The oldest state university in the United States, the University of North Carolina has been providing outstanding education for more than 200 years. The school began when protestant groups decided their followers should have the ability to study the Bible themselves and in order to have a place to train ministers. In 1771, the colonial assembly of North Carolina chartered a school called Queens College in Charlotte, but the British government refused to approve the school as it was operated by religious dissenters, but the academy operated until the outbreak of the American Revolution.
William Richardson Davie moved to South Carolina from his English birthplace when he was eight years old. They joined William Richardson, Davie's uncle, who was a Presbyterian minister. It is believed that Davie attended Queens College before it closed. He enrolled in the College of New Jersey in 1774 and graduated in two years. He returned to North Carolina and studied law in Salisbury. During the Revolution, he conducted raids on British forces and was appointed Commissary General in 1780.
After the war ended, Davie moved to Halifax where he owned a plantation, practiced law and served in the state legislature. Because of his service in the militia, the federal government gave him large grants of land. The same month that North Carolina ratified the United States Constitution, Davie, a state legislator at the time, introduced a bill to charter a university. Although some members of the state legislature felt that the school was elitist, it passed but no appropriation was made for the new school. Instead, the school was given uncollected debts and property that reverted to the state when they had no heirs to the school as funding. The school was chartered in 1789, holding its first classes in 1795.
A gift of almost 1,400 acres in Orange County determined the location of the school. The area was named Chapel Hill after an abandoned Anglican Church of England located there. The first building on campus, Old East, is still in use today and is the oldest building originally constructed for a public university in the country. The school grew throughout the 19th century, moving away from its original purpose to train leadership for the state. By 1815, natural sciences became as important as the original liberal studies at the school.
During the Civil War, the university was one of the few schools in the South that remained open, but not long after the war ended, the school was forced to close during Reconstruction due to lack of students and funding. North Carolina was readmitted to the United States in 1868 and legislators reopened the school which began to grow immediately. In 1932, the school became one of three campuses in the newly consolidated University of North Carolina system. The school became co-educational in 1963. Today, there are almost 30,000 students attending the University of North Carolina.
University of North Carolina Accreditation Details
The University of North Carolina receives their institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Institutional accreditation indicates that graduates of the school meet or exceed criteria that make them highly qualified for positions in their field of study. In addition, programs at the school are accredited by the following institutions:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Accreditation Council for Audiology Education
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
- Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
- American Bar Association
- American Chemical Society
- American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation
- American Library Association
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
- American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation
- American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
- Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Council for Approval of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Council on Education for Public Health
- Council on Rehabilitation Education
- Council on Social Work Education
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education
- National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- National Association of School Psychologists
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
- National Athletic Trainers Association
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration
- Planning Accreditation Board
- University/Resident Theatre Association
University of North Carolina Application Requirements
Applicants who have not earned college credit after high school graduation are considered freshmen. They must complete the Common Application online, complete two essays and provide an official high school transcript. Official SAT or ACT scores along with a counselor report must also be provided. At least one letter of recommendation from a teacher who taught the student in a core academic area is required. A second letter of recommendation may be provided but is not required.
Students who have earned college credit after high school graduation are considered transfer students. Applicants must also complete the Common Application and pay the required application fee. Just like freshmen, transfer students must provide two essays as well as official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Students who have earned less than 60 transferrable credits must also provide official SAT or ACT scores.
Graduate students must complete an online application and unofficial transcripts must be uploaded with the application. If the student is accepted, they must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Three email addresses must be provided for recommendations.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition for North Carolina residents is $860.13 per credit hour and for non-residents it is $3,995.38 per credit hour. Graduate tuition is $1,205.38 per credit hour for residents and $3,356.75 for non-residents. Online course tuition is $232.00 for residents and $1,080 for non-residents.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study programs. North Carolina students whose families make less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for the Carolina Covenant, an aid program that provides debt-free funding to attend the university. This means that students are able to attend using grants, scholarships and work-study but will not need to take out any loans.
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/PROFILE in order to receive any financial assistance.
Online Degrees Available
Master of Accounting
The Master of Accounting program at the University of North Carolina is available in an online format that is flexible but provides students the same rigorous curriculum that students attending the program on campus receive. The program prepares students for leadership roles in the field of accounting. Students develop a strong understanding of the financial picture of an organization as well as a deep understanding of accounting practices. Students are prepared for the ever-changing structure and environment of the business world.
Executive Master of Public Health
Considered one of the top executive healthcare leadership programs in the country, the University of North Carolina online Executive Master of Public Health provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to move into leadership positions in public health organizations. The program is designed to be completed in 24 months with curriculum that is grounded in a firm base of leadership, policy management and professional competencies in healthcare leadership. Although all classes are available online, students are required to attend three on-campus residencies per year.
The University of North Carolina offers many online degree programs that are designed for working adults who may want to move into a new career or advance in a current career. The University of North Carolina's flexible formats make it easier for those who have family, work or social obligations that prevent them from attending traditional classes to achieve their higher education goals.