1. Billing, Payments, & Refunds
  2. Tuition and Fees
  3. Distance Ed Bridge Grants

Distance Ed Bridge Grants

Distance Ed Bridge Grants FAQs

The HEERF III DE Grant (referred to herein as “DE Bridge Grants”) are funds to help cover expenses related to the increase in the per credit hour tuition rate in Fall 2021 for continuing distance education students in Fall 2021. This grant is provided by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) under the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Although the Distance Education tuition rates were previously charged at a per credit hour rate, the rates will be changing in Fall 2021. Prior to Fall 2021, tuition for students enrolled in Distance Education programs was charged at a different rate than those enrolled in Main Campus programs. Starting in Fall 2021, the tuition rate for Distance Education students will be the same as the rate for main campus students, based on student-level (undergraduate or graduate) and residency. There are no changes to the types of fees students enrolled in Distance Education programs are required to pay in Fall 2021.

Previously, Distance Education tuition was not capped at any level. Starting in Fall 2021, tuition will be capped at the full-time enrollment levels of 12 credit hours for undergraduates and 9 credit hours for graduate students. For example, a graduate Distance Education student taking 12 credit hours will only be charged for 9 credit hours in Fall 2021.

Please refer to this Fall 2021 Per-Credit Hour Tuition Rate page for additional information about the per credit hour change.
Continuing Distance Education students (i.e., students enrolled in a Distance Education program) who incurred an increase in the per credit hour tuition rate for Fall 2021 are eligible for the grants. This excludes continuing Distance Education students who are enrolled in a current NC Fixed Tuition program.
The grant is determined based on your total increase in tuition for Fall 2021. The per credit hour increase in tuition for Fall 2021 is shown in the tables below for each student level/ residency. The grant is calculated based on the increase per credit hour multiplied by your total enrolled hours(1)(2) as of July 6, 2021(3). The grant calculation also includes increases related to tuition increments, if applicable. The increases in tuition increments for continuing graduate students enrolled in programs with increments is also shown below.

 

Distance Education Student Credit Hour (“SCH”) Tuition Rates Effective Fall 2021

Student Level/ Residency

Fall 2021 Tuition Rate per SCH

Previous Distance Education Tuition Rate per SCH

Increase per SCH

Undergraduate Resident

$158.83

$129.00

$29.83

Undergraduate Non-Resident

$718.58

$583.00

$135.58

Graduate Resident

$240.94

$213.00

$27.94

Graduate Non-Resident

$987.28

$872.00

$115.28

 

Distance Education Non-State Residency Rate: Outside NC

Student Level/ Residency

Fall 2021 Tuition Rate per SCH

Previous Distance Education Tuition Rate per SCH

Increase per SCH

Undergraduate Non-Resident

$317.67

$258.00

$59.67

Graduate Non-Resident

$481.89

$426.00

$55.89

 

Graduate Programs with Tuition Increments (4)

College/ Program

Fall 2021 Tuition Increment Rate per SCH

Previous Distance Education Tuition Increment Rate per SCH

Increase per SCH

Engineering - Graduate

$100.00

$89.00

$11.00

Nursing Systems & Populations - Masters

$66.67

$59.00

$7.67

Respiratory Care - Masters

$55.56

$50.00

$5.56

Health Informatics

$150.00

$133.00

$17.00

Information Security & Private - Certificate

$222.22

$197

$25.22

 

  1. If you are enrolled in any courses designated as main campus, these are excluded from your enrolled hours for the purposes of the grant calculation as the billing rate for main campus did not change in Fall 2021.
  2. Distance education tuition is capped at the full-time enrollment level of 12 (Undergraduate) and 9 (Graduate) credit hours. No incremental tuition is charged for credit hour enrollment totals greater than these levels and thus the total enrolled hours for the purposes of the grant calculation will be capped at that level.
  3. Fall 2021 charges were assessed to student accounts on July 6, 2021, and the calculation of the DE Bridge Grant is based on your Distance Education enrollment at that point. If you received a DE Bridge Grant and subsequently enroll in additional hours before August 30, 2021 (Fall add/ drop date), you may be eligible for an increase in your grant. This is dependent on the availability of funding and will be determined in September 2021. 

  4. This is not a full listing of all programs with tuition increments.

Example: The DE Bridge Grant for a continuing graduate Distance Education student (non-resident) enrolled in 6 credit hours in the Health Informatics Certificate program is calculated as shown below:

Tuition Increase -     6 Hours * $115.28 Increase per SCH  =    $691.68

Increment Increase -    6 hours * $17.00 Increase per SCH =    $102.00

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Total Tuition Increase (DE Bridge Grant)            $793.68

Eligible continuing Distance Education students who first register for Fall 2021 after July 6th, 2021 will receive a DE Bridge Grant. This grant will be applied to your student account in September 2021. Your account balance will need to be paid by the payment due date, and any excess of your DE Bridge Grant compared to your account balance will be disbursed to you in a refund.
Yes, eligible continuing Distance Education students will also receive the DE Bridge Grant if registered for Spring 2022. Additional information will be communicated in November 2021, after registration for Spring 2022 opens. Note, however, that DE Bridge Grants are not expected to be awarded after Spring 2022.