Learn and Earn at a Glance
Learn and Earn High Schools
- There are 60 Learn and Earn high schools located on the campuses of community colleges and universities across the state.
- Learn and Earn students take both high school and college-level courses and may attend classes with college students.
- In no more than five years, students graduate from high school with a diploma and two years of college credit or an associate’s degree – FOR FREE.
- All college courses transfer to any state college or university.
- Most schools accept students through an application process.
- Click here to see if there is a Learn and Earn high school in your county.
- Contact your school guidance counselor to find out how to apply.
Learn and Earn Online
- Students who cannot attend a Learn and Earn high school can still take college courses through Learn and Earn Online.
- EVERY high school student in the state can sign up.
- Students can take courses during the school day and at night.
- As a part of some classes, students will have a teacher in their classroom and online.
- Students enrolled in the program can graduate with their high school diploma and two years of college credit or an associate’s degree – FOR FREE.
- To see a list of online courses currently available visit the links at the bottom of this page for the North Carolina Community College System or iSchool.
- Public school students sign up with the counselor in your high school.
- Eligible nonpublic school students should contact the North Carolina Community College System or iSchool by using the links at the bottom of this page. Nonpublic students will be responsible for the costs of fees and textbooks.
- Need help? Contact Deborah Pedersen, dpedersen@dpi.state.nc.us or 877-NC LEARN
CFNC (College Foundation of North Carolina)
The comprehensive, free information service CFNC, is made up of College Foundation, Inc., the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority and Pathways of North Carolina, which includes the North Carolina Independent, Community College and UNC Systems and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The services provided by CFNC at no cost to users include:
- Online admissions applications and comprehensive college profiles for more than 110 North Carolina colleges and universities;
- Electronic delivery system for high school transcripts;
- College entrance test preparation for ACT, SAT and GRE and a vocabulary builder;
- Planner for transfer students with college articulation agreement information;
- Financial aid estimator, a simple calculator that helps students and families determine amounts of state and federal grants they may receive under current formulas and guides them to the other aid available on North Carolina campuses;
- A system and service for college savings in North Carolina’s 529 plan which has helped families save more than $343 million toward future college costs since 1998;
- A state grant information and delivery system making over $350 million per year in money that does not have to be paid back available for students attending NC public, private and community colleges
"I enjoy going to Cross Creek Early College, one of the Governor's Learn and Earn High Schools. We are like a family. The teachers care."
"It is great to teach in a Learn and Earn school because of the excitement of knowing that we are really changing student's lives. Students work hard because they know their future is at stake and in their control."
"Rutherford Early College High School, a Learn and Earn school, has been an amazing opportunity for me. Taking college classes and still having one-on-one help while accomplishing so much is an incredible blessing."
"It is so great to attend a Learn and Earn high school because we are NOT a traditional school. The learning environment is so positive! The teachers help us."
