The University of North Carolina System surpassed a record enrollment of over 256,000 students amid demographic challenges posed by declining birth rates. Increased enrollment, especially at historically black universities in the system, is coinciding with tuition rises for in-state students starting the upcoming academic year. In parallel, other institutions face enrollment cliffs and budget tightening, prompting some universities to trim academic programs, reduce faculty hires, and scale back capital projects. These developments highlight ongoing pressures on public higher education funding and access linked to changing student populations and state fiscal priorities.