NC College Connect is open, and high school seniors can claim their admittance now
As seniors across the state begin the often arduous process of applying to college, NC College Connect is once again offering an easier path. Piloted in 2024 and launched statewide in 2025, the program allows students, depending on their GPA and other qualifications, to be directly admitted to 11 UNC System universities, other participating independent colleges and universities, and the state’s 58 community colleges.
All current seniors enrolled in North Carolina public schools who are on track to graduate are eligible to participate. Unlike traditional college applications, NC College Connect doesn’t require essays, recommendation letters, a summary of extracurriculars, or Common App.
The portal for students to claim their admittance is open now.
“The success of NC College Connect is a testament to what’s possible when institution leaders across North Carolina come together around one shared goal: making the college admissions process simple for students,” said Executive Director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority Mary Shuping in a press release. “By removing unnecessary roadblocks, students can discover options they didn’t know existed for them.”
Students who are on track to graduate, have a 2.8 GPA or higher, are enrolled in a fourth-level math, and meet program requirements at participating UNC System universities, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and their local North Carolina community college will be directly admitted to each institution they meet the requirements for.
“Our strategic plan requires that each student be prepared for their next phase in life when they graduate from high school, and NC College Connect is a powerful way of showing them they have accomplished that goal,” North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green said in a release.
New this year, students who do not have a 2.8 GPR or higher but are on track to graduate will be directly admitted to their local community college, consistent with the N.C. Community College System’s (NCCCS) open admissions policy. This extension of NC College Connect was supported by a $70,000 investment from the State Board of Community Colleges, which covered the cost of mailing direct admission offers to 37,429 newly eligible students.
“Ask a North Carolinian what a community college credential did for them, and you’ll hear about a career. NC College Connect makes that path easier to find. This year, it’s open to all students. Less time lost to paperwork, more time in the classroom, and a straighter line to a job that pays,” said Dr. Monty Sullivan, acting president & CEO of the NCCCS, in a recent release.
Through NC College Connect, students will receive a letter to their home address, informing them of what college or colleges they’ve received admission to. Students will receive admittance to more schools the higher their GPA is.
“You’ll receive your NC College Connect letter in mid-September of your senior year with more information about where you’ve been admitted,” according to NC College Connect’s website.
The NC Connect portal went live on Tuesday. According to the program’s website, students can log in with their College for North Carolina (CFNC) account. After logging in, the program says students should:
- Make sure their CFNC account information matches their NC-SIS name exactly
- View the colleges they matched with based on their GPA
- Complete a short form for each school they’re interested in
Once students submit the form to each college you’re interested in, those schools will follow up with more information. Submitting the short forms to the schools accepts offers of admission, but it does not require students to attend any specific school. In fact, students may claim admittance at multiple schools.
“I wasn’t aware of all the colleges I could go to or all of the colleges that were in my state,” said Paige Gonzalez, a University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) sophomore from High Point, said in a press release. “I got a letter in the mail one day from NC Connect, and it had a list of in-state schools I had never thought to explore before. I researched all the schools on this list and found I really liked what UNCA offered.”
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Last year, more than 62,000 North Carolina students were directly admitted to at least 34 participating colleges, according to previous reporting by EdNC. Current seniors can claim their spot now, and are encouraged to respond to offers as soon as possible as many colleges have different internal deadlines for programs like:
- Financial aid
- Specific academic programs
- Scholarships
- Honors programs
- Housing
“If application fees are a barrier, talk with your counselor about your options,” says NC College Connect’s website. During College Application Week, being held from Oct. 19-25, most institutions will waive application fees.
The organization has also tools for those who might need assistance with paying for college. From Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and grants to scholarships, work study, and student loans, you can learn more about financial aid options here.
“The college application process can be intimidating. By automatically offering college acceptances to qualified students, NC College Connect makes the process easy so students can focus on making the right choice for them,” said Gov. Josh Stein in a press release. “North Carolina students are worth investing in, and connecting them to the right two- or four-year college helps set them up for success.”
For those interested in sharing information with students or their community about NC College Connect, the program has put together a new toolkit and toolkit guide. These resources are designed to help answer questions about the program and to help people promote NC College Connect and the opportunity it presents for students.
Explore a part of the toolkit, the “explainer slides,” below:
NC College Connect is also hosting a series of webinars, linked below, to answer questions students and educators might have about the program.
For students:
For education professionals:
Finally, click here to watch a NC College Connect walkthrough video.