Thousands of North Carolina High School Seniors Gain College Access Through NC College Connect

More than 23,000 public high school seniors accepted direct admission offers from NC colleges and universities in the program's second year.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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More than 23,000 public high school seniors in North Carolina have accepted direct admission offers from colleges and universities through the NC College Connect program. Between August 2025 and January 2026, students accepted over 88,000 offers from participating schools, which is about 21% of the Class of 2026. The program provides automatic admission to eligible students at North Carolina public high schools, helping to expand access to higher education.

Why it matters

NC College Connect is a collaborative effort between various state education entities to make the college application process simpler and more accessible for North Carolina high school students. By providing direct admission offers, the program aims to reduce barriers and encourage more students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue postsecondary education.

The details

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 is offered automatic admission to a select list of NC colleges and universities, with no need to complete a traditional application. The program includes 11 public universities, 29 private colleges and universities, and all 58 NC community colleges.

  • Between August 2025 and January 2026, students accepted more than 88,000 offers through the program.
  • NC College Connect was launched in fall 2024 with a pilot program that 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.
  • NC College Connect will return for the 2026-27 academic year, and qualifying seniors will receive eligibility letters in the fall.

The players

Dr. A. Hope Williams

President of NCICU, the statewide office for North Carolina's 36 private, nonprofit colleges and universities.

Maurice "Mo" Green

State Superintendent of Public Instruction for North Carolina.

Peter Hans

President of the University of North Carolina System.

Dr. Jeff Cox

President of the North Carolina Community College System.

Mary Shuping

Executive director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, the primary sponsor of CFNC.

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What they’re saying

“Participating in NC College Connect ensures students know all their options, including the excellent educational opportunities in our sector.”

— Dr. A. Hope Williams, President of NCICU

“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.”

— Maurice "Mo" Green, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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

— Peter Hans, President of the University of North Carolina System

“The success of NC College Connect this year is a testament to the collaboration between state education sectors, partners and nonprofits. 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.”

— Dr. Jeff Cox, President of the North Carolina Community College System

“It's encouraging to see so many students taking advantage of College Application Week and NC College Connect to apply to college. 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.”

— Mary Shuping, Executive director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

What’s next

NC College Connect will return for the 2026-27 academic year, and qualifying seniors will receive eligibility letters in the fall.

The takeaway

NC College Connect is a collaborative effort between North Carolina's education sectors to expand access to higher education by providing eligible high school students with direct admission offers to colleges and universities across the state. The program's success in its second year demonstrates the strong demand for these simplified pathways to postsecondary opportunities.