2-Year or Community COLLEGE

Community college is affordable and accessible, so it is a fantastic option for many students who wish to continue their education beyond high school. Anyone with a high school diploma can attend community college. North Carolina has one of the finest community college systems in the nation, with more than 50 community colleges offering 275 different programs. No matter what you plan to do after high school, there is a community college program that can help you get there. 

Community college options are kind of like a pyramid. The more time you commit, the higher you can climb. At the lower level, you can take just a class or two if you are interested in learning that subject or you just want to try college out (Continuing Education). At the top level, you can take courses that complete the requirements for an Associate Degree. In between, there are Certificate and Diploma options. 

Not sure if community college is for you? Some students start with a class or two and then decide to get a certificate. If they like the learning process or they want to earn more money by becoming better educated or trained, they go for a diploma and then a degree. 

Not sure community college will be enough? A popular plan for many students is to attend community college for the first two years of a four-year degree and then transfer to a four-year college or university. If this sounds like your plan, you should use the 2 to 4-Year College Transfer page instead.

CPCC (Central Piedmont Community College) is the most popular community college choice for Garinger High School students because it is our local community college, has many campuses around Charlotte, offers tons of programs, and is very affordable. (If you are interested in other community colleges or for a program that is not offered at CPCC, use the map at the bottom of this page to explore options.)

What are your options for studying at CPCC?

What programs does CPCC offer? (College Catalog A-Z Listing)

What programs does CPCC offer? (Program Finder)

Can you take college classes in high school? YES!*

Where can you learn more about taking college classes in high school?*

*Mr. Summerour or your School Counselor can answer questions about this.

Anyone with a high school diploma can attend community college. (They even have programs to help struggling students earn a high school diploma!) 

What are reasons that some students go to community college?

• Affordability, financial aid, scholarship opportunities
• Tons of programs & faster preparation for the world of work
• Flexibility to live at home with elements of traditional college
• School-life balance as online options allow for full-time work 
• Exploring options as you figure out what you want to do
• Transfer agreements with the four-year colleges lets you get basic requirements done
• Personalized attention helps you improve your skills & grades for college transfer

During high school, you can start community college through the Career and College Promise Program (CCP).* CCP allows high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit for free. Start planning for your CCP classes during registration in 10th & 11th grades. A student who works hard and plans ahead can potentially earn a two-year college degree in their final two years of high school! This is pretty rare, but lots of high school students earn tons of credits that help them and their families save money on a college education. 

After high school is when most students attend community college. If you plan to graduate in June and want to start college when you would normally have gone back to high school (fall semester), you should apply in the middle of your senior year of high school (October - March). 

*See Mr. Summerour or your School Counselor if you want to learn more about this option.

Applying to attend the community college is a snap if you follow these steps. TIP: Use your personal email not your school email when setting up accounts & filling out your applications.

1. View this video to learn how to apply to college through CFNC.

2. Log into (or create) your CFNC Account - www.cfnc.org & choose Apply to College.

3. Navigate to the Application Hub (gold button on right side of page).

4. Select your college by typing the name of it where indicated.

5. Complete your community college application (submit October - March of senior year).

6. When prompted at the end of your application, choose to send your transcript thru CFNC.

7. View this video to learn how to tell your counselor (through Naviance) you applied. 

8. Log into Naviance (see slides below) & tell us you "applied directly to institution."

9. If you didn't send your transcript thru CFNC, request it in Naviance when you do step 8.

10. View this video on completing the RDS process. 

11. Find RDS (Residency Determination Services) on the CFNC website & choose Get Started Now.

12. Write down your RDS number & keep it in a safe place.

13. Watch this video on how to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

14. Navigate to the Pay for College tab on the CFNC homepage & explore the info there.

15. Click on FAFSA & complete the three steps you see (start Oct 1 of senior year).

16. Monitor your personal email for information from the college & FAFSA & take action as needed.

Your earning potential and job security in the future will be enhanced if you participate in some form of education beyond high school. Research shows us that the more education you have, the less likely you are to be unemployed and the higher your income potential. Check out the graph and video below.