Central Carolina Promise/K14, CCCC - Central Carolina Community College

FREE Tuition to Qualifying High School Graduates!

All eligible Chatham, Harnett, and Lee County residents who graduate from a public high school, private school, charter school, or homeschool through June 2025 will be guaranteed up to two years of FREE in-state tuition and required fees at Central Carolina Community College.

Textbooks and supplemental materials are not included.

Eligibility Requirements:

Resident of Chatham, Harnett, or Lee County
Successful Completion of College Credit During High School with at least 4 courses or 12 credit hours. College credit can be earned through Career & College Promise, AP/CLEP, articulated credit for high school CTE coursework, etc. All applicable curriculum credit(s) must be submitted to the Student Records and Registrar at CCCC to count toward a student's eligibility.
Public High School, Private School, or Homeschool Graduate who will attend Central Carolina Community College as a degree or credential seeking curriculum or continuing education student within two years of his or her high school graduation.
Note: Funding from federal and state grants, scholarships, and outside funding must be exhausted before Central Carolina Promise begins paying.

New Students Must:

Complete the "Central Carolina Promise/K14 Application"
- Students must apply to the Promise/K14 program; they cannot be admitted automatically. This application differs from the admissions application (see below) and should be submitted ASAP- don't delay!
- Students who graduated from high school in 2024, or who will graduate in 2025, will apply online.
  1. Log in using your CCCC credentials (or create an account, if you do not have one already).
  2. Select "Start New Application", then "K14" as the application type, then the correct cohort year of your graduation. Click "Create Application".
- Note: If you graduated from high school in 2023, please email promisek14@cccc.edu for instructions on how to apply to the program. Students who graduated prior to 2023 are no longer eligible for the Promise/K14 program.
- Priority Deadline: ASAP
Submit your CCCC Foundation Scholarship Application
- Complete the Scholarship Application, to apply for local scholarships.
- Include a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher, college instructor or non-family member, and a brief essay explaining your career goals, community involvement and any additional information concerning your financial need.
- Only completed applications will be considered.
- Priority deadline*: July 1, 2025
Submit Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- The FAFSA is required for all Central Carolina Promise/K14 applicants. The FAFSA application can be accessed and completed online.
- CCCC's FAFSA Code is 005449. If this code is not supplied, the FAFSA will not connect to CCCC and will be considered incomplete.
- Priority deadline(s)*: July 1, 2025
Submit required documents to accompany your FAFSA.
- The Financial Aid office will contact you regarding the status of your FAFSA.
- Emails will be sent to your Cougarmail account and the list of items needed will also be available in your WebAdvisor account.
- You must submit all documents requested by the Financial Aid office in order to be eligible for the Promise/K14 program.
- Priority Deadline*: Third Friday in July
Complete the North Carolina Residency Determination process
- Visit NC Residency Determination Service to obtain your Residency Certification Number (RCN). Your RCN is used to determine both your tuition rate and eligibility for state grants.
- Your admissions application (Step 6) cannot be processed without completing this step.
- Priority deadline*: Third Friday in July
Complete the Admissions Application
- Complete your CCCC application online.
- Students who have taken college classes in high school through Career & College Promise will need to re-apply to CCCC in order to continue their enrollment after graduation.
- Students should include their correct Social Security Number on their admissions application. Failing to include your SSN on your application will result in CCCC not receiving your FAFSA information, and your Promise/K14 enrollment being delayed or denied.
- Priority deadline*: Third Friday in July
Submit your Final High School Transcript
- Contact your high school to send official transcripts directly to the Admissions Office after your high school graduation or request an official transcript through CFNC. All transcripts sent prior to graduation will be considered unofficial.
- If you are a home school student, the home school administrator must provide proof that the home school is certified by the North Carolina Department of Administration and include the most recent two years of standardized test scores.
- Priority deadline*: Third Friday in July

Additional Items

Complete the My Academic Pathway (MAP) Interest Inventory to help you select your program of study
Make an Appointment to Meet with an Education Navigator
Register for New Student Orientation

*Priority Deadline Information

Students who complete all required items by the posted priority deadlines will have their program status confirmed by Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Students who do not complete all required items by the priority deadlines will still be considered for the program, but may not be fully approved to receive funding until after the start of classes. Students in this situation may have to pay out of their own pocket up front or risk being dropped for non-payment. Students who are not qualified by August 1st are encouraged to set up a Deferred payment Plan.

Continuing Students Must:

Submit the CCCC Foundation Scholarship Application
- Submit the scholarship application online
- Submit your required letter of recommendation to foundationscholarship@cccc.edu.
- Priority Deadline: July 1, 2025
Complete the FAFSA
- Students must complete the FAFSA application heading into their second year of the program. Students who do not submit the FAFSA for the second year of the program will be deemed ineligible.
- Priority deadline*: July 1, 2025
Submit required documents to accompany your FAFSA
- You must submit all documents requested by the Financial Aid office in order to be eligible for the second year of the Promise/K14 program.
- Priority Deadline*: Third Friday in July
Maintain Good Academic Standing
- Central Carolina Promise/K14 participants are subject to all college policies related to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

FAQs

Are there requirements that students must comply with after being accepted to the Central Carolina Promise/K14 program?

Yes. Students must complete the FAFSA and their CCCC Foundation scholarship application each year. Students are also expected to meet the academic expectations set forth in the college's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.

How long will the Central Carolina Promise Program/K14 pay for courses?

The Central Carolina Promise program will guarantee two years or five semesters towards a credential - associates degree, diploma, or certificate. Example for 2024 high school graduates: Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026.

What does the Central Carolina Promise program/K14 pay for?

The Central Carolina Promise pays for tuition and required fees only. It doesn't cover books, supplies, and other required course materials (including Follett ACCESS). These costs, may be covered through other funding sources (ie. Pell) but if they are not, the student will be responsible for paying them.

Can I stop taking classes for a semester in the Central Carolina Promise/K14 program and then start back and still be eligible for the program?

Yes, you may take time off as needed. However, your eligibility window will not be extended due to missed time; the original 2-year eligibility period will remain in place.

Do I have to maintain a certain GPA to be eligible for the Central Carolina Promise/K14 program?

Yes, you generally must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in order to be eligible for the program. If a student is placed on probation or suspension (either academic or Financial Aid), they are subject to the college's SAP Policy.

Do I have to be approved to receive Financial Aid?

No, the only requirement is for a student to complete the FAFSA application and any additional verification as requested from the Financial Aid Office. Students can view the status of their Financial Aid (and requested documents) at any time via their Self-Service account.

Am I required to take a certain amount of classes each semester?

No, students are able to select a course load that is a good fit for them. However, if you receive Financial Aid, your award may differ for full or part-time.

Who can assist me in getting signed up for the Central Carolina Promise/K14 program?

Mary Schmid Carter, College Access Coordinator, at promisek14@cccc.edu or (919) 718-7542 is ready and willing to help you!

Am I still eligible for the Central Carolina Promise Program/K14 if I am classified as an out-of-state student?

Yes. The Central Carolina Promise program will cover tuition and fees up to the in-state tuition rate. The student would be responsible for paying the difference in cost from in-state to out-of-state. Residency status is determined by the Residency Determination Service, not by the college, and any questions regarding a student's status should be directed to that service at 844-319-3640. Certain military/veteran dependents can apply for an in-state tuition waiver; more information can be found on the Student Records and Registrar website.

Am I still eligible for the Central Carolina Promise Program/K14 program if I am a DACA or undocumented student?

No, undocumented and DACA students are not eligible for the Promise/K14 program but are strongly encouraged to apply for additional funding opportunities at CCCC.

What if I don't qualify for the Central Carolina Promise/K14 program under the eligibility requirements above?

You should still complete your FAFSA and your CCCC Foundation Application.

What are the different approval phases for the program?

Phase I: Document Approval - All required documents have been submitted and approved. You do not need to turn anything else in at this time. Please register for classes ASAP if you have not already done so.

Phase II: Schedule Approval - Your schedule has been reviewed and approved - all classes are required for your major. If changes to the schedule are made, additional approval may be required. A protective hold has been placed on your account until we are able to approve your funding, which will happen after classes have started.

Phase III: Funding Approval - You are attending your classes as planned and we have approved you to receive funding from Promise/K14 for your tuition and required fees. If you receive Pell, scholarships, or other funds, these will be used first and Promise/K14 will cover any remaining balance. If the amount of your other funds exceeds your tuition amount due, then Promise/K14 funds will not be needed and you may be due a refund. Textbooks and other supplemental materials are not provided by the Promise/K14 program.

Please email promisek14@cccc.edu with any questions!

Need Help?

Email us at promisek14@cccc.edu
or
Call us at (919) 718-7542

Support

Program is supported through Chatham County Government, Harnett County Government, Lee County Government and private funding