Colleges Participating in College Application Week

Updated Fall 2024

Your Countdown to College begins here: College Application Week.

College Application Week is when many North Carolina colleges and universities waive their application fees, allowing students to save hundreds of dollars as they apply to college. This year, students can access free applications from Monday, Oct. 21 (7:30 a.m. ET) to Sunday, Oct. 27 (11:59 p.m. ET) - when they apply through CFNC.org's Application Hub.

We encourage students to review this page again prior to College Application Week. While we don't anticipate changes to it, we are continually monitoring college and university needs and preferences following Hurricane Helene.

Important Note

To take advantage of waived fees during College Application Week, you must apply through CFNC.

Keep in mind that other colleges and universities may be accepting special fee waivers such as ACT, SAT or NACAC. Students should check with each institution for more information.

Ready to apply?

Step 1: Explore the list below and note which colleges are waiving application fees this October.

Step 2: Create or update your CFNC account. To take advantage of waived fees during College Application Week, you must apply through CFNC.

Step 3: Use the CFNC college search function to learn more about these colleges and universities, and save your top choices to your application hub.

Step 4: When College Application Week opens on Oct. 21 at 7:30 a.m. ET, log into your CFNC.org account to apply. REMEMBER, to take advantage of waived fees during College Application Week, you must apply through CFNC.

The following institutions will waive application fees during College Application Week for students who were enrolled at high schools in FEMA-designated Hurricane Helene Counties:  https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4827/designated-areas

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 Wilmington

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

Barton College 
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Carolinas College of Health Science
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
Montreat College
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queens University of Charlotte
Saint 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 the Arts
University of Mount Olive 
Warren Wilson College
Western Carolina University
William Peace University
Wingate University
Winston-Salem State University

And all 58 NC Community Colleges

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

These colleges and universities are waiving application fees during College Application Week for students who are seeking to transfer from one college to another. If you are a current high school student, please do not complete the transfer application if you haven't talked with your school counselor, as this likely will not apply to you.

Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Carolinas College of Health Science
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
Montreat College
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queens University of Charlotte
Saint 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

And all 58 NC Community Colleges

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

Colleges and universities waiving application fees during College Application Week for students seeking readmission. Readmission is the process of re-enrollment to an institution after a student was absent for one or more semesters due to cancellation, withdrawal, dismissal, or other circumstances. This does not apply to current high school students.

Barton College 
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Campbell University
Carolinas College of Health Science
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
Montreat College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Wesleyan University
Pfeiffer University
Queens University of Charlotte
Saint Augustine’s University
Salem College Shaw University
St. Andrews University
UNC Asheville
UNC Pembroke 
University of Mount Olive
Warren Wilson College
Western Carolina University
William Peace University
Wingate University

And all 58 NC Community Colleges

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

Colleges and universities waiving application fees during College Application Week for NC Collect Connect. Open only to NC public high school seniors with a weighted GPA or 2.8 or higher. Claim your spot – or confirm your eligibility – through the NC Collect Connect portal. Learn more at NCCollegeConnect.org, or ask your counselor if you have questions.

Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
University of North Carolina Asheville
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Winston-Salem State University

And the NC Community College local to the eligible student.