2026-2027 Lenoir Community College Catalog

Contents
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Curriculum Program Admissions

Open Door Policy

The College operates under the "open door" admissions policy (115.D) of the State Board of Community Colleges. Individuals 18 years old or older and able to profit from further formal education, or a high school graduate under the age of 18, may be admitted to the College. Individuals under 18 years of age who have not attained graduation from high school can attend the College as stipulated by the policies of the State Board of Community Colleges. Admission to the College, however, does not ensure admission to any individual program or course or continued enrollment in the College. The College is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disability. The College may refuse admission to an applicant who poses a safety threat. 

 

Procedures for Applying to Curriculum Programs

  1. Submit an Application: Applications must be submitted online at https://www.lenoircc.edu/future/newreturn/. Computers are available in the Office of Admissions for students who need assistance.
  2. Transcripts: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all official transcripts are sent directly to the Registrar’s Office. Instructions for submitting transcripts, including delivery options, are available at: https://www.lenoircc.edu/future/submittranscripts/ 

    Final high school transcripts for graduating seniors must be submitted after graduation, once the graduation date is posted. Applicants with a high school equivalency (GED or HiSET) must submit official scores or a certificate.  Applicants who have attended other colleges or universities must request official transcripts from each institution attended. 

    Students who completed high school outside of the United States are required to submit a credential evaluation from a recognized evaluation service confirming equivalency to a U.S. high school diploma. Translation services alone are not sufficient. 

    Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher are not required to submit high school transcripts, except for Health Sciences and Nursing programs, where all official transcripts must be provided. 

    All official documents submitted to the College, including transcripts, become the property of Lenoir Community College and will not be returned, released, or copied. 

  3. Developmental Education Placement: Lenoir Community College follows the North Carolina Community College System’s Developmental Education Framework to support student success in college-level English and mathematics. Placement into gateway courses or Developmental Education is based on multiple measures, including high school GPA and approved placement test scores. Placement Requirements: 

  • Students with an unweighted high school GPA of 2.799 or less (or other approved placement scores such as ACT or SAT) must enroll in developmental courses.

  • Students with an unweighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher may register for any gateway English or math course without mandatory additional supports. 

 

Readmission

Students applying for readmission to the College who have not attended for one or more years must submit a new application. Readmitted students will be enrolled under the current college catalog.

 

Foreign Credential Evaluation

Students who earned their high school or post-secondary degree(s) in a country other than the United States are required to have a "course by course" credential evaluation performed by an external evaluation service. The foreign credential evaluation must be sent from the external evaluation service directly to Lenoir Community College. Please allow four to six weeks for an official credential assessment to be completed and forwarded to the Registrar's Office. 

 

Residency

Under North Carolina law, a student may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes and be eligible for the in-state tuition rate. Residency determinations are made in accordance with G.S. 116-143.1 through the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS). 

To qualify for in-state tuition, a student must establish and maintain legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina for at least 12 months immediately prior to classification as a resident for tuition purposes. Residency determinations are based on multiple factors demonstrating domicile, including physical presence in North Carolina and intent to make North Carolina a permanent home. 

Students are required to provide documentation and evidence as part of the residency determination process. Individuals who do not meet the requirements for residency or qualify for a statutory exception will be classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes and charged the out-of-state tuition rate. 

Additional provisions and exceptions related to residency, including those for certain military-affiliated students and other qualifying individuals, are defined in North Carolina law. Copies of applicable laws and regulations are available through the Office of Admissions as well as the State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). 

 

Registration

Students are encouraged to register as early as possible once the registration window opens for the upcoming semester. Registering after classes begin can place students at a disadvantage, as they are responsible for any work assigned beginning with the first day of class. 

Rolling Registration dates for upcoming semesters are posted on the Academic Calendar. Registration remains open through the second day a class begins; however, late-start and other shorter-term options may be available. Current students can view and contact their assigned advisor through myLCC and Watermark. Newly admitted students, whose advisors will not appear in myLCC until the first day of the semester, can find their advisor’s contact information in their "Admitted Student Letter" or by contacting the Admissions Office at ext. 395.