NC Countdown to College

Applications & Residency | How to Pay | Student Webinars

NC Countdown to College (C2C) kicks off in October; it’s a year-long initiative where we encourage you to complete the following three steps in college enrollment: residency, financial aid, and college applications.

Applications & Residency

Many North Carolina colleges and universities will waive their application fees during College Application Week, October 20-26, 2025. Review the list of colleges waiving fees ahead of time and remember to use the Application Hub to submit your applications. Qualifying students can use the College Board or ACT fee waiver for many institutions still requiring an application fee (see your high school counselor for more information).

As a pro-tip, make sure to complete your NC residency determination known as RDS before submitting your applications. Many colleges and universities ask for the Residency Certification Number (RCN), which you receive after completing your determination, to verify your eligibility for in-state tuition.

Students paying in-state tuition at a 4−year UNC public institution save an estimated $14,205 every year. In-state community college students save an estimated $5,760 annually. To learn more about NC RDS visit ncresidency.org.

North Carolina students interested in attending a community college and then transferring to a four-year institution, can check the Guaranteed Transfer & Co-Admission Programs page to learn more about transfer options.

How to Pay

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college. In addition to federal financial aid, the State of North Carolina and most NC colleges use FAFSA information to award state and college-based financial aid. To learn more about how to complete the FAFSA, visit our FAFSA 101 page.

The state also offers two need-based scholarships for NC students.

There are also many private scholarships available to make paying for college more manageable. Explore the Scholarship Search tool to find scholarships specific to North Carolina students.

You may also want to consider a work-study program. The federal government has a work-study that allows students to work part-time jobs to help pay for their education expenses. Some colleges have their own work-study programs as well. Check out our work-study page for more information. 

If you’ve taken all the necessary steps but still need more financial help, you can explore loans. Go to CFNC’s page on loans for more information.

Student Webinars

CFNC has you covered with year-long programming. To view and register for webinars visit CFNC.org/Events.