on-campus) and $17,069 (off-campus).
Books & Supplies:
- Books and supplies costs have remained relatively stable (-7.98%), with the average cost for 2024-2025 being $1,107.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 14.27% when living on campus and 14.29% when living off campus at North Carolina Colleges.
In private North Carolina Colleges, the COA has increase by 24.87% (on-campus) and 24.76% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $38,662 when a student lives on campus and $39,168 when living off campus at North Carolina Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for North Carolina Colleges over the past 10 years.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends of North Carolina Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$20,704 | $33,833 | $36,619 | $21,142 | $34,271 | $37,057 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$21,316
2.96% | $34,739
2.68% | $37,678
2.89% | $21,439
1.40% | $34,862
1.72% | $37,801
2.01% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$21,634
1.49% | $35,323
1.68% | $38,440
2.02% | $22,006
2.64% | $35,695
2.39% | $38,812
2.67% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$21,426
-0.96% | $33,891
-4.05% | $38,341
-0.26% | $21,838
-0.76% | $34,303
-3.90% | $38,753
-0.15% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$21,746
1.49% | $34,393
1.48% | $38,953
1.60% | $21,963
0.57% | $34,610
0.89% | $39,170
1.08% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$22,143
1.83% | $34,791
1.16% | $40,097
2.94% | $21,854
-0.50% | $34,502
-0.31% | $39,808
1.63% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$22,521
1.71% | $35,359
1.63% | $41,126
2.57% | $22,541
3.14% | $35,379
2.54% | $41,146
3.36% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$22,459
-0.28% | $35,623
0.75% | $41,514
0.94% | $22,477
-0.28% | $35,641
0.74% | $41,532
0.94% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$23,634
5.23% | $37,362
4.88% | $44,304
6.72% | $23,967
6.63% | $37,695
5.76% | $44,637
7.48% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$25,292
7.02% | $38,662
3.48% | $45,727
3.21% | $25,798
7.64% | $39,168
3.91% | $46,233
3.58% |
|---|
Tuition & Fees Changes
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for North Carolina Colleges is $10,650 for North Carolina residents and $24,020 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $29,623.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $11,876 for North Carolina residents and $26,292 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $18,058.
The tuition & fees has increased 4.37% for undergraduate programs and 16.33% for graduate programs at North Carolina Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
Tuition & Fees Changes for North Carolina Colleges
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$6,984 | $20,113 | $22,899 | $7,365 | $19,910 | $13,810 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$7,157
2.48% | $20,580
2.32% | $23,519
2.71% | $7,671
4.15% | $20,523
3.08% | $14,187
2.73% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$7,436
3.90% | $21,125
2.65% | $24,242
3.07% | $7,882
2.75% | $21,034
2.49% | $14,580
2.77% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$7,008
-5.76% | $19,473
-7.82% | $23,923
-1.32% | $8,024
1.80% | $21,360
1.55% | $14,728
1.02% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$7,121
1.61% | $19,768
1.51% | $24,328
1.69% | $8,141
1.46% | $21,604
1.14% | $15,394
4.52% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$7,174
0.74% | $19,822
0.27% | $25,128
3.29% | $8,161
0.25% | $21,624
0.09% | $15,994
3.90% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$7,202
0.39% | $20,040
1.10% | $25,807
2.70% | $8,196
0.43% | $21,934
1.43% | $15,811
-1.14% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$6,652
-7.64% | $19,816
-1.12% | $25,707
-0.39% | $8,259
0.77% | $22,206
1.24% | $16,885
6.79% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$6,710
0.87% | $20,438
3.14% | $27,380
6.51% | $8,437
2.16% | $22,600
1.77% | $16,372
-3.04% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$7,622
13.59% | $20,992
2.71% | $28,057
2.47% | $8,745
3.65% | $23,161
2.48% | $16,966
3.63% |
|---|
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,107 for North Carolina Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes for North Carolina Colleges
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,203 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,140
-5.24% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,152
1.05% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,146
-0.52% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,152
0.52% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,179
2.34% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,169
-0.85% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,101
-5.82% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,148
4.27% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $1,107
-3.57% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
For North Carolina Colleges, the living have increased 24.41% when a student lives on campus facilities and 23.83% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
Living Costs Changes for North Carolina Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $12,517 | $13,269 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $13,019
4.32% | $13,709
1.70% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $13,046
1.03% | $13,825
2.81% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $13,272
3.09% | $14,015
4.02% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $13,473
0.99% | $14,137
-0.15% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $13,790
2.50% | $14,264
-0.58% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $14,150
3.17% | $15,016
2.57% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $14,706
3.84% | $15,597
3.89% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $15,776
6.32% | $16,629
10.21% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $16,563
4.97% | $17,348
7.27% |
|---|