I have also contacted a few schools and asked them first hand what it is they do with the thousands of dollars that they ask us to invest.
I prepared the following questions:
1) What is it that fluctuates you price from other schools in North Carolina?
2) Why is the in state and out of state price for your school such a big difference?
3) How would your college be affected if tuition was reduced significantly or made free?
4) Can you give us a detailed run down of how all the money a student pays per semester is divided?
Since all colleges were public they answered very similarly.
1) Since these colleges are state funded, the funds they receive depends on how much the state gives them, so they have to increase their prices to provide what the state doesn't give them. They also have to increase their prices according to the number of applicants they receive because they have to be sure to have enough money to support a big influx of students.
2) There is a big difference because in state students have lived in North Carolina for at least 5 years and have paid taxes which is why their tuition is lower compared to out of state students who have not paid taxes in North Carolina and thus will not contribute to the funding the school receives.
3) They would have to cut down on getting new technology for their programs, and have to wait more years to get renovations and the newest materials to enhance their STEM programs.
UNCC: For in-state students: Tuition:$6,763. Out of state: Tuition:$19,934
Room and board: $10,899 Room and board:10,919
Books and supplies: $1,200 Books and supplies:same
Other: $ $2500 Other: Same
Total: $21362 Total: $34,553
UNC Chapel Hill: In-state:
Tuition: $8,834 Out of state: Tuition: $33,916
Room and board: Room and board:
Books and supplies:$2588 Books and supplies:same
Other: $ $2500.00 Other: Same
Total: $13,922 Total: $39,004
NC State: In-state:
Tuition: $6,407 Out of state: Tuition: $23,926
Room and board: Room and board: $10,635
Books and supplies:$3,555 Books and supplies:same
Other: $ $2500.00 Other: Same
Total: $12,462 Total: $29,981