Academics
College to Offer Free Tuition and Fees for In-State 2022 High School Grads
Initiative strives to make college education accessible to all
RALEIGH, N.C. (March 2, 2022) – Students who graduate from a North Carolina high school this year can attend Wake Tech this fall at little to no cost. The college is offering free tuition and fees for 2022 high school graduates who are classified as a North Carolina resident by the Residency Determination Service (RDS) and enroll for the fall 2022 semester. Eligibility extends to GED earners, those who complete an Adult High School diploma, and those who are homeschooled.
Wake Tech’s initiative is a scholarship supplement to the state’s Longleaf Commitment grant, which covers tuition and fees based on family income. The college will provide 2022 graduates a last-dollar scholarship during the 2022-2023 academic year to bridge the gap and fully pay for tuition and fees not covered by the Pell grant, the Longleaf Commitment grant, or other state funds. Students will be responsible for textbook costs.
“The past two years have been particularly challenging for high school graduates and their families,” says Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “Now as they plan for education beyond high school, they are face 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.”
So far this academic year, more than 1,400 students at Wake Tech received tuition assistance through the Longleaf Commitment program. Another 7,000 students have been awarded federal coronavirus emergency relief funding this year.
To qualify for Wake Tech’s free tuition initiative, students must:
- Graduate from a North Carolina High school or earn a GED/HiSET in 2022. Students who completed high school requirements in December 2021 or January 2022 qualify.
- Be admitted to a Wake Tech credit program
- Be a first-time college student. Career and College Promise and Early/Middle College students qualify.
- Complete the 2022-23 FAFSA
- Be a resident of North Carolina as determined by the Residency Determination Service (RDS)
- Enroll in at least 6 credit hours per semester
Wake Tech is North Carolina’s largest community college, serving approximately 70,000 adults annually. The college offers more than 250 associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates that prepare students for university transfer or immediate employment. All Wake Tech degrees offer an option to seamlessly transfer to a university.
