Students admitted to The University of North Carolina's online programs learn the same material and benefit from the same high-quality educational experience as campus-based students. Online classes are designed and taught by the same faculty who teach classes in on-campus programs.  When you graduate from a UNC institution, no distinction is made between online or on-campus credits.  Your degree is from UNC. 

Online and campus experiences are not identical. Students certainly benefit from being immersed in the rich learning environment available on campus. But online learning provides ample opportunities for students to interact with instructors and fellow students and has the advantage of being flexible and convenient. Many students prefer online learning, citing, among other things, a greater willingness to express their views to instructors and classmates.

Your online classmates will generally be like you—people with job and family responsibilities who seek the many benefits of higher education. Faculty members who teach online students frequently praise the high motivation, keen interest, and excellent study habits of "non-traditional" students.

Online classes are not "canned" or "cookie cutter" experiences. Each online course reflects the teaching perspective of the faculty member who designed it and teaches it, and employs technology and learning experiences appropriate to the course content. As instructors transform their classroom courses for the online environment, they often make content revisions they susequently incorporate into their on-campus classes.

On-campus or online, The University of North Carolina is dedicated to maintaining the academic excellence for which it has been known for more than two centuries.

The libraries of all UNC institutions offering online programs and courses support distance-learning students with multiple online resources such as information databases and online journals, as well as research assistance via various e-reference services.  Any student enrolled at any UNC institution may access materials housed at the libraries of all other UNC institutions.  More information about university libraries may be found here.

If you are not near a UNC library, you may make arrangements with your local public library or a local college or university library that is not affiliated with UNC, access the statewide NC LIVE network of electronic resources, or consult NC Knows, which is staffed by reference librarians around the clock. 

• Click here for an up-to-date list of UNC transfer counselors.

Contrary to popular perception, online courses are more—not less—difficult than conventional courses. Prospective students should complete an online self assessment and critically and honestly gauge whether they possess the personal discipline and study skills to successfully complete a college program online.

The quality of online courses and programs is extremely important to the faculty and administration of the sixteen campuses of The University of North Carolina. We strive to achieve the highest level of instructional quality and student satisfaction in all our online offerings. Our online offerings adhere to several external standards of quality.

1. All sixteen institutions in The University of North Carolina are accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  SACS is one of six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the National Board of Education.  Earning college credit from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency is the surest way to have your college credit recognized and accepted by employers and other universities. SACS has quality standards for distance education programs that all courses and programs affiliated with The University of North Carolina Online must follow. 
2. Many of our programs and departments are individually accredited by discipline-specific accrediting agencies. We encourage students to inquire of their prospective programs about program-level accreditation.
3. The University of North Carolina endorses the Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB's) Principles of Good Practice. A consortium of the K-20 educational systems of the sixteen southeastern states, SREB works with state governments and other stakeholders to improve teaching and learning. 
   
4. The UNC Online Quality Workgroup, comprising representatives from all campuses, works in partnership with The UNC Faculty Assembly to continuously update campuses on best practices in online teaching and learning. Through the work of this group, all UNC institutions have documented the processes and policies they use to ensure that online courses are of the highest quality.

If you are located in North Carolina, you will pay a tuition rate that is comparable to the tuition rate you would pay on campus, either as a North Carolina resident or an out-of-state student. You may obtain more information by clicking on the "tuition" links provided with each online program description. If you are a distance education student who is not enrolled in on-campus classes, you will not be charged certain fees that apply only to on-campus students. You will receive more information about these policies when you contact the program in which you are interested. If you are a non-North Carolina resident living outside of North Carolina, you will pay a tuition rate established by the program to cover its costs of instruction. Rates vary by program. Check with the program in which you are interested for more information.

• Click here to search for baccalaureate-completion programs offered through The University of North Carolina Online.
• Click here for general information about the NC Community College System and transfer articulation agreements between NCCCS and The University of North Carolina.
• Click on the "For Community College Students" box to the right to see descriptions of online baccalaureate-completion programs that articulate with a corresponding community college online program. 
• If you or your spouse are stationed at a North Carolina military base, click on the "For Members of the Military" box to the right to get information on both online and site-based offerings available to you.

Many of our online degree and certificate programs have national and international enrollments. Some programs actively seek students who are not located in North Carolina because they add a real-life dimension to programs that are preparing individuals to work in teams with members around the world.

If you are not a North Carolina resident, you will pay a higher tuition rate than in-state residents.  Check with your program to determine the tuition rate that applies to you.

If you live outside the Eastern Time Zone, check with the program to ensure that you will be able to meet requirements for synchronous conferences and course deadlines.  Also check to see if the program has occasional on-campus attendance requirements.  

Click on the "For members of the Military" icon on right side of this page to find

• information on the NC Military Tuition Policy, the Troops to Teachers program, programs offered at NC military installations, and 
• links to UNC websites, military-education websites, FAQ pages, and more.

When you find a degree or certificate program that interests you, click on its title to view a description of the program. The description includes program and admission requirements, information on tuition, and contact information.

The left side of the page offers several other options.

• Click "Printer-Friendly Version" to print the program description.
• Click "E-mail This Page" to e-mail the description to yourself or someone else.
• Click "Contact Me about This Program" to access an electronic form via which you may submit questions directly to campus representatives associated with the program you're interested in at the campus where it's offered.

•  Click the "Programs" tab, above, to see a complete list of online programs offered through The University of North Carolina Online. You may sort the list by program area, degree level, and campus, or view information about programs offered in specific content areas.

• Click the "16 Campuses" tab to read short descriptions of each of UNC’s sixteen institutions of higher learning, along with campus contact information, lists of online programs offered by each institution, and more.
• Go to the "Advanced Search" link at the right side of this page to investigate programs or courses by specific parameters such as "program level," "subject," or "institution."
• Click on "SearchAssist" at the right side of this page for help narrowing your options to your specific area of interest. 
  
• The "Members of the Military" link at the right side of this page offers online education information to North Carolina-based members of the military services and their families.  
  
• Via the "For Community College Students" link, community college students learn about programs that allow them to earn their baccalaureate degree from The University of North Carolina.
  

• Visit UNC Online Academic Services for a listing of all online courses offered by UNC campuses.

• Visit Carolina Courses Online for information about online courses open to the general public.

If you already know what type of online program you seek, use this site to identify a program that interests you and contact a campus representative for more information. If you wish to explore general educational options at UNC campuses, browse as many as you wish of the UNC campuses' online education websites listed below.

Appalachian State University

East Carolina University

Elizabeth City State University

Fayetteville State University

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Central University

North Carolina State University

UNC Asheville

UNC Chapel Hill

UNC Charlotte

UNC Greensboro

UNC Pembroke

UNC Wilmington

Western Carolina University

Winston-Salem State University

Anyone seeking federal financial assistance should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A student eligible to receive federal financial aid who, to fulfill program requirements, enrolls in classes at both a UNC institution and a community college during any given term may report, for financial aid purposes, hours taken at both institutions. Financial aid offices at both campuses must be involved in this process.

For more information on in-state financial assistance, visit the website of the College Foundation of North Carolina.

See also this page for additional links and information. 

If you need help or more information than is provided on this website about credit transfers, applications procedures, or admissions, please contact representatives of the programs or institutions to which you are considering applying by clicking on the "Contact me about this program" tab at the top of each program page.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this site, were unable to get information about a program or a reply from a UNC institution, or  just don’t know whom to ask, please use the Contact Us Web Form.

Faculty and staff of The University of North Carolina may take up to two courses per year tuition-free (including online courses).  The Human Resources office of your institution will have a form for you to complete to request authorization for the tuition waiver. Complete this form and submit it along with the required course application (described for each course in the Courses section) to the campus offering the course in which you are interested.

Most of the online programs offered by University of North Carolina institutions are entirely online or use materials that you can use at home. Some programs, however, require site-based sessions for a variety of purposes (such as orientation, testing, and clinical or laboratory experiences). Each program listing provides information about site-based activities that are required, and you should read the program description carefully and decide whether you can meet the site-based requirements.