Nearly 100 North Carolina colleges waive college application fees through Oct. 30

Press release from College Foundation of North Carolina:

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) is excited to announce that College Application Week has been extended from one week to two weeks. From October 19 – 30, numerous North Carolina colleges and universities will waive college application fees and save families money.

A list of North Carolina public and private schools waiving fees is available online. College Application Weeks are part of CFNC’s annual college-access event, NC Countdown to College.

During the entire month of October, students and parents can register for free live virtual events and on-demand webinars to complete three important steps to college enrollment:

• Residency – Residency Determination Service (RDS) determines a student’s eligibility for in-state tuition and state grants.
• FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward paying for college. It determines a student’s eligibility for grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
• College applications – CFNC Application Hub allows students to submit applications, send official high school transcripts, and monitor progress of the college application process in one convenient place.

Each week will focus on key parts of the college application and enrollment process. Students and parents can register now for CFNC’s informative live events presented by our statewide college planning experts. They will share important information, answer questions, and keep students on track to submit their applications with confidence.

NC Countdown to College 2020 Events Schedule:

• Week 1 – Imagine Your Future – Students get started by creating a free CFNC Account. Students can research careers, colleges, and majors and save important information in their personalized dashboards. Register for live sessions to get more information about careers and the college admissions process.
• Week 2 – Prepare to Apply – Completing the FAFSA and establishing residency through RDS are two very important goals of NC Countdown to College. Students and parents can register for free virtual events all week long to learn how to avoid the Top 10 FAFSA Errors and get answers to their questions from financial aid administrators and Residency Determination Service experts.
• Week 3 – College Application Week 1 – For the next two weeks, many North Carolina colleges and universities will waive application fees for students applying on CFNC.org! Using the CFNC Application Hub, students can submit applications and transcripts, and keep track of important admission deadlines. Register for live help sessions with CFNC’s admissions professionals to get helpful tips to complete admission requirements.
• Week 4 – College Application Week 2 – Last minute questions? — CFNC has students covered! The final week of NC Countdown to College adds new live sessions on financial aid and applications to help students complete the college application process.

“Despite these unsettling times, North Carolina high school seniors are focused on the future,” said Tenika McMillan, coordinator for the NC Countdown to College initiative. “NC Countdown to College has a full schedule of virtual events to support students and parents as they navigate through the complex steps of college admissions and financial aid. CFNC’s mission is to help all high school seniors apply for the FAFSA, complete residency, and submit college applications so they will have options when it’s time to take the next steps after high school.”

While this initiative is primarily focused on high school seniors, many schools expand their events to include preparation and awareness activities with younger students, especially juniors. This is a great opportunity for underclassmen to take career assessments, start searching for best-fit colleges, and even complete a practice college application.

NC Countdown to College events are free to North Carolina students and parents. We also have helpful Spanish resources! CFNC assists students and families as they plan, apply, and pay for college. To access additional resources and information and learn more about College Foundation of North Carolina, visit CFNC.org.