On This Page
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.
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.
- Make sure to select a major that fits your personality, interests, skills and career goals. Customized specifically for our majors and programs, Focus 2 Apply is a career assessment tool designed to support you in exploring and choosing the right major and career path. Get started with Focus 2 Apply and see how it can guide your journey at NC State.
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 our traditional transfer admission process outlined on this page, North Carolina Community College students may also be eligible for one of our guaranteed admission pathways listed below.
Community College Collaboration (C3): A program for high-achieving students from low-to-moderate income backgrounds. Complete this interactive form to see if you are eligible.
Wolfpack Connect: A program for students who earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from a North Carolina Community College in their pursuit of an eligible major within the program.
If you are not eligible for C3 or Wolfpack Connect, we encourage students to pursue our traditional transfer admission pathway.
Not sure which transfer pathway is right for you? Use this interactive form to find out.
International Students
The NC State student body proudly represents over 110 countries. If you are an international applicant—meaning you are neither a U.S. citizen nor a Permanent Resident—our dedicated international admissions website has the resources you need. Explore frequently asked questions and learn more about what makes NC State a top public institution.
Military-affiliated 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
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.
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.
North Carolina Community College Students
See How Your Credits Transfer
- The Transfer Planner is an interactive tool that shows how your previous coursework and credits from community colleges and four-year universities in North Carolina transfer to NC State and fulfill degree requirements to help ensure your time and effort contribute toward degree completion.
- For students outside of North Carolina, we recommend searching our extensive database to get an idea of the credits you may bring to NC State or to make sure the classes you select will transfer.
Stay On Track
Transfer applicants can apply for fall admission or spring admission. The application becomes available in August.
Review our Deadlines
If you’re interested in transferring, you can apply for fall admission or spring admission. The application becomes available each year 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
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 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.
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 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.