Nearly One Quarter of Public High School Seniors Access Higher Education through NC College Connect

More than 23,000 public high school seniors have accepted direct admission offers from North Carolina colleges and universities through the NC College Connect program.  

Between August 2025 and January 2026, students accepted more than 88,000 offers from participating colleges and universities in the second year of the direct admissions program.  

That means approximately 21% of the Class of 2026 accessed higher education through NC College Connect.  

“A key pillar of our plan to make North Carolina public schools the best in the nation is ensuring our students have clear pathways for postsecondary success,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green. “NC College Connect provides students with a simple process for learning about colleges where they meet the admissions criteria. That so many students have taken advantage of this opportunity is incredibly exciting.”  

Seniors at North Carolina public high schools are eligible for NC College Connect if they have a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above and meet certain course requirements. Based on their qualifications, each student was offered automatic admission to a select list of North Carolina colleges and universities – with no need to complete a traditional application.  

The program is a collaboration between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the University of North Carolina System, the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority and College Foundation, Inc.

“All North Carolinians benefit when we nurture the talent and ambition of our young people,” said Peter Hans, president of the UNC System. “NC College Connect makes it simpler than ever for promising high school graduates to keep learning, keep striving and keep contributing to our state."

This year, 11 of the state’s public universities participated, as well as 29 private colleges and universities and all 58 NC community colleges.

“The success of NC College Connect this year is a testament to the collaboration between state education sectors, partners and nonprofits,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, president of the North Carolina Community College System. “This program is showing students that they have what it takes to go to college, and it’s making it easier than ever for them to access these opportunities.”  

The popularity of NC College Connect also contributed to the success of College for North Carolina’s (CFNC) College Application Week in October, when many North Carolina colleges and universities waive their application fees. More than 117,000 college applications were submitted during the week through CFNC and the Common App, an 8.7% increase over 2024.  

“It’s encouraging to see so many students taking advantage of College Application Week and NC College Connect to apply to college,” said Mary Shuping, executive director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, the primary sponsor of CFNC. “North Carolina continues to lead the way when it comes to making sure that the most students have a chance to attend college and fulfill their dreams.”

One of the most important ways to reduce barriers to students applying to college is encouraging them to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is the gateway to financial aid for students looking to make paying for college more manageable. CFNC has dubbed this month FAFSA February in an effort to highlight the importance of this crucial step in the college-going process. A toolkit with resources for education professionals who work with students can be found at CFNC.org/FAFSAFeb.  

Launched in fall 2024 with a pilot program, NC College Connect impacted over 3,000 students.

The program was expanded for the 2025-26 school year to include independent colleges and universities, as well as additional UNC System schools.  

“Participating in NC College Connect ensures students know all their options, including the excellent educational opportunities in our sector,” said Dr. A. Hope Williams, president of NCICU, the statewide office for North Carolina’s 36 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. “The outpouring of applications shows that there is strong demand for what our colleges and universities offer, and that is a win for students, our colleges and universities, and our state.”

NC College Connect will return for the 2026-27 academic year. Qualifying seniors will receive letters notifying them of their eligibility in the fall.  

Visit NCCollegeConnect.org for more information about the program.  

Bryson Foye, Page High School (Guilford County Schools)

“The website made it simple to find and see different colleges that offer my major and or minor, and the different types of majors I never even knew existed. I like how everything was organized and explained clearly, especially the sections about applications and financial aid. It helped me understand what steps I need to take after graduation and made the college process feel so much less stressful. Overall, NC College Connect was useful as a resource that gave me a lot more confidence about the next steps I have to take in life involving college.”  

Nora Lippard, Enka High School (Buncombe County Schools)

“If I were to give advice to next year's students, I'd tell them to definitely use NC College Connect because it's super easy to navigate and is an easy, stress-free way to get into college. It breaks down the whole application process so that it doesn't feel overwhelming. Plus, it's a great tool for students who might not feel motivated. It keeps things simple and easier to stay focused and take the next steps towards your future.”  

Walter Royster, Franklinton High School (Franklin County Schools)

“I chose to use this route because I had already been offered direct admission through NC College Connect. It was also a simplified process to initiate applying to colleges and it connected me with information about colleges all in one place. NC College Connect positively impacted my postsecondary plans by helping me identify my options.”