BOONE, N.C. — A college history, math or science course should be challenging for students. But transferring to a public university should be easy. That’s why the University of North Carolina System has enacted rules to make those transfers easier for undergraduates.
A new UNC System policy will help shorten a transfer student’s wait period for transcript review. After a student is accepted by a university for transfer consideration, that institution must review academic transcripts to see how many credits count toward a desired degree. Historically, the process could be time consuming due to reviews that require input from several departments.
“Transfer students bring extraordinary talent to our universities and to our state,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “We should never allow bureaucratic hurdles to stand between ambitious students and the opportunities they’ve earned.”
The System’s new rule draws on best practices from its own institutions, ensuring that any student who submits three or fewer transcripts to a System institution can expect a credit transfer evaluation within 15 business days. Those who submit four or more transcripts, including international transcripts, will receive an evaluation in 30 business days.
The policy also ensures that the System’s 1,400 transfer guides, available on College for North Carolina’s website, continue to be maintained and updated annually by North Carolina’s 16 public universities.
Last year, a national study showed that nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, but only a third succeed in transferring to a four-year institution.
In fall 2024, 17,349 students transferred to UNC System institutions. Of those, more than 57% transferred from North Carolina community colleges. Nearly 40% were underrepresented minorities and just over 30% were adult learners.
Transfer solutions will continue to be a priority for the System — helping institutions improve access for students, said Eric Fotheringham, assistant vice president for transfer student success and partnerships.
“Transfer students are often adults with careers, families or military backgrounds; people with busy lives,” said Fotheringham. “A complicated transfer experience is understandably frustrating and can even cause some students to give up on their dream of completing their bachelor’s degree.”
The new policy — which will be fully implemented by spring of 2026 — is designed to give transfer students the correct information to make college-going decisions, so that they do not waste time, money and momentum. The goal of the System is to improve every student’s timely degree completion, minimizing student debt after graduation, Fotheringham said.
App State, one of 16 higher education institutions in the UNC System, serves more than 5,000 undergraduate transfer students, who make up one-fourth of the total undergraduate student population. Transfer Admissions and Engagement at App State offers numerous resources designed to support transfer students at every step of their Mountaineer journey. These resources include faculty and student transfer mentors, need- and merit-based scholarships for incoming transfer students, events designed to engage transfer students in the university’s campus communities, a dedicated residence hall for transfer students and more.
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About Transfer Admissions and Engagement
Transfer Admissions and Engagement at Appalachian State University supports students through all stages of their transfer journey, including admission counseling and pretransfer advising, credit evaluation, transitional assistance as they begin at App State and through involvement and retention efforts during their App State education. The office serves undergraduate transfer students studying on the main campus in Boone as well as App State Online students who complete their classes fully online or at an off-site location. The services and resources provided by Transfer Admissions and Engagement ensure the university’s transfer student population finds academic and social success at App State. Learn more at https://transfer.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
Aspire is a seamless pathway for transfer students to complete their degrees at App State
The university is one of 228 U.S. higher education institutions named to 2024 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll
App State continues strong support for transfer students, expands Aspire Appalachian program
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