You might want to target NC Countdown to College, October 20 to 26, 2025, for applying to college. During that time period, 45 North Carolina colleges and universities, plus, every North Carolina community college, will waive application fees for North Carolina residents.
The lists of participating colleges differ slightly for first-time students, transfer students and readmission students.
The application fee for most colleges is $25 or $50, so if you’re applying to more than one school the savings will really add up.
To take advantage of the free applications you need to apply through CFNC.org and you need to be a North Carolina resident.
Find more information on NC Countdown to College.
NC Schools waiving application fees on CFNC.org
These are the schools waiving application fees for first-time applicants (typically high school seniors.) Most (but not all) are also waiving application fees for students wishing to transfer from one college to another, and readmission (former students.) Make sure to see the complete, up-to-day list for all groups, here.
- Appalachian State University
- 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
- Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Judson College
- Lees-McRae College
- Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Livingstone College
- Louisburg College
- Mars Hill University
- Meredith College
- Methodist University
- Mid-Atlantic Christian 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
- University of Mount Olive
- University of North Carolina Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Warren Wilson College
- Western Carolina University
- William Peace University
- Wingate University
- Winston-Salem State University
- All 58 NC Community Colleges
NC Promise
Also, through NC Promise, four North Carolina universities changed their policies so that in-state students pay just $500 tuition per semester.
Those four universities are:
- Western Carolina University
- Fayetteville State University
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Elizabeth City State University
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
More Events
Check out our list of free and cheap events in Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle this weekend, or our full event calendar in the Triangle, or just look at few upcoming events here:
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