NC Community College Transfer

If you have earned an associate degree or taken courses from an NC community college, many of the credits you earned may count toward a four-year degree from any UNC System university. Do you have plans to extend your higher education career? Make the most out of your community college studies. Careful planning will help you proceed toward the completion of a four-year degree with efficiency and minimal cost.

Special Considerations for NC Community College Transfer Students

The UNC System and the NC Community College System have worked together to encourage more students to transfer into the University after completing their studies at the community college level. To this same end, individual UNC System institutions have also established unique partnerships with nearby community colleges.

These agreements make it easier than ever before for students to transition from community college into the UNC System. Nevertheless, you will need to plan carefully as you make arrangements to transfer. As you begin to think about transfer options, keep in mind the following points:

• Before transferring to a UNC System institution, some community college students finish an associate degree (AA, AS or AFA), while others may just take a few community college courses eligible to count as credit toward a four-year university degree. Completing an associate degree is highly recommended, but doing so is not required.
• Completion of an associate degree does not guarantee admission to a UNC System institution. Each university has unique entrance requirements and standards, so students are advised to pursue multiple options as they transition from community college into the UNC System.
• The UNC System grants students who earn an associate degree 60-61 credit hours and the status of “junior” upon acceptance at a constituent institution.
• Many institutions have “pathways,” called baccalaureate degree plans. Pathways make the transfer process more efficient. These plans differ from institution to institution, but every plan identifies the community college classes a student could take to satisfy prerequisites for upper-level courses in common majors. The links provided at the bottom of this page direct users to information about the degree plans and transfer policies at each UNC System institution.

How do I transfer to the UNC System from a NC Community College?

1. Review the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between NC community colleges and the UNC System. The transfer course list explains which NC community college courses will be eligible to count as credits at all 16 universities in the UNC System.
2. Review the admission requirements at the individual institutions you are considering; each institution’s requirements will vary.
3. Review this list of active partnerships between individual community colleges and System institutions. In some cases, formal agreements have been established in order to facilitate transfer student success.
4. Choose a baccalaureate degree plan using the links below. Finding and following an approved degree plan will help you plot your pathway toward graduation with efficiency. This will save you time and money. Mapping out a pathway in advance will help you focus on community college courses that will fulfill the prerequisites for the upper-level courses you’ll need at the university.
5. Review the transfer course equivalencies at the institution you are transferring to. Even if you did not complete an associate degree, many of the courses you completed at the community college level will count toward your four-year degree.
6. Fill out a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and visit the Financial Aid office on the campus of your choice.
7. If you have community college credit but didn’t complete an associate degree, the courses you take at a UNC System institution might also help you complete the requirements towards a two-year degree. Learn more about reverse transfer.

Keep in mind that these are general suggestions. We strongly encourage you to contact a transfer counselor and/or attend a transfer admission events at your chosen campus.

CAA Baccalaureate Degree Plans

The links below lead to each institution’s baccalaureate degree plans. These plans were developed to help students identify pathways that will lead them from associate degree completion, to admission into a major at a UNC System university, and finally to baccalaureate completion. 

Baccalaureate degree plans aren’t in place for all majors at every institution. For institutions that do not have established degree plans, the links below will lead to the registrar’s office, where students can find more information about how to transfer credit and how to contact the transfer advisor.

Transfer Counselors