NC College Connect
Your Direct Admission Opportunity is Here!
In Fall 2026, every public high school senior on track to graduate with a diploma will be directly admitted to college in North Carolina!
Your moment is coming! Get ready!
With NC College Connect, you will be directly admitted to participating colleges and universities where you already meet admissions requirements. No essays, test scores, or recommendation letters needed. Yes, it’s that simple.
If you’re a current junior on track to graduate, you’re eligible to participate in NC College Connect. Yes, all of you! You’ll receive your NC College Connect letter in mid-September of your senior year with more information about where you’ve been admitted.
NC College Connect is a program that directly admits North Carolina public high school seniors who are on track to graduate, have a 2.8 GPA or higher, are enrolled in a fourth-level math and meet program requirements to participating UNC System universities, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and their local North Carolina community college. The higher your GPA, the more schools to which you’ll be directly admitted!
Don’t have a 2.8 GPA? If you are on track to graduate, you’ll be directly admitted to your local community college.
We've made your college application process simpler. After all, you’ve earned it!
Questions? Email nccollegeconnect@dpi.nc.gov.
Juniors, check out this one-pager.
Research the colleges and universities in the overview this summer. Consider looking at programs that interest you and where you may want to go here in NC!
Program Overview and List of Participating Institutions for 2026-2027
FAQs for Students/Parents
NC College Connect is a program that directly admits every North Carolina public high school senior on track to graduate to participating UNC System universities, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and their local North Carolina community college where they already meet admissions requirements.
You will receive an admission letter in mid-September with your list of colleges and universities. You can also log into your NC College Connect portal to see your personalized list of colleges. Your list will be personalized based on your GPA, being on-track to graduate, having a fourth-level math, and meeting program requirements. The higher your GPA, the more schools to which you’ll be directly admitted.
Claiming your spot means you’re accepting an offer of admission and sending your information to that college.
Claiming your spot does not bind you to enrollment
You can claim spots at multiple schools
No traditional application is required for those schools
No letters of recommendation, essays, or activity lists are needed to accept your admission
Yes. Apply early to get the most options.
Even after receiving your admission offer, colleges have earlier deadlines for things like:
Financial Aid
Specific Academic Programs
Scholarships
Honors programs
Housing
If application fees are a barrier, talk with your counselor about your options. Some institutions will accept a fee waiver, and during College Application Week, most institutions will waive application fees.
The portal will open in mid-September 2026. Once it opens, go to the NC College Connect portal and log in with your CFNC account. Then:
Make sure your CFNC account information matches your NC-SIS name exactly.
View your colleges that you are matched with based on your GPA.
Complete a short form for each school you’re interested in.
Colleges will follow up with next steps after you accept your admission.
The list of colleges shown in NC College Connect is personalized for direct admissions, but it does not limit your options. You may apply to any college not included on your direct admissions list through the traditional application process. Be sure to review and meet the admissions requirements listed on each institution’s website.
Talk with your counselor or other high school advisors for more information about the program and your options.