North Carolina students can apply to college for free this month: Here's how

RALEIGH, NC (WBTV) – For one week in October, students across North Carolina can submit free college applications to many North Carolina colleges and universities.

College Application Week takes place October 21-27 as part of the College Foundation of North Carolina’s (CFNC) Countdown to College initiative, which highlights resources for North Carolina students and families to help them plan, apply, and to help pay for your studies. This week, eligible students can apply to eligible colleges and universities for free.

Research from the Lumina Foundation shows that cost is a major barrier to students enrolling in college. Initiatives like CFNC’s College Application Week can save students hundreds of dollars on their college journey.

Below is a list of North Carolina colleges and universities participating in College Application Week, as well as helpful resources provided by CFNC.

List: North Carolina schools participating in College Application Week

For those in counties affected by Hurricane Helene

The following institutions will waive application fees for students enrolled in high schools in FEMA-designated Hurricane Helene counties during College Application Week:

Appalachian State University
NC State University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Many students and families across North Carolina face a long road to recovery following Hurricane Helene. Some students may still apply to college this month as planned, but others may need to change their plans.

Resources will be available through CFNC.org during Countdown to College Commencement Month in October, but this information will also be available throughout the year to help students and families navigate the process of attending college when the time is right is.

For high school graduates, first-year students, new students

These colleges and universities are waiving application fees for first-year students during College Application Week:

Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Catawba College
Chowan University
Davidson College
East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Elon University
Fayetteville State University
Gardner-Webb University
Greensboro College
Guilford College
High Point University
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Johnson C. Smith University
Lees-McRae College
Lenoir Rhyne University
Livingstone College
Louisburg College
Mars Hill University
Meredith College
Methodist University
Montreal College
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queen’s University of Charlotte
St. Augustine’s University
Salem College
Shaw University
St Andrews University
University of North Carolina Asheville
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina School of Art
University of Mount Olive
Warren Wilson College
Western Carolina University
William Peace University
Wingate University
Winston-Salem State University
All 58 community colleges in North Carolina

For transfer students

These colleges and universities waive application fees during student application week for students who want to transfer from one university to another. If you are currently a high school student, please do not complete the transfer application without speaking to your school counselor as this likely does not apply to you.

Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Catawba College
Chowan University
Davidson College
East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Gardner-Webb University
Greensboro College
Guilford College
High Point University
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Johnson C. Smith University
Lees-McRae College
Livingstone College
Louisburg College
Mars Hill University
Meredith College
Methodist University
Montreal College
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queen’s University of Charlotte
St. Augustine’s University
Salem College
Shaw University
St Andrews University
University of North Carolina Asheville
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of Mount Olive
Warren Wilson College
Western Carolina University
William Peace University
Wingate University
Winston-Salem State University
All 58 community colleges in North Carolina

*Remember to read the instructions for each institution carefully as some may have specific instructions or criteria for applicants

For those requesting readmission

Colleges and universities will waive application fees for students seeking readmission during College Application Week. Readmission is the process of re-enrolling at a university after a student has been absent for one or more semesters due to deregistration, withdrawal, dismissal or other reasons. This does not apply to current high school students.

Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Catawba College
Chowan University
East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Gardner-Webb University
Greensboro College
Guilford College
High Point University
Johnson and Wales University-Charlotte
Johnson C. Smith University
Lees-McRae College
Livingstone College
Louisburg College
Mars Hill University
Meredith College
Methodist University
Montreal College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queen’s University of Charlotte
St. Augustine’s University
Salem College
Shaw University
St Andrews University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of Mount Olive
Warren Wilson College
Western Carolina University
William Peace University
Wingate University

For those with NC College Connect

Colleges and universities will waive application fees during College Application Week for NC Collect Connect. Open only to NC public high school graduates with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher. Request your spot – or confirm your eligibility – via the NC Collect Connect portal. Learn more at NCCollegeConnect.org or contact your advisor if you have any questions.

Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
University of North Carolina Asheville
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Winston-Salem State University
The North Carolina Community College near the eligible student

Resources available to assist you with the college application process

The following resource descriptions come directly from CFNC:

residence

Verify your North Carolina residency by completing the Residency Determination Service (RDS) to be eligible for in-state tuition and other forms of financial aid and save thousands on college costs.

FAFSA

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the first step in obtaining various financial aid options, including scholarships and grants that do not have to be repaid. Through the FAFSA, students also apply for the Next NC Scholarship, which helps most North Carolina residents earn $80,000 or less for their education by covering full or more than full tuition and fees at a community college Half, if not all, of the tuition and fees are covered to attend a public university in the state.

Applications

Complete college applications, including during college application week. Students can use the CFNC Application Hub to apply to North Carolina colleges, send official high school transcripts, and monitor their progress in a single location.

More resources from CNCC

Here’s how students and families across North Carolina can use CFNC.org’s free resources:

Create a CFNC account to save college searches, submit applications, and more. Students can take advantage of waived application fees during College Application Week by applying through their CFNC account. Students may also qualify for an ACT and SAT fee waiver, which would allow them to be considered for a college application fee waiver – they should verify this with their school counselor.
Complete the North Carolina residency verification process through the Residency Determination Service (RDS) to qualify for in-state tuition and other types of financial aid.
Prepare to finance your college education with CFNC’s financial aid tools, including instructions for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students should create an account at studentaid.gov to be ready to submit the FAFSA when it becomes available in December.
Research colleges, universities and non-degree certificate programs through CFNC’s College Search, where students can search by cost, academic programs, location and other important facts.
Use the CFNC Scholarship Search to find opportunities for additional funding for college. Search by amount, deadline, eligibility and more.
Submit free transcripts through CFNC. Students and graduates of participating public high schools in North Carolina can use this service to send free official transcripts to colleges and universities in North Carolina.
Get a head start on applying to college with CFNC’s practice application and admissions essay writing tips.

For more information, visit the College Foundation of North Carolina website here.

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North Carolina students can apply to college for free this month: Here’s how