Prepare to Apply
Find all the resources you need to apply as a transfer student.
Getting Started
If you’ve already begun your college education at a community college or another university, then you’re considered a transfer student when you apply to NC State.
Are you a North Carolina Community College Student?
Identify Your Program of Interest
- Before beginning your application, you should review the variety of majors we offer at NC State. It is important to identify your program of interest as it is heavily considered in the application review process.
Review Our Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Once you identify which major you are interested in applying for, review our major-specific recommendations for competitive applicants to set yourself up to be competitive in the review process.
Choose Your Pathway
While most students apply through the Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Application outlined on this page, you may be eligible to apply through our Community College Collaboration (C3).
Use the link below to see if you are eligible. If you are not eligible you may decide to continue the general Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Application.
Transfer through Community College Collaboration (C3)
Note to Military-affiliated Prospective Students
At NC State, 96% of our undergraduate student veterans and 24% of military dependents entered the university as transfer students.
Prospective undergraduate applicants who have seen a break in their education history (high school to college) or who have at least 24 credit hours of college-level coursework completed or in progress are strongly encouraged to apply as transfer students to maintain a more competitive edge in the application process.
Make a Plan
Earn Credits
- NC community college graduates of Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree programs who are admitted will transfer with junior status under the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
- We recommend you have a minimum of 24 transferable college semester credit hours (or 36 quarter hours) completed or in progress before you apply to NC State.
- If you have less than 24 transferable credit hours completed or in progress when you submit your application, not including dual enrollment coursework, we will request your high school transcript and college transcript to complete your application.
See How Your Credits Transfer
- The Transfer Planner is an interactive tool that shows how your previous coursework and credits transfer to NC State and fulfill degree requirements to help ensure your time and effort contribute toward degree completion.
Stay On Track
Review our Deadlines
Transfer applicants can apply for fall admission or spring admission. The application becomes available in August. Make sure to pay attention to the additional requirements and timelines if you are applying for a studio-based major or the Agricultural Institute.
What We Look For in Your Transfer Application
Your prior college work is the best indicator of your future success at NC State, but we acknowledge that you also bring unique experiences as a transfer student. Whether you have served in the military, taken time off, have worked full-time, or are just looking for a new opportunity – we consider it all.
If you are an international transfer applicant, we take a few additional factors into consideration.
We’ve provided an inside look at our application review to help you plan to be competitive for admission at NC State.
College Coursework and GPA
- We recommend you have a minimum of 24 transferable college semester credit hours (or 36 quarter hours) completed or in progress before you apply to NC State. We will consider courses in progress as long as they are complete by June 1 for fall admission. You should review our recommendations for competitive applicants for specific coursework and a recommended GPA for your intended major.
- You must be eligible to return to each institution you have previously attended and if you attempted coursework through NC State’s Non-Degree Studies Program (NDS), you must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher in order to be considered for admission.
High School Coursework (if less than 24 transferable credit hours)
- If you have less than 24 transferable college semester credit hours completed or in progress, not including dual enrollment coursework, we may ask for your high school transcript and SAT or ACT test scores along with your college transcript. We then have the opportunity to see if your high school coursework, grades, and test scores are competitive for admission.
Interest in Major
- At NC State, we admit students directly into a program they apply to. For that reason, our review process is dependent upon your selected major(s) and your interest in those major(s). Let us know which academic program(s) you are interested in and why. We look for related courses and activities you have been involved in throughout high school and college.
Accomplishments and Involvement
- We are interested in what you invest your time in outside the classroom, whether that may be the arts, sports, volunteering or working. This is your chance to let us know about the company/organization you founded, the research you have been conducting or the fact that you work 40 hours a week and still maintain a strong academic record.
Background and Opportunities
- NC State is enriched through the varied knowledge and backgrounds of our students and we expect everyone to give of their talents, skills, time and effort to make NC State an environment of inclusive excellence for all.
Individual Story
- We want to hear from you about distinctive experiences, skills, or successes you may have had. If you have a unique circumstance that may have affected your academic performance for a period of time or in a specific class, we encourage you to share your story.