NC COLLEGE CONNECT 2025-2026
School Name
Appalachian State University
UNC 3.6W GPA Once applying for NC College Collect and selects school, a form is sent to student asking additional questions.
Automatically applied If essays are required school will reach out.
Scholarships are automatically applied Honors college deadline of Nov 30th
$65 not required Yes Do not apply through both NC College Connect and Common App. Always pay attention to deadlines in school portals.
East Carolina University
UNC 2.8W GPA Fill out the form sent from CFNC in the mail and make an account.
Once student is accepted, they can apply for merit aid through portal. Students can apply for scholarships through their portal. No review for honors program through NC College Connect.
$75 Recommended knowing major when applying Yes -
Please note: We make every effort to provide current data, but the most reliable information is always on the college’s website. If you find an error in this chart, please notify the Advising Team so we can correct it. Thanks!
Please note: Students should consider all options: NCCC, CAW and Common App fee waivers in order to alleviate financial burden. An application fee should not be a barrier for students.
School Name Type GPA Eligibility
Elizabeth City State University
UNC 2.5W GPA Make an account on CFNC to accept direct admission offered to the student. Dependent on admission and academic profile
Once student is accepted, their profile will be reviewed for any scholarships. Students should consider applying early for scholarship.
Application
$30 Not required for application Yes
Fayetteville State University
UNC 2.8W GPA Have student fill out formal application for their intended school. Internal scholarship matching, students will be notified in the spring if they get a scholarship
If an additional essay is needed, students will receive more information after submitting a formal application.
$50 Not required Yes
Know any deadlines that the school has for scholarship
Attend the Webinar offered by CFNC
NC Central University
UNC 2.5 GPA for admission
2.8 GPA for admission without test scores Apply with NC College Connect. To enroll, pay deposits ($100 for enrollment and $150 for housing application).
Automatically given Can call financial aid office to see award offer.
Separate application
$50 Can list undecided Yes ⟶ apply directly through NCCU website or CFNC
GPA between 2.5 and 2.8 ⟶ need to submit test scores with minimum 17 on ACT and 930 on SAT
UNC Charlotte
UNC 2.8W GPA Students will receive an automatic letter from UNCA. They will send a next step which is another form that is used to get to know applicants better. Email will contain the link.
Merit aid is considered based on academic profile.
If a student is interested in honors program, they must let it be known via email to admissions office. Student could also be nominated from admissions counselor depending on academic profile.
Yes, it’s $75 but they can request a fee waiver or just wait for free application week.
Students can apply undecided. Yes After submission of application, students will get an email from UNCA most likely titled “NC College Connect applicant information”.
UNC 2.8W GPA Students submit an application via the CFNC College Connect. The student will receive an acceptance letter through their student Portal. In that letter are next steps, if wanting to accept their offer of admissions.
All scholarship consideration is done through a separate application process in the NinerScholars Portal. From there, students will be able to learn more about the different scholarship opportunities, their application processes and timelines, and choose which ones they would like to apply for.
Students who complete their application, will receive a request to submit a form via their student portal. This form will have questions about interest in the Honors College and/or Levine Scholars Program. If a student indicates an interest in one or both programs, further information will be sent to them.
Yes, students still need to pay the $75 application fee or have a fee waiver submitted by a HS counselor.
Students can apply undecided. No. They do accept a variety of fee waivers. Reach out with any additional questions about this process.
UNC Asheville
School
UNC 2.8W GPA Students will receive a direct message from UNCG with steps on how to accept their enrollment.
Apply by early action deadline of Dec 1st its non-binding.
Scholarships & Honors Programs
Application fee Intended major
Students must have a 3.8+ GPA for automatic invitation to the honors program.
$65. They accept NACAC, SAT and ACT fee waivers They offer an exploratory Major for students who are unsure. No Fee waiver available They have Direct admit for their nursing program.
UNC 2.8W GPA Students will need to complete supplemental document questions sent via email.
Students should apply early! There’s no separate application for merit aid. Other scholarships are available through the student portal. Distinguished Scholars Day, invitation only based on academic profile.
UNC 2.8W GPA Students must submit an application through WCU. The scholarship form opens from Oct 1st 2025- Feb 1st, 2026.
Application due Dec 1st
Yes, students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to apply for the honors college.
No application fee
Students can apply undecided.
Yes
The letter will be as informative as possible. Make sure students follow up with the admissions office if they have any questions or concerns. Seize every opportunity given.
Applicants for WCU's freshman class may be invited to join the Brinson Honors College based on their high school academic performance.
Yes, students still need to pay an application fee of $65. If students apply early action Aug 1st- Nov 1st there is no application fee.
No, once they go through preregistration, they can declare major.
Yes It can be confusing, but students need to understand that all schools have a minimum acceptance requirement. Not directly admitted until the student completes application with school.
UNC Greensboro
UNC Pembroke
School Name Type GPA Eligibility
Winston-Salem
State University
UNC 2.8 min GPA for ‘25-26 school year, 2.6 min GPA for ’26-27 school year and going forward. If under 2.6 GPA must submit test scores.17+ for ACT and 950+ SAT, (subject to change)
Students receive an email from WSSU. They then need to check their application portal and accept offer. Students should watch the videos provided for personalized information.
Students must have a 3.75 min GPA to apply. Merit aid includes the Chancellor scholarship which is full ride and the Provost scholarship which is $7,000 per year.
Students will have to apply for other scholarships separately. $50 Students can be admitted as undecided. Yes
Guilford College
Salem College
Private 2.75W GPA Student does not need to submit a transcript with application. Automatically considered for merit aid once application is finished. Scholarships are considered once a student has been accepted. $0 Does not need to identify major on application. Yes
Private 2.8W minimum GPA Holistic review Pay $250 deposit to secure enrollment. Automatically given *Can view award letter without deciding on the institution Yes Put on the list of scholarships to apply for based on fitting criteria. No application fee
Major is declared sophmore year Yes
Once admitted ⟶ students will recive a video with next steps on how to proceed.
School Name Type
William Peace University
Private 2.8W GPA Only looking at GPA for direct admissions (holistic view for regular application)
Asked to complete admission supplemental form
Automatically awarded Separate application for honors programs and non-merit based scholarships *Application for honors program open first week in November
CFNC Free Application Week More info
$50 Asks for intended major but can list undecided Yes
Additional week in Febuary/March and April (this institution only)
Advised to call school for further questions and information .
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Privates 2.75W GPA Students will get a letter from CFNC in the mail or log in to the NC College Connect portal with their student ID #.
Merit scholarships are automatically looked at upon admission to the school. Students need to fill out the scholarship application and for honors college.
$0 Not required Yes, always free Don’t be afraid to call admissions councelor at LRU.
Meredith College
Private 2.8W GPA They receive their Meredith portal; they would have instructions as to how they enroll.
Automatically reviewed for a merit scholarship when submitting their application.
To be reviewed for Honors, they would need to apply separately for Honors or any other scholarships or financial aid.
$40 Not required Yes
Make sure that students submit their high school transcript when they apply.
Wingate University
We only contacted a handful of the private colleges on the list in order to quickly gather information and provide it to you.
The full list of participating North Carolina independent schools is as follows:
Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Bennett College, Brevard College, Campbell University, Catawba College, Chowan University, Gardner-Webb University, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Johnon C. Smith University, Lees-McRae College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Livingstone College, Louisburg College, Mars Hill University, Meredith College, Methodist University, Mid-Atlantic Christian University, Montreat College, North Carolina Wesleyan University, Pfeiffer University, Saint Augustine’s University, Salem College, Shaw University, University of Mount Olive, Warren Wilson College, William Peace University and Wingate University
Please note: We contacted each school’s admissions office directly for this information in August. As the admissions cycle progresses, schools may adjust their process so always defer to the school’s most up-to-date information.