Bill
HB 689
Allows NC high school grads meeting criteria to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges, expanding access while not altering UNC admissions status.
Status (selected): Passed 1st Reading (Apr 3, 2025); referred to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. Effective date in text: becomes effective July 1, 2025 and applies beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year.
Purpose
- To increase postsecondary enrollment and expand workforce pipeline by allowing certain North Carolina high‑school graduates to be charged the in‑State tuition rate at North Carolina public institutions of higher education, thereby lowering financial barriers to credentials and degrees that feed the state workforce.
Key provisions
- Adds new eligibility criteria to G.S. 116‑143.1 (new subsections (n)–(p)). A person who meets ALL of the following may be charged the in‑State tuition rate:
1. Graduated from a North Carolina high school (not a nonpublic residential school).
2. Enrolled in an institution of higher education in the school year immediately following graduation.
3. Attended North Carolina public or nonpublic schools for at least four consecutive years immediately prior to high‑school graduation.
4. Holds an unexpired North Carolina driver’s license or special identification card issued under G.S. 20‑37.7.
5. Has received a Social Security number and card from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
- Requirement to verify continued eligibility: eligible students must present evidence of their unexpired NC driver’s license or special ID at the start of each semester to continue receiving the in‑State rate.
- Confidentiality: information collected as part of the application/verification process is designated confidential and not a public record.
- Residency limited to tuition only: the statute explicitly states this provision does not make the person a North Carolina resident for any other purpose.
- Admissions limitation (amendment to G.S. 116‑143.4): A person eligible under the new subsection (n) is NOT considered an in‑State applicant for purposes of admission to constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina. (They may receive in‑State tuition if admitted, but are not treated as in‑State applicants for UNC admissions processes.)
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: North Carolina high‑school graduates who meet the five criteria and enroll immediately after graduation — particularly those pursuing community college or other state institution courses and credentials.
- Public institutions (community colleges, regional public universities): may see increased applications/enrollment and changes in tuition revenue composition.
- The University of North Carolina constituent institutions: not required to treat these students as in‑State applicants for admissions decisions (affects admissions priorities/processes).
- State agencies: institutions will need processes to verify documentation each semester and protect confidentiality.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Access and workforce: expected to lower financial barriers and potentially increase credential attainment and workforce entry in targeted fields.
- Fiscal: short‑term revenue effects depend on net enrollment growth; charging in‑State rather than out‑of‑state rates reduces per‑student tuition revenue if students would otherwise pay out‑of‑state. Long‑term economic benefits are a stated policy rationale.
- Implementation: institutions must establish verification procedures each semester and guard confidential records as required by the bill.
Statutory changes
- Adds subsections (n)–(p) to G.S. 116‑143.1 and revises G.S. 116‑143.4 regarding admissions status.
Sponsors (selected)
- Primary sponsors referenced in the bill text: Representatives Cervania, Harrison, and Prather (and others listed in some versions).
Effective date
- July 1, 2025; applies beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year.
Notes
- The bill grants tuition eligibility tied to documented presence and schooling history (including issuance of a Social Security number), and explicitly preserves UNC constituent institutions’ discretion in admissions by not treating eligible individuals as in‑State applicants for admission.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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