On Friday, the UNC-system Board of Governors approved an action that rarely occurs in higher education -- a reduction in tuition rates for one UNC-Chapel Hill professional school.
The board agreed to lower tuition rates for both in-state and out-of-state students in the master's of business administration and the master's of accounting programs in the Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Tuition for out-of-state MBA students was set to increase about $4,400 due to a school-specific tuition increase approved by the BOG last year and a 12 percent systemwide tuition increase approved by the BOG in March.
Business school Dean Bob Sullivan argued last month before the BOG's Special Committee on Tuition and Fee Policies that such an increase would raise tuition rates to a level that would damage the school's competitiveness with its peers.
Sullivan said the school's goal was to stay within the bottom quartile for cost among the top 20 business programs in the country.
As a result, Sullivan asked the committee to reconsider the school-specific increase.
Sullivan asked that the school-specific tuition increase be reduced from $2,000 to $500 for out-of-state MBA students.
Tuition for out-of-state MAC students will increase by $100.
In-state MBA students will see a $1,000 reduction, and in-state MAC students will receive an $800 reduction.
