A press statement says that 26 private colleges and universities in North Carolina are making it easier for eligible students to get into their campuses for the 2025–26 school year.
NCICU, which stands for North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities, announced last week the NCICU Direct Admission Program for high school grads and their families in North Carolina.
This plan makes it easier for high school seniors in North Carolina with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or better to apply to college.
The press statement says, “Students can fill out their application at www.ncicu.org in just five minutes and don’t have to worry about any application fees.”
“Students will get information directly from the colleges and universities of their choice by answering a few simple questions. This information will include information about conditional acceptance, specific campus requirements, and available financial aid options.” Find out more about the straight admission program below.
Out of the 36 sites that make up NCICU, 26 are part of this new program:
- Barton College
- Belmont Abbey College
- Bennett College
- Catawba College
- Chowan University
- Gardner-Webb University
- Greensboro College
- Guilford College
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Lees-McRae College
- Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Livingstone College
- Louisburg College
- Mars Hill University
- Meredith College
- Methodist University
- Montreat College
- North Carolina Wesleyan University
- Pfeiffer University
- Shaw University
- St. Andrews University
- Saint Augustine’s University
- University of Mount Olive
- Warren Wilson College
- William Peace University
- Wingate University
NCICU says the streamlined process is meant to make the college application process as stress-free as possible for kids and their families.
NCICU wrote emails to superintendents and principals about the chance and is also giving handbooks about it to more than 1,000 school counselors across North Carolina.
NCICU President Dr. Hope Williams said, “We believe that letting students know about their options at these 26 private, nonprofit colleges and universities can only improve their educational opportunities.”
Our team thinks that letting more students into college will help them find their “right fit” and help the state reach its myFutureNC educational goal.
According to the press release, NCICU wants all of its students to make filling out the FAFSA a top priority and take advantage of the North Carolina Need-Based Scholarship, Federal Pell Grants, and other forms of significant institutional aid that are available at all NCICU locations.
It says, “These financial aid programs provide important financial support to help ease the burden of college costs.”
The usual way of applying to college will still be available at all NCICU colleges and universities.