FAQs For Students
- What is the Reverse Transfer Program?
- Am I eligible?
- How do I participate?
- Does the Reverse Transfer program cost anything?
- How does the process work?
- How will I know if I have been awarded the associate degree?
- How long will it take to get the associate degree?
- What happens if I go through the process and do not qualify for an associate degree?
- Do I need to take any specific courses at the university?
- Do I need to re-enroll in my previous community college?
- What if I left my previous college many years ago before starting back at the university?
- Will this affect my financial aid or scholarships?
- Will it affect my military benefits?
- What if I have outstanding fees or holds at my current or previous college?
- What if I attended multiple colleges outside of my current university?
- I attended more than one community college; can I choose the college and/or the degree?
- I think I am eligible for an associate degree from a North Carolina community college but I have not been contacted, what can I do to be considered?
- Who do I contact if I have other questions?
- What if I choose not to participate?
- What if I have more than 90 credits and would still like to participate?
- I clicked on the reverse transfer link and it indicated, “I am not eligible.”
What is the Reverse Transfer Program?
The awarding of an associate degree to students who previously attended one of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges and fulfilled the associate degree requirements while working towards a bachelor’s degree at a North Carolina participating university.
Am I eligible?
- You must have completed/earned at least 16 college-level credit hours at one community college that will apply toward your degree to be eligible to participate.
For example:
John attends community college A and earns 12 hours then attends community college B and earns 4 credit hours. Does this qualify? No.
Maria attends community college A and earns 16 credit hours. Does this qualify? Yes. - Your associate degree then depends on the credits earned at the four-year institution. Each student’s credits will be evaluated to see if the combined credits meet the degree and graduation requirements.
How do I participate?
Eligible students will be asked to participate when they transfer to one of the participating universities through their student services account.
Does the ReverseTransfer program cost anything?
There is no cost for sending your information and awarding of the degree. If you wish to receive a printed diploma or to participate in graduation ceremonies there may be a cost and the community college will inform you of what you need to do.
How does the process work?
Student:
- Agree to participate and release your records to appropriate community college.
- Meet eligibility requirements.
- Earn a total of 60 credits required for an associate degree.
The University will:
- Send your records to the appropriate community college.
The Community College will:
- Evaluate your credits from the university and inform you if you have earned an associate degree.
How will I know if I have been awarded the associate degree?
The community college will send notification to your University email if the associate degree is awarded including details on how to get a printed diploma and participate in graduation ceremonies.
How long will it take to get the associate degree?
Your information will be monitored by the university until you have earned 60 total credit hours. The following semester either fall or spring the community college will receive your information to evaluate for a degree. The community college will graduate students during their normal graduation process for that semester.
For example: you complete 60 earned credit hours in the fall semster. During the spring semester we send your information to the community college and they evaluate your earned coursework for a degree and notify by the end of the spring semester.
What happens if I go through the process and do not qualify for an associate degree?
The community college will evaluate your earned credits until you have reached a total of 90 credits earned for the possibility of awarding the degree.
What if I have more than 90 earned credits and would still like to participate?
You will need to contact the community college you previously attended to determine if the college is willing to evaluate your transcripts. Then you will be responsible for sending the transcripts to the college.
Do I need to take any specific courses at the university?
No, you continue the coursework needed for your degree at the university.
Do I need to re-enroll in my previous community college?
No, the community college will utilize your credits from the university to determine if you have earned the associate degree.
What if I left my previous college many years ago before starting back at the university?
You are still eligible to participate and we will send your records to the community college for evaluation for your associate degree.
Will this affect my financial aid or scholarships?
No, it will not affect your federal or state fiancial aid. If you are receiving a private scholarship( e.g. business or civc organization), you should consult them for the regulations to ensure received a degree does not make you ineligible.
Will it affect my military benefits?
No, as long as you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a UNC institution and completing course work for the bachelor’s degree.
What if I have outstanding fees or holds at my current or previous college?
Depending on the type of hold and fees, we may not be able to send your information. If the hold is cleared and the following semester you are still eligible for Reverse Transfer your information will be sent to the community college.
What if I attended multiple colleges outside of my current university?
If available, the evaluating two-year community college will review those credits too and may contact you for additional transcripts.
I attended more than one community college; can I choose the school and/or the degree?
No. The community colleges have policies that will determine which college will evaluate your credits for the possibility of awarding your degree.
I think I am eligible for an associate degree from a North Carolina community college but I have not been contacted, what can I do to be considered?
Please see contacts for the universities and community colleges
Who do I contact if I have other questions?
Please see contacts at the universities and community colleges
What if I choose not to participate?
Then your information will NOT be sent to the community college and you will not be eligible to receive your associate degree through the Reverse Transfer Program.
What if I did not agree to participate and now would like too?
Under the student tab in your university student account there is a link to the Reverse Transfer Program, click the link to change your answer. If you are attending North Carolina State University you must contact the registrar’s office to change your response.
I clicked on the reverse transfer link and it indicated, “I am not eligible.”
- You must be currently enrolled in the university to participate and have not previously received a degree, i.e. associate degree or higher.