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There is no one-size-fits-all approach to college plans or career development for high school students. As you engage students and families trying to understand their options, consider the benefits of the College Now program at Gaston College.

You are probably already familiar with the NC College & Career Promise (CCP) program. College Now is what we call CCP at Gaston College because we want to emphasize that high school students are empowered to take action for their future right now. College Now is a dual-enrollment program that offers around 40 different tuition-free courses a semester from Gaston College to high school juniors and seniors. Most of the courses are also dual-credit, and many of the courses are offered in different formats and at different times.

This page contains a summary of the program benefits and a collection of application and reference documents for students interested in College Now. Bookmark this page for your reference, and spend a few minutes reading over the advantages. The Educational Partnerships team at Gaston College would love to spend a few minutes answering your questions or telling you more about the program. Please email ccp@gaston.edu today.

Core Benefits of the College Now Program

College Now is an excellent option for students to save money and time pursuing an undergraduate degree or specialized training certificate for a career. Some of the most compelling benefits of the program include:

Tuition-savings

The cost for two years of full-time undergraduate classes, fees, and room and board in our area runs almost $40,000 — at state schools. We’ve added a cost-comparison chart on our resource page for parents that helps show the real cost of college at a glance. Since all the College Now courses are tuition-free, families save big on the most expensive line item for college and professional training.

Flexibility

Students may take classes in-person at one of Gaston’s campuses, online, or through a hybrid course format. Day, night, and summer courses are available through College Now so students can work with you to build a schedule that works for them and accommodates their other priorities and interests.

Career and College Options

One of the best parts of the College Now program is that it works for students with a variety of post-high school plans.

Gaston has some of the most highly regarded technical training in our region. We proudly partner with local business leaders to grow the pool of qualified applicants and personnel with the required training for today’s skilled trades and industry innovation. College Now can play a critical role in helping students who want a promising career in the skilled trades or technology explore their interests and skills while getting a head start in high school.

Students who know they want to pursue an undergraduate degree can complete most or all of their first two years of school through College Now. Participants will have a grounded experience in college academics and achievement. They will also be poised to finish an associate degree quickly after graduation or transfer to a four-year institution to continue their studies if they take full advantage of this program.

A Strong Support Network

Just like you, we are tremendously invested in student success. Enrolling students is one thing, but making sure they have the support they need to flourish, develop their interests, and reach graduation takes help from a committed team of professionals. In addition to you and the resources at your high school, College Now students will have access to the full array of student success services at Gaston College, including:

  • The Gaston College Writing Center
  • Academic Tutors at the Learning Center
  • Technology Resources Support
  • Counseling & Career Development Center
  • Gaston College Library and Research Resources
  • Disability and Special Needs Resources: Gaston College is committed to providing equal access to higher education for individuals with disabilities. Read more about these resources.

Each year, around 1500 area students take advantage of the College Now program and all the benefits it provides. We hope this overview of the benefits helps you see the potential value for your students.

College Now for Homeschool Students

Homeschooled students are welcome to take advantage of College Now courses. If you are working with interested students and families, please share the parent and student resources with them, and encourage them to review these application instructions and then to apply for the program online or inquire directly with the Educational Partnerships team at Gaston College.

Frequently Asked Questions about College Now

When can students enroll in College Now?

Students may start taking College Now classes as early as the beginning of their junior year of high school and as late as the very end of their senior year of high school. As long as the College Now course start date is before the student’s graduation date, they are eligible to enroll in tuition-free courses the summer of high school graduation.

Is there a GPA requirement for enrollment?

Yes. To be eligible for College Now, students must have an unweighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher or be able to demonstrate college readiness in English, reading, and math through an approved assessment examination. Complete admissions requirements are found in the College Now Handbook.

 

How is College Now different from AP classes?

Students in the College Now program will be enrolled, accepted students of Gaston College and many of the courses they take will count for degree requirements at Gaston and State schools. AP classes do not guarantee that a student will receive college credit for their work whereas successful completion of a college course equates to college credit.

What are the “Pathways” in the College Now program?

Student who enroll in College Now must select a pathway of study before they begin the program. There are two pathways:

College Transfer Pathway

or

Career Technical Education Pathway

Students should select a pathway based on their career and education. The minimum requirements for acceptance to each of the pathways and academic requirements to continue in the program are very similar and described in full detail inside the College Now Handbook.

Details about all the courses available and the credit requirements for completing a pathway are listed in detail within the College Now Handbook.

Are students responsible for the cost of textbooks, student fees, insurance, and other materials?

Yes. Students are responsible for buying books and paying student or miscellaneous fees. Some schools and districts may cover the cost of some of these fees for enrolled students, however. The College Now Handbook includes detailed information about applicable fees for each course offered in the program.

Getting Started with College Now

We’ve worked hard to make the enrollment requirements and admissions process easy to understand and pursue. You can find all the information about those next steps in the College Now Handbook. Download it today, and contact our team with questions.

College Now Resource Links for School Counselors and Administrators

Here are some useful links to resources about the College Now program you can use for your reference and pass along to students and parents.

Working Together for Your Students’ Success

Thank you for taking some time to explore the College Now program at Gaston College. We know you are deeply committed to helping your students succeed and find the path beyond high school graduation that’s best for them.

The team at Gaston College is here to help. We want to take a few minutes to get to know you and answer whatever questions you might have about College Now. Please take a moment to contact us today by calling 704.922.2424 or sending us an email at ccp@gaston.edu so we can reach out to you soon.

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