Prepare to Apply

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 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.

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

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.
• 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 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.

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

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 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.