Admissions Support for Students in Areas Affected by Hurricane Helene
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we extend our heartfelt condolences to all of those impacted. We understand that this is a challenging time for many families and communities both in western North Carolina and in other parts of the country.
At NC State, we are committed to ensuring that the admissions process remains accessible and accommodating for students from affected areas. Below are the ways we are adapting our admissions timeline and policies to support North Carolina students during this difficult time.
Application Deadlines
We are extending our fall 2025 Early Action deadline from November 1 to November 15 for students in affected areas*. If you reside in one of the counties listed below, there is no action required on your part other than submitting your application by November 15. For students who are not yet ready to submit their application, and who do not intend on applying to a studio-based major, they are encouraged to apply by our regular decision deadline of January 15.
If you planned to apply by October 1 for spring 2025 admission but were unable to complete your application in time, please reach out to us at undergrad-admissions@ncsu.edu.
Application Fees
We will waive the $85 application fee for students from affected areas*. To simplify the process for both students and counselors, we’ve added a direct way for students to indicate that a fee waiver is needed, eliminating the need for additional approval. When completing the Common App:
- In the Common App fee waiver section, select “no” to the question “Do you meet one or more of the Common App fee waiver eligibility criteria?”
- In the General section of the NC State-specific questions (or the More About You section for transfer applicants), select “Yes, I am living in an area impacted by Hurricane Helene and want to use the fee waiver.”
Scholarship Deadlines
Students in affected areas* may request an extension for the Park Scholarships application by completing this form no later than 8:00 a.m. ET on Monday, October 28. For details about eligibility and the selection process, please visit park.ncsu.edu.
Upon admission, students will be guided on how to access Pack ASSIST, our scholarship portal. Our priority consideration deadline of February 15 remains unchanged at this time.
Transcripts
For spring 2025 transfer applicants in affected areas* and fall 2025 transfer applicants to studio-based majors in affected areas*: We will accept unofficial college transcripts from these students to complete their application. These can be uploaded in wolfPAW, our applicant portal. Admitted students will need to submit official transcripts for enrollment. Transfer courses from unofficial college transcripts will not appear on a student’s credit summary until an official transcript is received.
For fall 2025 first-year applicants in affected areas*: Students from high schools affected by Hurricane Helene can request transcripts via the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) if their school cannot provide electronic transcripts. CFNC’s guide provides detailed instructions on how to make a request.
Additional Support
We recognize that there may be students in other counties or states who are also in need of support. If you are facing challenges during the admissions process due to Hurricane Helene, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at undergrad-admissions@ncsu.edu. We are committed to working with you to ease the application process as much as possible.
We stand with our North Carolina community during this time of recovery and resilience. Thank you for considering NC State as your next academic home.
*Affected Areas in North Carolina
We have identified the counties below as those most affected in North Carolina.
- Alexander
- Alleghany
- Ashe
- Avery
- Buncombe
- Burke
- Caldwell
- Catawba
- Clay
- Cleveland
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of NC
- Gaston
- Haywood
- Henderson
- Jackson
- Lincoln
- Macon
- Madison
- McDowell
- Mecklenburg
- Mitchell
- Polk
- Rutherford
- Swain
- Transylvania
- Watauga
- Wilkes
- Yancey