Increase in Military-Affiliated Student Enrollment
The enrollment of military-affiliated students at public universities in North Carolina has reached a record level. The University of North Carolina (UNC) System reported a rise from 20,688 military-affiliated students four years ago to 24,817 this year. This growth is part of a broader initiative aimed at reaching an enrollment target of 25,000 military-affiliated individuals by 2027.
This initiative aims to address the workforce shortage in North Carolina’s expanding economy. According to recent data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the state anticipates the creation of 260,000 new jobs by 2034, while there is a significant shortage of skilled workers available to fill those roles. The UNC System plays a vital role in supplying talent to address the needs of the state’s undersupplied sectors by enrolling more adults seeking to enhance their careers through higher education.
Project Kitty Hawk’s Role
North Carolina’s military community, which includes 120,000 active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members, represents a key demographic of skilled individuals expected to transition into the civilian workforce. Many, such as 41-year-old Brandon Sumler, started their college education prior to military service but did not complete their degrees.
Sumler, who left East Carolina University in 2010 to serve in the U.S. Army, re-enrolled at ECU to finish his degree through an online program established by Project Kitty Hawk (PKH), a nonprofit focused on educational technology within the UNC System. He is set to graduate in December with a degree in psychology, fulfilling a long-held aspiration.
“I am at the stage of my military career where retirement is near, and I finally am afforded an opportunity to finish school,” Sumler noted, expressing how he has managed to create a balance between work, family, and studies.
Flexible Learning Options for Military Students
Launched in 2022, Project Kitty Hawk offers flexible online degree programs to accommodate individuals juggling education with work and family commitments. Its Flight Path programs provide an alternative to traditional campus-based learning. To date, PKH has successfully enrolled 364 military-affiliated students in these programs across several institutions, including Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Among the most popular degree options for these students are psychology, computer science, information technology, criminology, criminal justice, and health care administration. Notably, psychology is projected to be one of the state’s most sought-after fields, with an anticipated need for over 900 additional bachelor’s degrees each year through 2032, according to a report from the UNC System.
Flexibility emerged as a key factor for Sumler in his decision to return to East Carolina University. He emphasized the importance of the Flight Path program for individuals with families and other responsibilities, stating that it allows students to take classes according to their schedules.
Source: University of North Carolina System
