NCSSM Eligibility Checker

The published requirements

These are the NCSSM eligibility rules for the Residential and Online programs in 2026-27. Meeting them means a student can apply; it does not predict admission. Summer Ventures uses the same application but has its own rules, and this checker does not cover it.

Grade

Residential and Online applicants must be in their second year of high school.

One application

Students can submit an application to the Residential and Online programs only once during their academic career.

Residency

The custodial parent or legal guardian must have established permanent legal residency in North Carolina by December 1 of the school year the student applies (December 1, 2026 for the Class of 2029), or a parent must be on active military duty in North Carolina with the student sharing that home. Every Residential and Online applicant completes the residency application (RDS) at ncresidency.org by January 30, 2027.

Immigration status

Only legal residents of North Carolina (domiciliaries) are eligible. Whether a family can establish residency depends on its immigration documents, and NCSSM says students with DACA are currently ineligible. Visa statuses NCSSM lists as able to establish residency: A-1, E-1, E-2, E-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, H-1B, H-1C, H-4, I, K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4, L-1A, L-1B, L-2, N, O-1, O-3, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, R-1, R-2, T-1 to T-5, U-1 to U-5, V-1, V-2, V-3, and NATO-1 to NATO-6.

Courses and grades

NCSSM publishes no required courses. Only grades from high school courses completed in 9th and 10th grade. High school courses taken in middle school are not factored into that part of the review.

Testing

The SAT and ACT are not required for the Class of 2029, and NCSSM will not accept or consider the scores. Residential applicants take the NCSSM Math Assessment: A 30-question, 40-minute assessment taken without a calculator, covering pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry topics usually taught in seventh grade, eighth grade, Math 1, and Algebra 1.

Class of 2030 and later

Beginning with applications for the Class of 2030, applicants must show through RDS that they have lived in North Carolina for at least one full year before submitting their application. This takes effect for students who will be in 10th grade on October 15, 2027.

Every date in the application, from the day it opens to the Math Assessment, is on the NCSSM admissions countdown.

More free NCSSM tools

1. 01NCSSM Admissions CountdownA countdown to the next NCSSM deadline or test day, every published 2026-27 date for the Durham and Morganton campuses and NCSSM Online, and the Open Houses. Add any date to your calendar.Open