Financial Aid
Financial aid may be available to you through a variety of sources, such as the following:
VA Benefits
Veterans and currently active military personnel who have completed 181 days or more of active duty service may be eligible for VA benefits. To be eligible, you must be admitted and enrolled in a degree program at an institution of higher education. Please note that simply enrolling in Self-paced Courses does not constitute admission to a degree program. Contact Credit Programs for Part-time Students for further information and VA forms.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation is a North Carolina public service program that helps people with disabilities obtain jobs. In order to qualify, you must be a NC resident with a mental or physical disability that is an impediment to employment. Each program is designed individually with the student. Assistance with tuition and fees, room, board, transportation, and books is based on the financial need of the individual. Assessment services, counseling, and job-related services such as job placement are provided without regard to the person's financial need. Apply at the Vocational Rehabilitation office near your hometown. A listing of offices and other information is available through the Program Specialist for Transition Services, 2801 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-2801; 919-855-3500 (phone); 919-855-3579 (TTY); 919-733-7968 (fax); on the Web; or by e-mail.
Local Education Agencies
Some local school systems may offer teachers and other personnel reimbursement for tuition and fees for college credit. This decision is made by the employing school unit. Contact your local coordinator of staff development prior to registering for a course to inquire about reimbursement.
Outreach to Inmates
Funded through a contract between the NC Department of Correction and the UNC-Chapel Hill Friday Center for Continuing Education, Outreach to Inmates pays the course costs enabling a limited number of qualified North Carolina inmates to enroll in correspondence courses each year. Students in the Outreach to Inmates program are limited to one course enrollment at a time, and must provide their own funds for second renewals. For more information, contact the Correctional Education Program at 919-962-2648 or 800-862-5669.
DANTES
Active members of the United States Armed Forces may be eligible for financial assistance with fees through the DANTES program. DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) is designed for the benefit of service members on active duty who desire to continue their education on a part-time basis outside the traditional classroom environment. The University of North Carolina participates in the DANTES program.
Enrollment procedures through DANTES require that you consult the DANTES Independent Study Catalog, copies of which are available at all military education centers. The Catalog lists credit courses offered by all participating institutions.
If you are enrolling in a UNC course, submit a completed DD Form 1562/31, signed by you and your education officer, education specialist, or commanding officer, to Credit Programs for Part-time Students. Along with this form, submit payment for the exact amount of tuition required as indicated under UNC's listing in the DANTES Catalog or update. This check is payable to the Friday Center for Continuing Education. If you are ordering books from Higher Grounds, print out and send the book order form on this Web site (or the one in the DANTES Independent Study Catalog), along with a check made payable to Higher Grounds, to the address indicated on the book order form, or use the online ordering option. If you are claiming VA reimbursement, submit two copies of the DD Form 1562/31 and a VA Form 22-1990a.
Copies of the DD Form 1562/31 should be obtained from the military education center or education officer. You may request further information about the DANTES program from these sources or from Credit Programs for Part-time Students.
UNC-Chapel Hill Employees
Employees may use the tuition waiver program to enroll in Self-paced Courses classes. Financial assistance may also be available through the Educational Assistance Fund. For information, contact the Office of Human Resources, 919-962-3071.