By Korie Dean
It will now be more affordable for active-duty military members to take classes in the UNC System. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein on Thursday signed House Bill 373 into law. The measure, which was a key priority of the UNC System in this year’s legislative session, provides a carve-out in state law that allows the public university system to offer discounted tuition to students who receive military tuition assistance.
Stein signs military tuition discount The issue lawmakers sought to fix with HB 373 stemmed from a gap between the federally established rate for military tuition assistance, which provides active-duty members of the military with up to $250 per credit hour when they enroll in college courses, and the cost of tuition for programs that are offered through Project Kitty Hawk.
As of last fall, PKH offered 11 online degree programs through three UNC System schools: NC Central University, East Carolina University and Appalachian State University.
PKH courses are designed to be self-supporting, and are not supported with enrollment-based funding from the state, like traditional university courses elsewhere in the system. And the rate per credit hour typically runs between $350 and $400, which exceeds the military tuition assistance rate.
Because of the discrepancy, UNC System Senior Vice President of Government Relations Bart Goodson previously told members of the Board of Governors, service members stationed in North Carolina are enrolling in programs outside of the state that offer lower tuition. With the new carve-out, Goodson said earlier this year, “This would enable our university to become a top destination for active-duty personnel stationed in North Carolina, which is not the case today.”
