UNC System president gets $150K raise and big bonus. Why board says he earned it
UNC System President Peter Hans on Thursday received a hefty bonus for his performance over the past year — and a major increase to his salary.
Hans, who leads the system of North Carolina’s public universities, on June 1 will begin earning an annual salary of $600,000. That’s almost $150,000 more than his current salary of roughly $455,000, as listed in the UNC System’s salary database.
In addition to his new salary, Hans also received a bonus of $442,200 for his work over the past year, which will be paid to his university retirement account.
The system Board of Governors, to whom Hans reports, approved both measures.
When he entered the presidency in 2020, Hans asked the board to pay him a lower salary than those of previous UNC System presidents. But under that plan, his pay has been subject to additional performance bonuses, which for the last few years have been roughly the same amount as his salary. Last year, for instance, he received a bonus of roughly $453,000.
The board also approved a new term sheet for Hans, which details the benefits he is entitled to receive as president and will be valid for the next five years. He will remain eligible for bonuses under his new terms.
Hans has been president of the 17-campus system since 2020. If he remains in his role until 2030, when his new terms will expire, he will be the longest serving UNC System president in more than 30 years.
Board of Governors Chair Wendy Murphy offered Hans significant praise before the board approved his new pay and benefits Thursday.
“In the past half-decade, we have been through a global pandemic, several hurricanes and other tragic events that impacted our campus communities,” Murphy said. “Through it all, President Hans showed steadfast vision, leading our system with insight, discernment and stability, and he made strategic changes that position our universities well and improved outcomes for students and the people of North Carolina.”
The board measures Hans’ performance on a variety of metrics, including students’ success and the affordability of an education in the system.
Among his many accomplishments, Murphy said, in-state, undergraduate tuition has remained flat under Hans’ leadership and the system has made strides in making it easier for students to apply to college and for financial aid. Less than half of UNC System students graduated with federal student loan debt last year, compared to roughly 60% when Hans took office.
He has also nominated new chancellors to serve at 11 campuses over the past five years, with more than half a dozen of those being appointed in the past year-plus.
The system has also made “free expression and nondiscrimination” and “institutional neutrality” policies a focus under Hans’ leadership, Murphy said. In practice, those efforts included the Board of Governors repealing former diversity, equity and inclusion policies last year and approving new restrictions on campus protests earlier this year.
Murphy also highlighted Hans’ efforts in the area of health care, noting UNC Health will be part of the major, upcoming effort to establish the state’s first children’s hospital, among other health initiatives that involve the university system.
“In a world like this one, where there are moving pieces and countless overlaps between academics, business, culture and politics, President Hans has shown the kind of big-picture leadership that will make our institution successful over the long term,” Murphy said. “We’re grateful to have him at the helm, and we look forward to working with him in the years to come.”
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM with the headline "UNC System president gets $150K raise and big bonus. Why board says he earned it."
