Changes to College Admissions for North Carolina Seniors

High school seniors celebrating graduation in North Carolina

News Summary

North Carolina high school seniors will benefit from a simplified college admissions process starting in the 2025-26 school year. Over 70,000 seniors can apply to 32 universities and all 58 community colleges with fewer barriers, thanks to initiatives from The University of North Carolina System. Programs like NC College Connect and Direct Admission aim to enhance access to higher education and reduce application complexities. In-state students at select universities will enjoy significantly lower tuition rates, making college more accessible.

Exciting News for North Carolina High School Seniors!

Hey there, folks! If you have a high school senior or remember those thrilling days of senior year, there’s some fantastic news coming out of North Carolina. Starting from the 2025-26 school year, public high school seniors will have a much easier time getting into college thanks to some super helpful changes in the admission processes.

Making College More Accessible

The University of North Carolina System, along with the North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities, is rolling out a new and simplified application process for eligible students. This means those who have a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher can apply with much less hassle to 32 colleges and universities and all 58 community colleges across the state.

Who Will Benefit?

It’s estimated that around 70,000 seniors will take advantage of these new initiatives. This is a big deal because many students face challenges when it comes to the intricate college application maze. By simplifying the process, the aim is to remove those barriers and make sure more students have the opportunity to continue their education.

What’s on Offer?

One of the key programs introduced is the NC College Connect. This program facilitates admissions into six state universities and community colleges, making it a breeze for students to secure their spots. The universities participating in this exciting initiative are:

Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
UNC-Asheville
UNC-Greensboro
UNC-Pembroke
Winston-Salem State University

Oh, and here’s a sweet deal: through the NC Promise Tuition Program, in-state students at Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, and UNC-Pembroke only pay $500 in tuition per semester!

How to Get Started?

For students eager to take part in the NC College Connect program, keep an eye on your mailboxes! Eligible students will receive notification letters in October. To get started with the application, students can simply visit the College Foundation of North Carolina’s portal at NCCollegeConnect.org. A tip: It’s a good idea to submit applications during College Application Week, which runs from October 21-27, as this allows students to avoid application fees.

Exciting Direct Admission Program!

But wait, there’s more good news! The North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities are launching a Direct Admission program for 26 participating schools. This means students won’t have to deal with a bunch of complicated steps and forms. Instead, they can complete their applications smoothly at www.ncicu.org. Here’s a quick list of some of the schools involved:

Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
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
Montreat College
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Shaw University
St. Andrews University
Saint Augustine’s University
University of Mount Olive
Warren Wilson College
William Peace University
Wingate University

Promoting Higher Education

While no notification letters will be sent out for the Direct Admission program to keep things simple, the North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities is reaching out to district superintendents and high school principals for support in promoting this program. This collective effort aims to enhance access to higher education for students in North Carolina.

With these uplifting changes, it’s a great time to be a high school senior in the Tar Heel state. Let’s help every student create their own path to success!