North Carolina just made it significantly easier for high school seniors to get into college. More than 62,000 NC public high school seniors are now being offered direct admission to select colleges and universities through a new program called NC College Connect.
What Is NC College Connect?
NC College Connect is a statewide program that grants direct admission to select participating institutions for North Carolina public high school students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher who meet the program’s course requirements. Eligible students receive an official letter offering direct admission — no essays, no recommendation letters, no Common App.
Participating institutions include 11 UNC System universities, 29 independent colleges and universities, and all 58 NC community colleges.
How Does It Work?
- Eligible seniors receive an NC College Connect letter or can log into their CFNC.org portal to view their list of matched institutions.
- Students complete a brief NC College Connect form to accept admission at their chosen school.
- No traditional application through Common App or the school’s website is required for matched institutions.
Financial Aid Opportunities
NC College Connect pairs with several financial aid programs. The Next NC Scholarship fully covers tuition for most North Carolinians from households earning $80,000 or less. The NC Need-Based Scholarship supports Pell-eligible and middle-income students at independent colleges. Students at four participating UNC campuses pay just $500 per semester in tuition through the NC Promise plan.
The financial planning angle: Easier college access means more families face college funding decisions sooner. Understanding how 529 plans, ABLE accounts (for students with disabilities), financial aid, and family cash flow interact is an important part of the college planning process.