Oh btw, one of the biggest reasons I'm moving to NC is that my kids will be likely pushed towards the state system ere which is very good ie. UNC Chapel Hill and others. Quinnipiac for 200k is absurd. I can't afford that nor would I try to. When the time comes in a decade and a half, we'll sit down and look at the best options for each kid, but for my family, the state system or even St. Andrews in Scotland and the like are places that will be focused on first.
Interesting that you say this. Last year, one of my co-workers transferred to Charlotte. One of the main reasons was the chance for his daughters to establish residency and attend a UNC school. Another interesting fact. North Carolina has a reciprocal arrangement with South Carolina. NC residents can attend USC (Columbia), or any other SC state school...and pay SC resident tuition. That...is a great deal.
Not to burst your North Carolina bubble boys but after The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the rest of the system is average, at best! SUNY schools are higher rated and no State system can touch California --- the best of them all.
So, if your kids graduate high school in North Carolina and do not get accepted to UNC-----good luck! It is not always about saving tuition costs. Some "quality" has to be offered.
A great state to retire though.