UNC system should admit more out-of-state

The legislature should once again raise the cap on out-of-state admissions for UNC-system schools as UNC-Chapel Hill stands only to benefit from increased out-of-state enrollment.

Currently UNC-system schools are allowed to enroll a maximum of 18 percent nonresident students.

More of the these out-of-state students should be allowed to excel at UNC-system schools because they offer numerous benefits to North Carolina.

For instance out-of-state students are cost neutral to the UNC system whereas all in-state students' education is subsidized. Raising the cap would have a positive financial impact and not just in tuition revenue.

Out-of-state students also contribute to the state's economy and many call N.C. their home after graduation.

Granted top out-of-state students are certainly no smarter than top in-state students.

But there is more competition for the out-of-state spots at this university ultimately leading to a better group of accepted out-of-state students.

It is true that admitting more out-of-state students will take up spots previously reserved for N.C. taxpayer's children.

However just because a parent pays taxes to the state does not entitle their children to an N.C. public college education.

In addition to paying taxes parents must promote a child's educational growth and properly prepare them for the future. In doing so parents will help create a higher quality resident applicant pool.

And admitting more out-of-state students would help our university's ranking.

Residents comprise 66 percent of the student bodies of the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia two of our peer institutions. Residents comprise more than 80 percent of UNC's first-year class.

It is no coincidence that both of these schools are ranked higher than UNC by the U.S. News & World Report.

And our ranking is important. The University should do everything in its power to be the best.

Better schools bring brains funding and opportunities to the state.

Raising the out-of-state student admissions cap would be a prudent move for the University UNC-system schools and ultimately North Carolina.