Transfer Credit Evaluation
See how your courses transfer.
Discover How Credits Transfer
NC State values the work you’ve already completed. Whether you’re transferring from another institution, bringing international credit or returning from study abroad, this page outlines how your credits are reviewed, evaluated and applied to your degree. View the information below based on your student type.
College coursework taken in the U.S. that has been previously evaluated can be found in the NC State Transfer Credit Database. View the “Courses Taken at Other Institution” tab to search for the institution and course.
Courses not already listed in NC State’s Transfer Credit Database will need to be evaluated to determine the NC State course equivalency.
How Courses are Evaluated
Transfer Credit Policy
NC State University awards credit for academic coursework successfully completed at other colleges and universities recognized by the accrediting agencies listed below:
Accrediting Agencies
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
College-level coursework completed at other colleges/universities that are accredited by US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditors which are not listed may still be eligible for transfer credit.
To receive credit, eligible coursework must be:
- Graded C- or better
- Documented on an official transcript from the institution of academic instruction
- Part of a baccalaureate degree program or an associate degree college transfer program
NC State does not award transfer credit for experiential learning, credit posted to third-party transcripts or from non-academic services and programs, or technical/vocational coursework that is not part of an existing bilateral, MOU or other articulation agreement.
US Military Service coursework may be eligible for credit as per our Military Credit Articulation policy.
Transfer Credit
Previously evaluated coursework automatically posts to student academic records with the current NC State course equivalency. Courses transfer as direct equivalencies, subject electives, General Education Program (GEP) shell courses, or general transfer electives.
Direct Equivalencies
Course matches discipline, material and scope for a specific NC State catalog course.
Subject Electives
Course has a corresponding NC State discipline but material and/or scope does not match that of a specific catalog course. (examples: MA 2**, CSC ***)
GEP Shell Courses
Course has a corresponding NC State discipline and no direct equivalent; material and/or scope meets the academic integrity and intent of the assigned General Education Program category requirement. (example: HI 2GEP, ANT 3GEPG)
General Transfer Electives
A valid, transferable course that does not have a corresponding NC State discipline or catalog course. (example: TR ***)
The Department of Registration of Records oversees the transfer credit evaluation process and partners with the appropriate campus Department of Instruction to determine transfer course equivalencies. Part of the NC State mission as a transfer-friendly institution is to recognize the integrity of student transfer coursework with timely, consistent and appropriate credit evaluations while respecting our unique catalog and curricula.
Transfer Course Grading
Transfer courses are assigned transfer grades that reflect the letter grades awarded by a transfer institution. For example, a grade of B+ will appear in a degree audit as “TB+.” Transfer grades are not part of a student’s cumulative or major GPA but are factors for degree requirements with a minimum grade or a CODA (a Change of Degree Application).
Prospective Students
Domestic Credit
Curious how your credits might transfer before you apply?
Courses from North Carolina Institutions – Utilize the Transfer Planner
Take advantage of the NC State Transfer Planner to see how courses from North Carolina institutions will transfer to NC State. North Carolina Community College courses in the CAA Course List are reviewed regularly as part of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
Courses from Institutions Outside North Carolina – Use the Transfer Course Credit Database
The Transfer Course Credit Database can be used to research previously evaluated courses. View the “Courses Taken At Other Institution” tab to search for the institution and course. If your course isn’t listed, consider contacting the teaching department early to explore potential equivalency.
Courses not already listed in NC State’s Transfer Credit Database will need to be evaluated to determine the NC State course equivalency. Course evaluations will be completed after you apply to NC State and are made available to students who are admitted.
Military Credit
NC State is committed to providing a welcoming environment and has established mechanisms to ensure a seamless and successful transition to the university. To further this goal, the university has defined a set of academic credits that may be awarded to members of the military as well as honorably discharged veterans for specific military training or course work. These academic credits are intended to avoid duplicating effort and further members of the military and veterans toward their degree intentions.
Newly Admitted Students
Domestic Credit
After admission, you can view your Transfer Credit Report and Degree Audit in MyPack Portal. These tools show how your credits apply to your NC State degree.
You should expect to receive your preliminary Transfer Credit Report within 15 business days of your admission decision. It will be updated when official final transcripts have been received for in-progress coursework. Read more about how to send official transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- If something is missing, confirm receipt of your most recent transcript(s) with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions on your wolfPAW portal. View our admitted students web page for official final transcript deadlines.
- To receive test credit (AP, IB, Cambridge (A/AS- level) or CLEP), ensure your official scores are sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- North Carolina Community College students: Ensure your degree has been posted on your final transcript before it is submitted for it to be reflected on your Transfer Credit Report and degree audit.
International Credit
Courses completed outside the U.S. require documentation for evaluation. Courses that meet degree requirements or prefixes generally require departmental review by the department of instruction (e.g. math courses will be evaluated by the Department of Mathematics and computer science courses will be evaluated by the Department of Computer Science). The department or college you are admitted into will contact you via email after you receive your admission offer. You will be asked to submit course syllabi for any coursework taken outside the U.S. that you wish to transfer to NC State. Find your college’s transfer credit coordinator.
- A course syllabus is required for all international course evaluations and must contain the following:
- University, course number, and title
- Semester and year when the course was taken
- Week-by-week outline of assignments
- Textbook(s) used
- Scan a paper syllabus as a PDF OR
- Locate the syllabus on a course website and use the “print to PDF” feature OR
- Email the instructor to request a PDF of the syllabus
Engineering Course Requests
Transfer institutions must be ABET-Accredited for any upper-division course equivalency requests.
You should receive an email response regarding the course evaluation within 30 business days of submission of all required documentation.
Military Credit
NC State is committed to providing a welcoming environment and has established mechanisms to ensure a seamless and successful transition to the university. To further this goal, the university has defined a set of academic credits that may be awarded to members of the military as well as honorably discharged veterans for specific military training or course work. These academic credits are intended to avoid duplicating effort and further members of the military and veterans toward their degree intentions.
Current Students
Domestic Credit
Planning to take a course at another institution while enrolled at NC State?
- View your degree audit to identify courses that meet your degree requirements
- Ensure the course meets transfer credit criteria
- If this is your third attempt of a course, you must obtain permission from the Associate Dean of your college
- If the course has not been evaluated previously, the department of instruction needs to evaluate the course and notify Registration and Records of the equivalency to be added to the transfer credit database
International Credit
Courses completed outside the U.S. require documentation for evaluation. Courses that meet degree requirements or prefixes generally require departmental review by the department of instruction (e.g. math courses will be evaluated by the Department of Mathematics and computer science courses will be evaluated by the Department of Computer Science). The department or college you are admitted should be in contact with you via email.
- A course syllabus is required for all international course evaluations and must contain the following:
- University, course number, and title
- Semester and year when the course was taken
- Week-by-week outline of assignments
- Textbook(s) used
- Scan a paper syllabus as a PDF OR
- Locate the syllabus on a course website and use the “print to PDF” feature OR
- Email the instructor to request a PDF of the syllabus
Engineering Course Requests
Transfer institutions must be ABET-Accredited for any upper-division course equivalency requests.
You should receive an email response regarding the course evaluation within 30 business days of submission of all required documentation.
Military Credit
NC State is committed to providing a welcoming environment and has established mechanisms to ensure a seamless and successful transition to the university. To further this goal, the university has defined a set of academic credits that may be awarded to members of the military as well as honorably discharged veterans for specific military training or course work. These academic credits are intended to avoid duplicating effort and further members of the military and veterans toward their degree intentions.
Study Abroad Credit
This does not apply to NC State Group Programs or NC State Prague.
Everything you need to know about the course approval and transfer credit process for students on exchange, direct enroll, affiliate or third-party programs is available on our Study Abroad website.
Transfer Credit Appeal Process
If you feel a course has not been evaluated accurately:
- Review the evaluation rationale and compare with NC State’s equivalency standards.
- Review your degree audit to understand how your credits apply to your degree.
- Discuss with your undergraduate academic advisor or program coordinator how the course may apply to your degree.
- If unresolved, you may submit a formal appeal through the Transfer Credit Appeal Form.
For newly admitted NC State students, log in to your wolfPAW portal to access the Transfer Credit Appeal Form.
For currently enrolled students, navigate to the Transfer Credit Appeal Form.
Still Have Questions?
Email transfercredit@ncsu.edu for any transfer credit related questions. All other questions may be directed to wolfpaw@ncsu.edu or 919.515.2434.