NC high school grads can now get free tuition at Wake Tech and other community colleges
North Carolina high school students who graduate this spring can get free tuition at Wake Technical Community College next fall.
The college is offering scholarships to supplement the state’s Longleaf Commitment grants, which cover tuition and fees for low-income students at any of the 58 community colleges in North Carolina. Those grants are available for 2020, 2021 and 2022 high school graduates.
Wake Tech will cover the cost of tuition and fees that aren’t already paid for by a student’s Pell grant, Longleaf Commitment grant or other state funds. Students will still have to pay for textbooks.
The programs aim to boost enrollment and make a college degree or professional credential more affordable and accessible to prepare students for the jobs that the state needs.
“The past two years have been particularly challenging for high school graduates and their families,” Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls said in a statement. “Now as they plan for education beyond high school, they are facing rising gas and other costs. We don’t want the cost of college to be a barrier to anyone in our community in pursuing their college dreams.”
Who is eligible for the free tuition?
All North Carolina residents who are 2022 high school graduates, have earned their GED, completed an Adult High School diploma or are homeschooled are eligible for the money. They must be first-time college students, but those enrolled in Career and College Promise and Early/Middle College programs qualify.
Students who completed high school requirements in December 2021 or January 2022 also qualify.
Students must also complete the 2022-23 FAFSA and enroll in at least six credit hours per semester starting in Fall 2022.
More than 1,400 students at Wake Tech and more than 11,000 at community colleges around the state received tuition assistance through the Longleaf Commitment program this past academic year. The program was expanded in November
The Longleaf grants cover the cost of tuition and fees for up to two years based on family income. The program was expanded in November to include 2020 and 2021 high school graduates due to COVID-19 and an excess of funding.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 11:21 AM with the headline "NC high school grads can now get free tuition at Wake Tech and other community colleges."
