Your Direct Admission Opportunity is Here!
This is your moment. Why not meet it with momentum? You’ve worked hard, and now you can make a choice that leads you to a successful, rewarding life and career. It’s a choice that could change everything for you—and maybe even your family too.
NC College Connect is a program that provides a simpler and faster way to get admitted to college in North Carolina.
If you’re a senior at a North Carolina public high school with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above, and you meet the NC College Connect requirements (more on that below), you are automatically admitted to select North Carolina colleges and universities. All you need to do is submit a form to accept your admission—it’s easy!
Learn about the program details, explore possible majors, and claim your spot today!
We've made your college application process simpler. After all, you’ve earned it. Have questions about how it all works? We’ve got the answers.
Attend one of our student and parent webinars for an overview of the program, visit our office hours to chat with a member of the NC College Connect team, or see answers to frequently asked questions below.
Webinars
Office Hours
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NC College Connect?
- NC College Connect is a program that offers North Carolina public high school students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 and above who meet NC College Connect requirements direct admission to select colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program.
- Participating UNC System institutions:
- Appalachian State University
- East Carolina University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Fayetteville State University
- North Carolina Central University
- University of North Carolina Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Western Carolina University
- Winston-Salem State University
- Participating North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities:
- Barton College
- Belmont Abbey College*
- Bennett College*
- Brevard College
- Campbell University
- Catawba College
- Chowan University
- Gardner-Webb University*
- Greensboro College
- Guilford College*
- Johnson C. Smith University*
- Lees-McRae College
- Lenoir-Rhyne University*
- Livingstone College
- Louisburg College
- Mars Hill University*
- Meredith College*
- Methodist University
- Mid-Atlantic Christian University
- Montreat College
- North Carolina Wesleyan University
- Pfeiffer University
- Saint Augustine’s University
- Salem College*
- Shaw University
- University of Mount Olive
- Warren Wilson College
- William Peace University
- Wingate University*
*These colleges and universities have additional requirements for a student to qualify for direct admission. These requirements will be noted in each institution’s NC College Connect form.
- North Carolina Community College System (all 58 colleges)*
*Students will be automatically directed to the traditional application process for their local community college, where they have received direct admission.
Who is eligible for NC College Connect?
- North Carolina public high school students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 and above who meet NC College Connect requirements are offered direct admission to select colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program.
- Meeting NC College Connect requirements means meeting course requirements and any additional criteria required by individual institutions, as well as responding to safety questions to show a student meets the institutions’ safety requirements.
What are the NC College Connect requirements?
- In addition to a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above, students must also meet NC College Connect requirements. This includes meeting necessary NC College Connect course requirements and answering safety questions.
- Some independent colleges and universities also have additional requirements, such as foreign language courses, for a student to qualify for direct admission. This will be noted in each institution’s NC College Connect form.
What are the NC College Connect course requirements?
If a student meets the state graduation requirements, including a fourth-level mathematics course, the course requirements below are met.
- Language
- Four course units in language, including: four units in English, emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature
- Mathematics
- Four course units of mathematics, in any of the following combinations:
- algebra I and II, geometry, and one unit beyond algebra II
- algebra I and II, and two units beyond algebra II, or
- Integrated math I, II, and III, and one unit beyond integrated math III.
- The UNC System strongly encourages future students to take at least one mathematics course unit in the 12th grade.
- Sciences
- Three course units in science, including:
- at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology),
- at least one unit in physical sciences (for example, physical science, chemistry, physics),
- and at least one laboratory course.
- Social Studies
- Two course units in social studies, including one unit in U.S. history. Students who do not have the unit in U.S. history may be admitted on the condition that that they pass at least three semester hours in that subject by the end of the sophomore year.
- Additional Requirements
- Two additional academic courses from English, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, or computer science. (Note: these courses should be selected in alignment with a student’s academic and career objectives.)
- Some independent colleges and universities have additional requirements for a student to qualify for direct admission. This will be noted in each institution’s NC College Connect form.
What are safety questions?
- In efforts to maintain a safe learning community, North Carolina colleges and universities ask safety questions as a part of their application processes. These questions ask about any behavioral misconduct during high school and criminal activity.
- Answering “yes” to the safety questions may not necessarily preclude a student from being admitted. However, failing to answer these questions or failing to respond completely, accurately, and truthfully, may be grounds to deny or withdraw a student’s admission or to dismiss a student after enrollment.
How were the NC College Connect colleges and universities determined?
- Colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program voluntarily agreed to be a part of the program based on their existing admissions criteria. Moving forward, additional colleges and universities may be included in the NC College Connect program.
Where do students go to claim their spot?
- Students will:
- Scan the QR code on their letter and visit NCCollegeConnect.org to learn more about the program.
- Log into the NC College Connect portal using their existing CFNC.org login credentials or create a new CFNC account.
- See a complete list of colleges and universities where they have received admission.
- Complete an NC College Connect form, which includes contact and demographic information, to accept admission at the NC College Connect colleges and universities of their choice.
- For your local community college, the program will redirect to that institution’s traditional application—but don’t worry, you already meet application requirements and are already admitted! The application is quick and easy.
- Students will have to submit an NC College Connect form for each institution where they would like to claim their spot.
- There is no need for a student to submit a traditional application through Common App, CFNC.org, or the institution website for the institutions where they have accepted admission through the NC College Connect portal.
- Completing an NC College Connect form will not enroll a student; it instead indicates to an institution that a student is interested in accepting their offer of admission from that institution. For each institution where a student completes an NC College Connect form, students will receive direct communications about next steps, such as enrollment and financial aid opportunities.
What information will students need handy to accept their admission?
- Students will be required to share basic information such as their name, date of birth, personal email address, intended major, intended start term (fall 2026 or spring 2027) as well as answer some basic questions around campus safety and military affiliation.
What is the deadline for students to accept their admission at the institutions of their choosing?
- Each college or university within the NC College Connect program will have its own deadline for applications, ranging from January 15 to July 15, 2026, and many community colleges and institutions have flexible or rolling application deadlines.
- Students who have been admitted to an institution via the NC Collect Connect program should confirm the application deadlines for the institutions they are interested in and accept their admission before that deadline.
Do students that are a part of the NC College Connect Program have to pay application fees for their selected colleges or universities?
- Most NC College Connect forms submitted through the NC College Connect portal will be free. For some institutions, students will be required to pay an application fee ranging from $20 to $75 alongside the forms.
- Applying to any North Carolina community college is always free, and application fees to North Carolina independent colleges and universities submitted through the NC College Connect portal are waived.
- Most participating institutions will accept approved fee waivers (such as the College Board or ACT fee waiver).
- Students are encouraged to submit their NC College Connect forms during College Application Week, October 20-26, 2025, to avoid application fees for most participating colleges. Students are encouraged to confirm the final list of College Application Week institutions on CFNC.org, here.
Do students need to maintain their weighted GPA of 2.8 or above throughout their senior year?
- Yes. Students are offered direct admission to select colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program based on their GPA at the close of their junior year. Students must maintain this admitted GPA throughout their senior year.
- Should a student no longer meet the NC College Connect requirements or their admitted GPA drop below what it was at the close of their junior year, an institution can rescind their admission or require more information, like test scores.
Where can a student find their admitted GPA?
- Students can find their admitted GPA on Infinite Campus, in their NC-SIS portal or on their transcript, typically wherever their grades are posted. Students can also confirm their admitted GPA with their counselor.
What if students are interested in colleges or universities that are not part of the program?
- While students may qualify for direct admission for the colleges and universities that are a part of NC College Connect, students are encouraged to apply to any other college or university they would like to attend via CFNC.org, including other UNC System universities, North Carolina community colleges, and North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities based on their priorities and interests.
If a student did not qualify but is still interested in applying to college, what steps should they take?
- There are multiple opportunities for students to pursue higher education even if they do not qualify for direct admission through NC College Connect.
- Students who are not eligible for the NC College Connect program should visit CFNC.org to learn more about higher education options available and for additional support in planning, applying, and paying for college.
Will students have to complete their Residency Determination (RDS) when they accept their admission?
- No. A student will not have to indicate or complete Residency Determination (RDS) when they submit their short NC College Connect forms. However, establishing in-state residency is an important step in the college-going process to help students save money on college expenses and should be completed at a later date.
Does this program eliminate students from scholarship opportunities?
- No. Qualifying for the NC College Connect program does not impact any financial aid opportunities or eligibility for merit-based scholarships.
- Students are encouraged to explore merit-based scholarship deadlines for each campus, as well as other North Carolina financial aid opportunities, collected on CFNC.org here.
Take advantage of activities to help you complete residency, FAFSA, and admission applications during NC Countdown to College in October. Many colleges waive application fees during the third week of the month.
NC Countdown to College
All the information you need about scholarships, grants, and financial aid.
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