NC College Connect Extends College Admissions To Over 67,500 High School Seniors Across North Carolina Without A College Application

This week, NC College Connect announced that over 67,500 high school seniors across North Carolina already have a seat at select four-year colleges and universities next fall through its direct admission program that provides a streamlined path to higher education. Students can check their admission offers by visiting NCCollegeConnect.org and logging into the student portal there. They will also receive an official letter by U.S. mail in the coming days. 

Individual letters will notify 64% of high school seniors of the four-year institutions where they were admitted for the 2027-2028 academic year. The program offers college admission to eligible public high school students who being their senior year with a weighted grade point average of at least 2.8 and enrolled in a fourth-level math. Additionally, all students on track for a high school diploma, regardless of GPA, will be directly admitted to their local community college. In total, more than 105,000 seniors will receive direct a direct admission offer. 

Participating institutions include 29 North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, 11 University of North Carolina System universities, and all 58 North Carolina community colleges. 

"One of the positive aspects of NC College Connect is that thousands of students have learned about colleges and universities across our state that they may not have known previously," said NCICU President Dr. A. Hope Williams. "This program gives North Carolina students a clearer view and simple pathway to all that our independent colleges and universities offer – from small liberal arts campuses to research institutions – so more students can find not just a college, but the right college for their future."  

The program features a strong statewide partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, GEAR Up North Carolina, the UNC System, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, and the Office of the Governor. 

Students can review their admission offers and submit a short form indicating their interest, without essays, recommendation letters or other requirements of a traditional application. If students confirm their admission to an institution during College Application Week, Oct. 19-25, they can avoid most application fees. 

North Carolina students attending the state's independent, nonprofit colleges and universities may be eligible to receive the NC Need-Based Scholarship, which provides financial aid for the state's Pell-eligible and middle-income undergraduates. In addition, independent colleges and universities in North Carolina offer a combined $1.1 billion in institutional aid. 

Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid programs by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, as the first step toward higher education. 

For a list of participating colleges and universities, please see this NC College Connect factsheet.