More than 23,000 public high school seniors in North Carolina have accepted direct admission offers from state colleges and universities through the NC College Connect program, according to data released for the 2025-26 academic year. The program, now in its second year, allowed students to accept over 88,000 offers between August 2025 and January 2026.
This figure represents about 21% of the state’s graduating Class of 2026 who accessed higher education through this initiative. NC College Connect was designed to simplify college admissions by providing eligible seniors—those with a weighted GPA of at least 2.8 and certain course requirements—with automatic admission offers from selected institutions without requiring traditional applications.
“All North Carolinians benefit when we nurture the talent and ambition of our young people,” said Peter Hans, president of the University of North Carolina 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.”
The program is a joint effort among several organizations: the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, UNC System, North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, and College Foundation Inc.
“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 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.”
For this cycle, participation included 11 public universities, 29 private colleges and universities, and all 58 community colleges across North Carolina.
“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 an increase in applications during CFNC’s annual College Application Week in October when many application fees are waived. Over 117,000 college applications were submitted through CFNC and Common App during that week—an increase of nearly nine percent compared with two years ago.
“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. “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.”
Organizers highlighted that completing financial aid forms such as FAFSA remains essential for reducing barriers related to paying for college. This month has been designated “FAFSA February” by CFNC.org/FAFSAFeb as part of efforts to encourage more students and families to complete necessary paperwork for financial assistance.
Launched as a pilot in fall 2024 with just over 3,000 participants, NC College Connect expanded significantly for the current school year by including independent colleges 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 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.”
The program will continue into next year; qualifying seniors will be notified about their eligibility each fall.
Students described positive experiences using NC College Connect:
Bryson Foye from Page High School noted: “The website made it simple to find and see different colleges that offer my major… It helped me understand what steps I need to take after graduation and made the college process feel so much less stressful.”
Nora Lippard from Enka High School advised future users: “If I were to give advice… I’d tell them to definitely use NC College Connect because it’s super easy… It keeps things simple and easier to stay focused.”
Walter Royster from Franklinton High School shared: “I chose this route because I had already been offered direct admission… It was also a simplified process… NC College Connect positively impacted my postsecondary plans by helping me identify my options.”