UNC System considers ways to decrease student debt, tuition costs
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill grabbed attention when the university announced it would provide free tuition and waive required fees for incoming undergraduates from the state whose families make less than $80,000 per year.
The initiative will start with the incoming class in 2024.
Now, the rest of the UNC System is asking what it needs to do about tuition costs. The board members are focusing their efforts on looking at the student debt service fees and ways to decrease them.
The fees are charged to students to help pay for big-ticket items, and student amenities such as a student center or recreation facility.
The cost of those fees goes up when the university enters a new project, and the fees decrease when debt is eliminated.
For instance, students at NC State will pay a debt service fee of $476 this semester.
Board members say the goal is to discuss options on ways to save students money while providing a quality education.
The Task Force on Pricing, Flexibility and Affordability will meet next month to discuss other options to review on how to save students money.
