Even if you were left without a spot for next fall, there are still options

LEE SHULMAN BIERER

Photo by Amanda Nguyen, collegetownnc.com

With all the conversation about how tough a year this was for high school seniors applying to college, you might find it surprising that more than 500 colleges and universities still have opportunities for qualified freshmen and/or transfer students for fall 2017.

And here’s even better news: According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), many of these 500 schools also have financial aid and housing available.

This year, about 64 percent of colleges on the association’s fall 2017 College Openings Update report are private, and 36 percent are public.

For the last 30 years, NACAC has prepared the College Openings Update, which was formerly called the Space Availability Survey, found at https://www.nacacnet.org/news–publications/Research/CollegeOpenings.

The update is a valuable tool that can be used not only by students who found themselves with no acceptances or less than desirable options, but also by students who procrastinated past the college application deadlines. The update is an ever-changing list that will fluctuate as colleges firm up their classes upon receiving deposits and cancellations from students.

It is important to note that not every college chooses to participate in the update, so if you are interested in a specific college, you should contact it directly.

Here are 16 colleges in North Carolina with openings:

Appalachian State University (NC)

Enrollment: 15,000-19,999 Public

Freshman: No     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: No

Contact: Alexis Pope admissions@appstate.edu
Phone: 828-262-2120
Website:http://appstate.edu 

Catawba College (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Elaine Holden, director of admissions Admission@catawba.edu
Phone: 704-637-4402
Website:http://www.catawba.edu 

Elon University (NC)

Enrollment: 5,000-9,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: No     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Greg Zaiser zaiser@elon.edu
Phone: 336-278-2000
Website:http://elon.edu 

Fayetteville State University (NC)

Enrollment: 5,000-9,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Michael Head mhead@uncfsu.edu
Phone: 910-672-1408
Website:http://www.uncfsu.edu 

Gardner-Webb University (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: John Blalock jtblalock@gardner-webb.edu
Phone: 704-406-3802
Website:http://gardner-webb.edu/ 

Greensboro College (NC)

Enrollment: 1-1,000 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Julianne Schatz admissions@greensboro.edu
Phone: 336-217-7211
Website:http://greensboro.edu 

Guilford College (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Erin Kelly kellyem@guilford.edu
Phone: 336-316-2124
Website:http://www.guilford.edu 

High Point University (NC)

Enrollment: 5,000-9,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Kerr Ramsay kramsay@highpoint.edu
Phone: 800-345-6993
Website:http://www.highpoint.edu/ 

Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Joseph Campos jcampos@admissions.jwu.edu
Phone: 980-598-1101
Website:https://www1.jwu.edu/charlotte/ 

Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Bradleigh Uthe Bradleigh.Uthe@lr.edu
Phone: 828-328-7392
Website:http://lr.edu 

Montreat College (NC)

Enrollment: 1-1,000 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Mandi Pike admissions@montreat.edu
Phone: 800-622-6968
Website:http://www.montreat.edu 

North Carolina Central University (NC)

Enrollment: 5,000-9,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Admissions Office admissions@nccu.edu
Phone: 919-530-6665
Website:http://www.nccu.edu/admissions 

Southwestern Community College (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: No

Contact: Martin Aucoin admissions@southwesterncc.edu
Phone: 828-339-4217
Website:http://southwesterncc.edu 

University of Mount Olive (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Tim Woodard, director of admissions twoodard@umo.edu
Phone: 919-658-2502
Website:http://www.umo.edu

University of North Carolina Wilmington (NC)

Enrollment: 15,000-19,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Lauren Scott scottc@uncw.edu
Phone: 910-962-7876
Website:http://uncw.edu 

William Peace University (NC)

Enrollment: 1,000-4,999 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Joshua Bistromowitz admissions@peace.edu
Phone: 919-508-2214
Website:http://www.peace.edu 

 

 

Here are four colleges in South Carolina with openings:

College of Charleston (SC)

Enrollment: 10,000-14,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Mackenzie Chasteen admissions@cofc.edu
Phone: 843.953.5670
Website:http://www.cofc.edu 

Converse College (SC)

Enrollment: 1-1,000 Private (nonprofit)

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Wendy Vinson wendy.vinson@converse.edu
Phone: 864-596-9043
Website:http://www.converse.edu/ 

USC Upstate (SC)

Enrollment: 5,000-9,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Donette Stewart dstewart@uscupstate.edu
Phone: 864-503-5280
Website:http://www.uscupstate.edu 

Winthrop University (SC)

Enrollment: 5,000-9,999 Public

Freshman: Yes     Financial Aid:  Yes
Transfer: Yes            Housing: Yes

Contact: Eduardo Prieto prietoe@winthrop.edu
Phone: 803-323-2191
Website:http://www.winthrop.edu

Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com; www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com