Although born in Texas, Tift Merritt was raised in Raleigh and is a North Carolina girl through and through. She waitressed in Wilmington for a stint after high school before enrolling at UNC in the late ‘90s, where she immersed herself in the creative writing department, studying under Doris Betts and intending to become a fiction writer. (Indy Week) UNC ranks as No. 1 best value public for 21st straight year
UNC-Chapel Hill delivers both excellence and affordability. Ranked No. 4 among public universities and No. 1 for best value among public institutions in the 2026.
Musician and UNC Alum Tift Merritt, a True North Carolina Gem, Still Has Plenty of Material to Mine
