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Earn your degree quickly and build real career momentum without starting from scratch through North Carolina's accelerated college-to-career program.

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Boost helps you move faster through college with the support, structure, and financial help to make it possible. Designed for students who want to finish strong and step into a career, Boost gives you:
<ul>
	<li>A clear, accelerated path to a degree</li>
	<li>One-on-one advising and academic support</li>
	<li>Help with tuition, textbooks, and other forms of support</li>
	<li>A community that believes in your goals and helps you reach them</li>
</ul>
Boost is available at select NC community colleges in high-demand fields. It’s a smarter way to earn your credential and start your career faster.

Boost image

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Increase in second semester full-time enrollment

Increase in 4-year Bachelor’s Degree attainment

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Boost is designed for students who are ready to move forward and need the right support to make it happen. 
To join the program, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
<ul>
	<li>Be a North Carolina resident eligible for in-state tuition</li>
	<li>Have a high school diploma or equivalent</li>
	<li>Have no more than 24 program-applicable college credits earned or in progress</li>
	<li>Enroll in an eligible degree program at a participating college</li>
	<li>Complete the FAFSA and qualify for the Next NC Scholarship</li>
	<li>Plan to complete at least 24 credits per academic year</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Cape Fear CC(1) 1

Boost builds on the CUNY ASAP Model, one of the most effective student success models in the country at City University of New York. This nationally recognized approach helps students graduate faster and with stronger outcomes.
North Carolina is taking it further. With support from Arnold Ventures and the largest private grant ever awarded to the NC Community Colleges, Boost adapts the model to meet the needs of our students and employers.
By providing structured advising, clear course pathways, and financial support, Boost removes barriers and keeps students on track to graduation.

_Western Piedmont CC 3 1

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NC Community Colleges Boost program is a partnership between the NC Community College System, community colleges, and students designed to quickly move students into high-wage, high-demand careers that will drive North Carolina’s future prosperity. Based on the successful and rigorously evaluated Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) developed by the City University of New York (CUNY), Boost is expected to double the graduation rate of participating students by providing them with:
<ol>
	<li>Financial resources (limited to no tuition &amp; fees, funding for textbooks, monthly stipends)</li>
	<li>Comprehensive direct services (personalized advisement, career development opportunities, community connections)</li>
	<li>Structured pathways to support increased academic momentum (full-time enrollment, priority registration, academic supports)</li>
</ol>

North Carolina has added two new elements to the program that sets it apart from other replications. First, Boost is focused on workforce development. By providing support to students in pathways leading to high demand jobs and aligned with PropelNC, NC’s new workforce aligned community college funding model, NCCCS is taking a proven model for increasing student completion and focusing those supports on improving the state’s workforce development pipeline. Second, Boost supports both individual institutions and regional consortia. By including regional consortia of smaller colleges, we are able to operate efficiently and expand program access to rural, underserved parts of the state.

To be eligible for Boost, students must meet the following criteria:
Be a North Carolina resident eligible for in-state tuition,  
Have a high school diploma or high school equivalency (not open to dual-enrollment students), 
Receive the Next NC Scholarship or Pell Grant,  
Be able to complete college-level math and English requirements within their first academic year,  
Have no more than 24 program applicable college credits earned and/or in progress when they are accepted to Boost; (colleges can locally determine credit hour program applicability for Boost eligible programs in the Healthcare I, Healthcare II, and Trades and Transportation Workforce Sectors) 
Be enrolled in an eligible program aligned to the community college system’s new funding model, Propel NC. Eligible programs include: 
Health Care,  
Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing,  
Trades and Transportation,  
Information Technology,  
Public Safety and First Responders  
Transfer programs including: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate in Arts/Science in Teacher Preparation, or Associate of Engineering  
Attempt at least 24 credits per year (summer, fall, spring)

Boost is launching in two phases. The first phase (Cohort 1) includes: Alamance Community College, Caldwell Community College &amp; Technical Institute (consortium), Cape Fear Community College, Central Piedmont Community College, Cleveland Community College (consortium), Forsyth Tech Community College, Wake Tech Community College. These colleges will launch their Boost program in August 2025.
The second group of colleges (Cohort 2) includes: Central Carolina Community College, and two consortia; Bladen Community College, Robeson Community College, and Sampson Community College; and Isothermal Community College, McDowell Tech Community College, and Western Piedmont Community College. These colleges will launch their Boost program in August 2026.

A webinar was held for all colleges on September 4, 2024 to share information about the program and invite interested colleges to apply. 30 colleges applied. Those applications were reviewed by NC Community College System Office Staff (4) and staff from the CUNY ASAP Replication Team (3). Applications were evaluated for leadership commitment, capacity, alignment with existing programs &amp; institutional priorities, strength of partnership (for consortia), and sustainability. Colleges were also reviewed to ensure that the program would have institutional and geographic diversity. 17 colleges were invited to a day-long planning workshop on 10/3/24 (15 invited to participate in Boost plus two alternatives). One selected college opted not to participate, so one alternate was invited into the program. 15 colleges submitted signed MOUs and became part of Boost.

Each college receives funding for personnel and student financial support. Personnel support includes funding for a Program Director for each college or consortium, a Boost advisor for every 150 students served, and some funding for travel and training for staff. This accounts for approximately 40% of the funding each college receives, 34% for colleges in consortia. Student financial support includes: 1) a $100 monthly stipend for each student (contingent upon meeting program requirements), 2) $600 per student per year for textbooks, 3) tuition and fees paid for students that enroll in summer courses, and 4) approximately $40 per student per year for the college to organize Boost events.
Grant funds provided to the college provide 100% of program costs in years 1 and 2, 90% in year 3, 60% in year 4, and 30% in year 5. Colleges, the System Office, and the NCCC Foundation will work collaboratively to raise additional funds to sustain and expand the program.

Each college is expected to serve three cohorts of 150 students. The Caldwell / Cleveland partnership is expected to serve approximately 200 students per year. The Isothermal / McDowell Tech / Western Piedmont consortia is expected to serve 150 students per year. The Bladen / Robeson / Sampson partnership is expected to serve 275 students per year. A total of 4995 students will be served by the program.

Boost builds off key policies and programs already in place in North Carolina.
<ul>
	<li>Next NC Scholarship – This program fully covers tuition and fees at any community college for students from households making $80,000 or less. To be eligible for Boost, a student must be a recipient of the Next NC Scholarship or the federal Pell Grant. This lowers program costs and increases student receipt of federal financial aid.</li>
	<li>Propel NC – The new business model for NC community colleges, Propel NC focuses on expanding enrollment in high-demand programs. To be eligible for Boost, a student must enroll in a high-demand program, ensuring that NC is increasing the number of skilled graduates ready to support the state’s businesses.</li>
	<li>Finish Line Grants – The Legislature has provided funding ($1.5 million per year) for colleges to provide emergency grants to students facing an unexpected financial hardship. While Boost provides a robust set of supports, Finish Line Grants are there to support students that need it.</li>
	<li>High Cost Program Start-up Funds – The Legislature has invested in the development and expansion of high cost programs in NC Community Colleges. By focusing on students in high-demand programs, Boost will amplify the Legislature’s investment in increasing the number of graduates from those critical programs. </li>
</ul>

Only associate degree programs are eligible at this time. The policy guidebook states this- “Be enrolled in an eligible degree program aligned with the NC Community College’s proposed funding model, Propel NC”; it does not indicate diploma or certificate programs.
The "Boost-eligible programs" reflect the labor market analysis that the System Office leveraged and cross reference within our programs of study to arrive at the programs that best aligned to high demand, in need careers in our state.

<ul>
	<li>January 2025 – Cohort 1 colleges begin receiving technical assistance and support from the CUNY ASAP Replication Team. This continues through May 2025.</li>
	<li>March 2025 – Upon final signature of MOUs, colleges receive funding for Year 1 of the program.</li>
	<li>April 2025 – Boost Program Director hired at NC Community Colleges System Office</li>
	<li>Summer 2025 – In-person advisor training for new Boost advisors.</li>
	<li>August 2025 – Students are enrolled and served by the Boost program at the first 8 colleges (cohort 1).</li>
	<li>September 15, 2025 – Report on program enrollment and spending submitted to System Office. Data on enrollment available.</li>
	<li>October 2025 – Cohort 2 colleges begin receiving technical assistance.</li>
	<li>January 2026 – Additional research analyst hired by System Office</li>
	<li>February 28, 2026 – Report on program enrollment and spending submitted to System Office. Data on enrollment and fall-to-spring retention for Cohort One available.</li>
	<li>August 2026 – Cohort 2 enrolls students; Cohort 1 enrolls their second group of students.</li>
	<li>October 2026 – Data on Cohort 1 fall-to-fall persistence and Cohort 2 enrollment available.</li>
	<li>February 2027 – Data on Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 persistence available.</li>
	<li>August 2027 - Third student cohort launches for Cohort 1 colleges; second student cohort launches for Cohort 2 colleges</li>
	<li>August 2028 – Third group of students launches for Cohort 2 colleges. Cohort 1 three-year graduation rates available.</li>
	<li>December 2031 – Final Boost evaluation completed.</li>
</ul>

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Boost is rolling out in phases across North Carolina, starting with these eight colleges in 2025.

Alamance CC

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Cape Fear CC

Central Piedmont

Cleveland CC

Forsyth Tech

Johnston CC

Wake Tech CC

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An additional seven colleges will be joining in 2026.

Bladen CC

Central Carolina CC

McDowell Tech

Robeson CC

Sampson CC

Isothermal

Western Piedmont CC

<h2>Map of Boost Campuses</h2>
To learn more about the Boost program at our participating campuses, please click on the pin.

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">More questions about Boost?</h3>
Please contact:  
Nicole Ditillo, Ph.D.  
Boost Program Director 
NC Community College System Office 
200 West Jones Street  
Raleigh, NC 27603 
 (919) 807-6957
To email, please click the button below:
Email Us Button Goes HERE

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