RALEIGH, N.C. — Qualifying North Carolina public high school seniors will be able to bypass the traditional college application process for the 2025-26 academic year.
On Thursday, The University of North Carolina (UNC) System introduced NC College Connect, a simplified college application process.
According to the UNC System, NC College Connect was created via a collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), GEAR Up North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), and the Office of the Governor. It is meant to create a simple, easy way for students to apply to participating UNC System and NCCCS institutions across the state.
North Carolina public high school students who close their junior year with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above will qualify for the pilot program. However, those qualifying students must maintain that weighted GPA of 2.8 or above throughout their senior year, in addition to meeting the state’s graduation requirements, and the UNC System's minimum requirements.
“It’s well known that one of the major barriers to students pursuing college is the application process,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt. “NC College Connect removes this hurdle, offering a streamlined and simplified way for our state’s future workforce to pursue their degree.”
The colleges participating in the NC College Connect pilot program include Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), Fayetteville State University (FSU), University of North Carolina Asheville, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and all 58 colleges in the NCCCS.
By October 2024, qualifying high school seniors are expected to receive an official letter offer by mail to participate in the program for the 2025-26 academic year.