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Career and College Promise

Overview 
College Now, a Career and College Promise Program is an exciting program that offers North Carolina high school students “a clear path to success in college or in a career.” 

The program is designed to prepare students for life after high school by giving them access to an affordable college education and instilling the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a competitive workforce. 

Eligible high school students may participate in the College Now program to earn: 

  • Course credit from Gaston College that transfers to all institutions in the University of North Carolina system and to many of the state’s independent colleges and universities; 
  • A credential, certificate, or diploma from Gaston College in a technical career field; or 
  • A high school diploma and two years of college credit through the Gaston Early College High School, which is housed on the Gaston College campus. 
  • College Now is available at no cost to all eligible students who maintain a B grade average. 

College Now Pathways 
College Transfer - Transfer credits toward transfer degrees at 2 or 4-year colleges or universities may be earned. 
Career and Technical Education - Credits toward a certificate, diploma, or degree may be earned.  
For more information about College Now opportunities at Gaston College visit their website:  https://www.gaston.edu/college-now/

Highlights

  • Students must demonstrate college readiness in English, reading, and mathematics to enroll in college transfer courses offered by Gaston College.
  • College Now courses are taught in a variety of modalities.  They may be taught face-to-face at the student’s home school, face-to-face at a Gaston College site, completely online, or a combination of face-to-face and online (hybrid).  Gaston College determines the most appropriate instructional model for all College Now courses.
  • Students must progress through their selected pathway in a satisfactory manner and maintain a minimum 2.0-grade point average after completing two college courses.

Course Weights/GPA Scale

  • Courses without a (T) designation are not transferable to a four-year college/university.  These courses are on a 4.0 GPA  scale.
  • Courses with a (T) are transferable.  Courses with a (T*) are transferable and designated as a Universal General Education Transfer Component.  These courses are weighted on a 5.0 Advanced Placement equivalent GPA scale. 
  • The NC Dept. of Public Instruction makes all final decisions about course weights.
  • A course must be at least 3 college credit hours to receive high school credit and to count in the GPA calculation.

Course DeliveryGaston College College Now courses are taught in a variety of ways including face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online.  Students can enroll in any course that is within their chosen pathway regardless of the location.
Course descriptions can be found in the Gaston College course catalog, http://catalog.gaston.edu.

Get Reimbursed for Your Career and College Promise Textbooks

Gaston County Schools is pleased to partner with Gaston College and encourages our students to participate in College Now.  Gaston County Schools is one of just a few districts in the state that allocate funding for Career and College Promise textbooks. Gaston County Schools is committed to College Now through its textbook reimbursement process for both Fall and Spring College Now courses. 

For the 2025-2026 school year, students who successfully complete their College Now course(s) with a letter grade of "C" or higher are eligible for a textbook reimbursement. 

**Please Note: Summer and Minimester College Now Courses are not eligible for textbook reimbursement.**

Please review the following process to ensure your reimbursement qualifies and is submitted on time:

  1. Follow the procedure for registering in College Now courses as outlined by your counselor and Gaston College liaison.
  2. When notified of successful enrollment, determine if your College Now courses require any materials.
    1. Please see the website to determine which courses have required materials.
      1. When a course is listed as having a Required resource, these items are eligible for reimbursement.
      2. When a course is listed as having a Choice in resource, the least expensive option is the amount eligible for reimbursement.
      3. When a course is listed as having an Optional book, this book is not eligible for reimbursement as a digital one is provided.
  3. Purchase any required course materials through the Gaston College Bookstore.
    1. KEEP YOUR RECEIPT OF PURCHASE IN A SAFE PLACE!
    2. Students are welcome to purchase materials from alternative vendors; however, only books purchased at the Gaston College bookstore are eligible for reimbursement.
    3. Books can be purchased online and delivered (with an additional fee) here 
    4. *Students who may be experiencing a financial hardship can apply for assistance and request that GCS provide any required course materials at the start of the course. Please see your school counselor or Gaston College liaison for more information.
  4. At the completion of the course, complete the GCS College Now Textbook Reimbursement Form and return it to your school designee.
    1. The form must include: proof of purchase from the Gaston College bookstore completion of the course with a letter grade of C or higher.
    2. All Fall 2025 reimbursements must be submitted by January 30, 2026 at the latest.
    3. All Spring 2026 reimbursements must be submitted by June 1, 2026 at the latest.

For any questions regarding Gaston County Schools' College Now Textbook Reimbursement process, please reach out to Academic Services - Secondary Instruction at 704-866-6174.