North Carolina high school grads can take two years of classes at Durham Tech tuition-free

Durham Technical Community College
Apr 05, 2022


Durham Technical Community College announced Tuesday that students who graduated from a North Carolina high school this year or who graduated from a North Carolina high school in 2021 can attend Durham Tech this fall tuition-free. 

The full cost of tuition will be covered for eligible 2021 and 2022 North Carolina high school graduates. Students must be classified as North Carolina residents by the Residency Determination Services (RDS) who enroll for the Fall 2022 semester. Eligibility extends to high school equivalency earners, those who complete an Adult High School diploma, and those who are home-schooled.  

Durham Tech’s tuition-free initiative is a scholarship supplement to the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant, which covers tuition based on family income.  

The College will provide eligible graduates a last-dollar scholarship for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years to bridge the gap and pay for full tuition not covered by the federal Pell grants of the Longleaf Commitment, Durham Tech Promise, and other funds. Students may be responsible for course-related materials if not covered by financial aid.  

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to qualify for Durham Tech’s free tuition initiative:  

  • Graduate from a North Carolina high school or earn a high school equivalency in 2021 or 2022. 
  • Be admitted to a Durham Tech credit program;  
  • Be a first-time college student. Students who participated in Career and College Promise and Early/Middle College High School are eligilble;  
  • Complete the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (Durham Tech’s school code is 005448.);  
  • Be a resident of North Carolina as determined by the Residency Determination Service;  
  • Enroll in a curriculum program during the Fall 2022 semester;  
  • Enroll in at least six credit hours; 
  • Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from $0 - $15,000.  (“EFC” is based upon student’s FAFSA determination); 
  • Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement.  

Eligible students will receive notification from the Durham Tech Financial Aid Office.  

To learn more about tuition-free college, visit https://www.durhamtech.edu/pay-college/free-tuition