Welcome to Gaston College! 

We are delighted you plan to enroll in one of our programs of study.  Gaston College subscribes to the open door admission policy and admits all applicants who are at least 18 years of age or possess a high school diploma or equivalent.  

To learn more about us, we encourage you to schedule a campus tour or request general information about the college by  clicking Campus Tours and General Information

We value your feedback regarding your experience while completing the admissions steps below.  We encourage you to contact us at admissions@gaston.edu with any admissions related questions.  

General Admissions Steps

For most Associate Degree, Diploma and Certificate programs, the following admissions steps must be completed prior to registration.

1.  Submit a Gaston College Admissions Application online at www.cfnc.org/gastonapp.  *Note: *If you need advice on selecting a program of study, DO NOT COMPLETE THIS ONLINE APPLICATION.  This application is for new students or those who have not attended during the past two years.  The Counseling Center can assist students with selection of a program of study. 

***Special Credit and/or Visiting Student Admission (Non-degree Applicants):  Applicants planning to enroll in courses for special interest or who plan to complete a few courses to transfer to another college or university must submit an Application for Admission. Certain courses may require prerequisites and/or placement testing.  Non-degree students do not qualify for degree, diploma, or certificate status unless general admission requirements are met.

Note: A paper application can also be picked up at the following locations:  Dallas Campus (Main Campus):  Office of Admissions, Myers Center, Room 250, Lincoln Campus (Lincolnton):  Admissions Office, Room 205, or the Kimbrell Campus (Belmont): Student Services, KCC, Room 116-B. 

You can also download a printable Gaston College Admissions Application here.

2.  Schedule and take the COMPASS placement test.  ****To schedule your Compass Placement Appointment online, click on the Schedule NOW! button below.  Remember, prior to scheduling the Compass Placement test, you must have already submitted an admissions application to Gaston College (See step 1 above).  

Note: The placement test may not be required if you have test scores less than five years old and scored the following minimum scores: 500 on the critical reading section of the SAT, 500 on the math section of the SAT, 21 on the english section of the ACT, or 22 on the math section of the ACT.  If you have scores that exempt you from the COMPASS placement test, please submit official copies of the scores to the Office of Admissions.

 

3.  Complete the Online New Student Orientation.  After completing or being waived from the COMPASS placement test, you will receive instructions on how to complete the required online new student orientation.  Upon completion of the online new student orientation, you will receive your advising and registration date for the term (Fall, Spring, or Summer) you plan to enroll.  ***If you have submitted documents for compass test waiver consideration, please contact the admissions office to ensure documents have been received and to confirm whether or not you have been waived from testing requirements.  If you have been waived from testing, then you will receive directions on how to complete the online new student orientation. 

4.  Submit an official high school, home school**, GED, or Adult High School Transcript (sealed and unopened) to the Office of Admissions, Gaston College, 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC 28034-1499.  Transcript Request forms are available in the Office of Admissions or you can download a printable copy here.

Please Note:   ***In accordance with the new Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-74), Gaston College has eliminated the Compass Placement Test ability-to-benefit (ATB) alternative for students planning to first enroll in a program of study on or after July 1, 2012 and who have NOT earned a valid high school diploma from a regionally accredited institution or a recognized equivalent (e.g., GED).  As noted in the law, neither ATB testing nor earning six credits applicable to a degree or certificate will satisfy the academic qualifications for receiving financial aid. Students who fall in this category and who wish to receive financial aid may establish eligibility by completing an approved GED or Adult High School program.

**Home school transcripts must be submitted along with a letter acknowledging home school registration from the NC Division of Non-Public Education

***If you have recieved credit from another college or university, you will also need to submit official transcripts from those institutions.  If you have attained an Associate Degree or higher, then you will not need to submit a high school transcript. 

Financial Aid

Students may submit a financial aid application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Gaston College's Title IV school code is 002973.  

• IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are awarded financial aid, register for classes, and then do not attend class(es), you are not entitled to a financial aid award and it is your responsibility to complete the necessary forms to officially drop your classes.  Additionally, if you register and do not attend class(es) and do not officially drop, you are still responsible for the payment of your tuition, fees, and/or book purchases.  If you complete financial aid at a later date and if you qualify for aid, you will be reimbursed.  If you have applied for financial aid and have questions, please call 704.922.6227 or visit http://www.gaston.edu/admissions/finaid_general_info/index.php

For information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed a particular program of study, and other important information related to choosing a program of study, please visit our student consumer information website at http://www.gaston.edu/consumerinfo/ and click on Gainful Employment.

Programs Requiring Additional Admissions Criteria

Admission to the general college does not guarantee admission to selective programs of study such as those within our Health Science Division.  Students applying for admissions into one of our Health Science programs of study (e.g,  Nursing, Veterinary Technology, Therapeutic Massage, Medical Assisting, Health and Fitness Science Technology, Dietetic Technology) should follow the admissions guidelines established by that program.

Residency

A student's official residency status is determined at the time of initial application to the college according to the residency policy of the state of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System. In order for a student to be considered a legal resident for tuition purposes, the applicant's residency must be established and maintained in North Carolina for at least twelve months preceding the date of first enrollment in an institution of higher education in this state.

The legal residence of a person under 18 years of age is that of his or her parents, surviving parent, or legal guardian. In cases where parents are divorced or legally separated, the minor's domicile is deemed to be North Carolina for the time period that either parent, as a North Carolina legal resident, claims the minor as a tax dependent.

A change of address does not automatically entitle a student to pay the same instructional fees as a North Carolina resident. A request to change one's residency status must be submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to registration.  More information on residency requirements may be obtained from the Office of Admissions.

International students must meet all admission requirements listed under General Admission Requirements. All applicants must submit (along with an application) an official or certified copy of their high school transcript and an official/certified copy of any college work completed. If the original copies of these transcripts are in a language other than English, an official English translation is required. Students whose foreign transcripts can not be evaluated by college personnel are responsible for providing a transcript evaluation from a recognized American transcript evaluation agency. Proof of English proficiency is required. This may be established by making a minimum total score of 76 (internet-based), 207 (computer-based), or 540 (paper-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is published and administered in most countries by the Educational Testing Service, P. 0. Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08541.  Once an international student is admitted to the U.S. in F-1 status, certain obligations must be met in order to maintain that status. The international student must continue to carry a full course of study. This is defined as undergraduate study at a college or university which consists of at least 12 credit hours per semester. 

Change of Address

You do not need to resubmit another online admissions application to update your address.  Please use your webadvisor account or contact the Office of the Registrar at 704-922-6232. 

Campus Tours and General Information Request

 The Office of Admissions offers general information sessions and tours of the Dallas Campus to both prospective and new students.  To schedule a visit to our campus, please contact us at admissions@gaston.edu 

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