RALEIGH — Today, the University of North Carolina System introduced NC College Connect, a simplified college application process for North Carolina public high school students in their senior year. The new program will enable qualifying students to bypass the traditional application process into participating colleges.
NC College Connect creates a simple, easy way for students to apply to participating UNC System and North Carolina Community College System institutions across the state. North Carolina public high school students who close their junior year with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above will qualify for the pilot program. Qualifying students must maintain a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above throughout their senior year, in addition to meeting the state’s graduation requirements as set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and UNC System minimum requirements.
“We believe that college should be accessible to those who are ready to pursue their passions at one of North Carolina’s exceptional public universities or community colleges,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “The NC College Connect program opens pathways for more North Carolinians, delivering on our promise to provide quality, affordable higher education to the people of our state.”
“It’s well known that one of the major barriers to students pursuing college is the application process,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt. “NC College Connect removes this hurdle, offering a streamlined and simplified way for our state’s future workforce to pursue their degree.”
Colleges participating in the NC College Connect pilot program include:
- Elizabeth City State University
- Fayetteville State University
- University of North Carolina Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Winston-Salem State University
- North Carolina Community College System (all 58 colleges)
Qualifying high school seniors will receive an official letter by mail this October with an offer to participate in the program for the 2025-26 academic year. After scanning the letter’s QR code or accessing NCCollegeConnect.org, qualifying students will log in to the program portal on CFNC.org and see a complete list of their matched colleges. Students are encouraged to submit their simplified applications during College Application Week, October 21-27, 2024, to avoid most application fees.
“NC College Connect will make higher education more accessible for many students in North Carolina who may not have previously considered attending college,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, president of the North Carolina Community College System. “At a time when the state needs to move quickly to meet growing workforce needs and close the educational attainment gap, this new program will make higher education within reach for thousands of students.”
North Carolina has also invested resources to ensure that students have financial aid opportunities to help pay for college. One such opportunity is the Next NC Scholarship, which helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college or more than half, if not all, of tuition and fees to attend any public university in the state.
Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke are NC College Connect institutions and part of the NC Promise Tuition Plan. Under this plan, resident undergraduates pay only $500 in tuition each semester.
“Between this new program, the financial aid offered through the Next NC Scholarship and the NC Promise Tuition Plan, some students in North Carolina could claim their spot to college and attend for free – a life changing opportunity for many students,” Truitt added.
NC College Connect was created in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), GEAR Up North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), and the Office of the Governor. For more information about the program, please visit NCCollegeConnect.org.
