Fayetteville Technical Community College is helping make the path from high school to college simpler for students across Cumberland County through NC College Connect, a statewide effort that provides eligible North Carolina high school seniors with a direct path to college admission.

This fall, 105,036 North Carolina public high school seniors who are on track to graduate with a diploma and meet program requirements are eligible to receive direct admission to their local community college through NC College Connect. 

“At FTCC, students have access to more than 90 programs of study that prepare them for rewarding careers and seamless transfer opportunities to public and private universities across North Carolina and beyond,” said FTCC President Mark Sorrells in a press release. “Through Connect NC, we are opening doors to education, workforce training and economic mobility for students and families throughout our state." 

The program has also expanded this year to reach more students. In the previous two years, NC College Connect was limited to public high school seniors with a GPA of 2.8 or higher. This year, 37,429 additional students are being reached because eligibility for community college direct admission has been expanded to all public high school seniors who are on track to graduate, regardless of GPA. 

Through NC College Connect, eligible students are guaranteed direct admission to their local community college with no essays, ACT or SAT scores, or letters of recommendation required. In addition, more than 67,000 students, or 64% of eligible seniors, meet criteria to receive direct admission offers from additional participating North Carolina colleges and universities.

A total of 99 North Carolina colleges and universities are participating in NC College Connect. 

“At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we are excited to be part of NC College Connect because it helps remove barriers and opens doors for every high school senior in Cumberland County,” said Doris Munoz, FTCC associate vice president for Student Services, in a press release. “Through this initiative, all Cumberland County Schools high school seniors receive guaranteed admission to FTCC, creating a direct pathway to higher education, workforce training and career success. For some students, this may be the first time they see college as a realistic option. We are proud to open that door and help students discover pathways that lead to meaningful careers, continued education and lifelong success." 

Eligible students can log in to their College for North Carolina account to view their direct admission matches and complete a short form to claim their spot. Applications to North Carolina community colleges are always free.

NC Countdown to College is slated for Oct. 19-25, 2026. Students are encouraged to claim their spots and participate in statewide College Application Week activities, including completing residency determination and financial aid forms such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students and families can learn more and access their personalized NC College Connect portal at CFNC.org/NC-College-Connect/.  To learn more about enrolling at Fayetteville Tech, visit https://faytechcc.edu/apply-now/ or contact the admissions office directly at (910) 678-8473.