Fixed Tuition Plan

A North Carolina statute guarantees students enrolling after 2016 the same tuition rate for eight semesters. Your tuition rate will never go up while you’re a student at ECSU – even if you don’t complete all eight semesters all at once.  

As a benefit to North Carolina resident students, the UNC System has implemented the Fixed Tuition Program as defined by North Carolina General Statute § 116-143.9. Beginning with the fall 2016 semester, incoming ECSU in-state undergraduate degree-seeking students are eligible for the same tuition rate for eight continuous enrollment semesters. Incoming transfer students are eligible for the same tuition rate for eight continuous enrollment semesters less the number of equivalent transfer semesters. Required fees are not included in the tuition rate and may increase annually.

Continuous enrollment is defined as a student being consecutively enrolled at ECSU for the fall and spring semesters in courses creditable toward a baccalaureate degree. Students are not required to be enrolled during the summer term(s) to maintain continuous enrollment. 

One equivalent transfer semester is defined as 0-15 hours of accepted transfer credit post high school. 

When a student is not enrolled in two consecutive semesters at ECSU they will lose their eligibility for their existing fixed tuition rate. The student can take advantage of fixed tuition later, but their eligibility must be recalculated and will reflect the prevailing tuition rate at the time they return.

The statute includes flexibility regarding students who demonstrate a substantial disruption in their pursuit of a degree.