Expenses

The Board of Governors of the University reserves the right to change the charges for tuition, fees and the room and board rate at any time without prior notice.

Tuition and Fees

(In effect at time of publication)

University of North Carolina Wilmington’s tuition and fees are reviewed and approved by the Campus-Initiated Tuition Increase Committee (includes representation from the student body, faculty, and staff), the UNCW Board of Trustees, and the UNC System’s Board of Governors.  

Tuition and fees are assessed per credit hour for fall and spring terms up to 9 credit hours for graduate students (up to 12 credit hours for undergraduate students).  Graduate students enrolled in 9 or more credit hours are considered full-time (12 or more for undergraduate students) and they are assessed the full-time rates for tuition and fees as listed below. 

All programs are categorized as main campus or extension campus.  Students are assessed based on the category associated with their program (main campus or extension).  Students are able to view the campus code associated with their program in SeaNet in the Student Information section.  Rates for tuition vary according to the student’s status as a resident or non-resident of North Carolina and the program for which they are enrolled.

All charges on the student account are due and payable per published dates on the Student Accounts website to avoid class cancellation and/or registration, transcript, and diploma holds. Online payments can be made in E-bill via My Seaport (myseaport.uncw.edu). Checks and money orders should be made payable to the University of North Carolina Wilmington and include the student’s identification number.

Full-Time Base Tuition and Fees

Refer to the Student Accounts webpage https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/money-matters/student-accounts-cashiers-office  for a more comprehensive listing of expenses.

Main Campus Programs

Graduate students enrolled in a main campus program will be charged per credit hour:

Distance Education/Extension Programs:

Graduate students enrolled in a distance education/extension campus program will be charged per credit hour:

Differential Tuition programs and associated costs (in addition to base tuition listed above)

In addition to the base tuition and fees listed above, there is an additional per credit hour charge that is assessed of all students in specific graduate programs (listed below).

NOTE: For Distance Education/Extension courses that require proctored exams, there may be additional fees for the verification of student identity. Students may also be required to find an independent testing facility for these exams. Contact the course instructor for more information.

*See information on residency at the end of this section.

Course Fees

Graduate students in the course(s)/program(s) listed below will be charged the associated fee per course registration unless noted otherwise:

Program Fees

Graduate students in the program(s) listed below will be charged the associated program fee.

The following student activities fees are included in the full-time main campus program fee amount.

University Fee Allocation

NOTE: Some graduate programs incur additional fees. Contact your department for more information.  See list of fees: https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/money-matters/student-accounts-cashiers-office/tuition-fees/student-fees/

Other fees:

Summer school tuition, fees, and refund policy can be found on the Student Accounts and Cashier’s Office website: https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/money-matters/student-accounts-cashiers-office/tuition-fees/graduate-tuition/

Parking Annual Rates:

The University’s Board of Trustees reserves the right to change parking rates. Please visit the Parking and Transportation website at http://uncw.edu/parking/ to confirm current parking rates.

(In effect at time of publication)

All students operating motor vehicles on campus are required to purchase a UNCW Parking permit. 

Parking zones are assigned based on the time of registration and availability. Students are encouraged to register early to get the best zone assignment available. The permit cost will be billed to your Student Account/e-bill, so you do not have to pay when you register.

Commuter Options:

Resident Options:

Alternate Parking Options:

Campus Mail:

Charge for Reinstatement for Non-Payment Cancellation

A charge will be assessed to students who fail to pay tuition and fees by published deadlines. Students are responsible for dropping classes that they are registered for and are not attending. Student Accounts reserve the right to drop classes for non-payment. Students who have been cancelled for non-payment must re-register the exact classes cancelled with a $75 charge by the final reinstatement date. Non-attendance or non-payment does not relieve a student of tuition and fee liability. Students who do not plan to attend classes for a term must officially drop/withdraw from the term.

On-Campus Living

UNC Wilmington houses more than 5,000 students in 9 residence halls, 9 suite-style buildings and 17 apartment buildings.  New incoming freshmen are required to live on campus for their first year unless they provide Housing & Residence Life with a written appeal indicating which of the six exception they fall under. One primary exception are students who maintain a primary residence with their parents or legal guardian within Brunswick County, New Hanover County or Pender County areas. Students who reside in Belk, Cornerstone, Graham, Hewlett, Keystone, Innovation, Pelican, Sandpiper, Schwartz, and University Suites are required to purchase a meal plan. Seahawk Village, Seahawk Landing, and Seahawk Crossing residents are encouraged to purchase a voluntary meal plan since it provides easy access to the many food options on campus.

Room and Board Rates

Room rates include: rent, utilities, local phone service, internet, housekeeping (except in the apartments) and security.

The term of this agreement is two semesters unless this agreement is expressly approved by the Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life or his/her designee for the spring semester only. The housing rate is paid on a semester basis.

The University reserves the right to change campus housing rates at any time without prior notice. A non-refundable $150 housing application fee must be remitted with each completed housing agreement. Timely submission of the housing application and $150 housing fee is highly recommended. Assignments will be made on a first come, first served basis. Once all beds are assigned, Housing and Residence Life will start a waiting list. The waiting list will remain in effect through the opening of the residential facilities on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17.

2024 - 2025 Housing Rates  

Freshmen are not permitted to live in the Seahawk Apartments or Plato’s Lofts.

2024-2025 On-Campus Required Housing - Meal Plans

All Students living in Required Housing (Sandpiper, Pelican, Terrapin, Loggerhead, Belk, Graham, Hewlett, Schwartz, Cornerstone, Keystone, Innovation) are required to have a Hawk plan (Gold, Silver or Bronze). The default meal plan for these locations will be the Hawk Silver, meaning students will have the option to either upgrade their plan to the Hawk Gold or downgrade their plan to the Hawk Bronze.

All Students living in the University Suites are required to have at least the Block 125 meal plan. The default plan for students living in this location will be the Hawk Silver, but students will have the option to either upgrade to the Hawk Gold, or downgrade to the Hawk Bronze or Block 125.

Meal plan transactions are facilitated on students’ UNCW One Card ID, and it must be presented at every meal. Student ID cards are not transferable. The Hawk All Access plans allow students to treat a friend or family member by using a guest meal at Wagoner Dining Hall, The Shore Dining Hall, and Dub’s Cafe, or by using their food dollars or Teal Meals. Teal Meals on the Hawk All Access plans do NOT carry over from one week to the next, and will reset every Sunday morning.

Meal Plan Rolling: The student’s Fall semester meal plan will be automatically assigned to the student for the Spring semester. Changes to meal plans can be made in MySeaport before the change period end date. For a list of current change period dates and additional details, please visit the UNCW One Card student meal plan website at www.uncw.edu/studentmealplans. Unused Food Dollars roll over to the next semester if and only if you purchase a meal plan for that semester. Additionally, rolling occurs from summer to fall and fall to spring ONLY. Unused Food Dollars will be rolled into the following semester’s account after the meal plan change period for that semester. All unused Food Dollars expire at the end of the spring semester. 

Meal Plan Options

2024-2025 On-Campus Housing Meal Plans

*NC sales tax is charged on the Meals portion only at the time of meal plan purchase. Food Dollars will be taxed as they are used.

Adding additional Food Dollars or Meals (Block Plans) may be done at any point during the semester after the meal change period. Visit http://www.uncw.edu/studentmealplans  for more information. Meal plans and meal plan rates are set by the university’s Board of Trustees and are subject to change. 

Contact the One Card/Meal Plans office at 910-962-3560 or email mealplans@uncw.edu with any questions.

On-Campus Voluntary Housing or Off-Campus Living - Meal Plans

UNCW offers voluntary meal plans for students living off campus or upperclassmen living in Voluntary On-Campus Housing, consisting of Seahawk Village, Seahawk Landing, or Seahawk Crossing. The plans are designed to give students the convenience of using their One Card instead of carrying cash.

Meal Plan Rolling: The student’s Fall semester meal plan will be automatically assigned to the student for the Spring semester. For a list of current change period dates and additional details, please visit the UNCW student meal plan website at www.uncw.edu/studentmealplans. Unused Food Dollars roll over to the next semester if and only if you purchase a meal plan for that semester. Additionally, rolling occurs from summer to fall and fall to spring ONLY. Unused Food Dollars will be rolled into the following semester’s account after the meal plan change period for that semester. All unused Food Dollars expire at the end of the spring semester. 

2024-2025 On-Campus Voluntary or Off-Campus Meal Plans

*NC sales tax is charged on the Meals portion only at the time of meal plan purchase. Food dollars will be taxed as they are used.

Adding additional Food Dollars or Meals (Block Plans) may be done at any point during the semester after the meal change period. Visit http://www.uncw.edu/studentmealplans  for more information. Meal plans and meal plan rates are set by the university’s Board of Trustees and are subject to change. 

Contact the One Card/Meal Plans office at 910-962-3560 or email mealplans@uncw.edu with any questions.

Traditional Summer School (2024) Housing (Residence Hall)

If you are interested in obtaining information regarding campus housing, please contact:

Housing and Residence Life
University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-5959
Telephone 910-962-3241
Fax: 910-962-7032

Summer School

Summer school tuition, fees, refund policy, and room and board rates will be listed on the summer school Web page www.uncw.edu/summer.

UNCW Refund Policy – Fall and Spring

The university’s refund policy complies with the requirements of the university’s accrediting agency and the U.S. Department of Education. This refund policy only applies to complete withdrawals from UNCW. Students who simply withdraw from an individual class after the drop/add period receive NO refund or reduction of fees.

Students must follow the official withdrawal process to receive a refund under the university’s policy. To officially withdraw from the university, students must submit an Official Withdrawal Form to the Graduate School. Any outstanding financial obligations to the university will be deducted from the amount refunded.

A student who officially withdraws from the university on or before the last day of registration (drop/add) period will receive a refund of the amount paid. Refunds are based on the date contained on the Official Withdrawal Form.

Students completely withdrawing after the drop/add period will receive refunds as follows:

Declining balance portions of board plans will be refunded separately. The refund policy applies to complete withdrawals from UNCW.

Note: Before officially withdrawing, a student should understand the financial implications.

UNCW Refund Policy – Summer School

Because of the short duration of summer school sessions, summer school charges are not refundable after the drop/add period. 

Residence Status for Tuition Purposes

A student’s status as an in-state or out-of-state resident for tuition purposes determines the tuition rate charged for the student. A student’s residency status is determined by the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) under the authority of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.

Students seeking to establish or update their residency status are required to complete the process offered by RDS and to provide UNCW with the Residency Classification Number (RCN) for their status. Students who do not have an RDS determination or who do not provide their RCN default to out-of-state status. Students with an expired residency status default to out-of-state and need to renew their status through RDS.

Refer to RDS at ncresidency.cfnc.org or 844-319-3640 for information on how residency is determined and completing the process.

The deadline to be changed to in-state residency status for an in-progress semester is set by the UNC System and published on the UNCW calendar. Students who receive a change in status with an RDS effective date after the UNC System deadline will have the in-state status take effect the following semester.

There are several state-authorized tuition benefits that provide the equivalent of the in-state rate to qualifying out-of-state students. Refer to RDS for information on these benefits and how to qualify.