It seems simple enough, but knowing whether or not Appalachian considers you as a transfer student--even if you have graduated high school and have earned college credit--can be confusing. Be sure you know the differences between freshmen and transfer students.

Admission Requirements

• Successful completion of 30 semester hours of college transferable credits. Technical, developmental and orientation courses are usually not transferable. Transfer applicants with fewer than 30 semester hours must meet the admission requirements for all freshmen applicants.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 (as calculated by Appalachian) is required to be considered for admission. Due to increased interest, transfer applicants may be subject to a more competitive academic review.
• A “C” or better is required for all transfer coursework.
• Students younger than 24 years of age who have not completed the high school Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) must earn, from a North Carolina Community College, either an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts or complete the 44-hour core. Students who do not attend a North Carolina Community College must complete 6 semester hours in each of the following college level areas: English, math, science, foreign language and social sciences in order to meet MCR.

Please remember that all attempted coursework is calculated into your GPA upon applying to Appalachian. This includes repeated coursework taken to replace a grade, as well as the original grade from the first attempt of the course.

How to Apply

Complete the on-line application.

Application and Notification Deadlines

Transfer students are encouraged to apply early, ideally 6 months before the intended entry semester. Applications are typically processed within four weeks of the application becoming complete. Applicants will be notified in writing of their admissions decision. Appalachian continues to accept applications on a rolling basis until the class is filled.

Complete Applications

A complete application includes the following items:

• A completed online application.
• A non-refundable application fee of $55.
• Official copy of high school transcripts that includes grades 9 - 12.
• Official college transcripts submitted directly to Appalachian from each previously attended institution.
• Please Note: You may be asked to submit a "Criminal Background Check" as required by the UNC system. This can take an additional 2-5 business days to complete your application.
• If your application becomes complete two weeks prior to the start of the term you intend to enroll, you will be required to submit a "Criminal Background Check" as required by the UNC system. The estimated cost is $22.35 and must be paid by the applicant. Read more about this policy.

Official high school and college transcripts should be mailed to:

The Office of Admissions
Appalachian State University
A.S.U. Box 32004
Boone, North Carolina, 28608-2004

Transferring to Appalachian

Students who enrolled in the North Carolina Community Colleges beginning fall 1997, and beyond, may possibly transfer to Appalachian as a junior and proceed to an upper division college upon successful completion of the requirements for an Associate in Arts, or an Associate in Science degree. Students who complete the NC Articulation Agreement and 44 hour core curriculum requirements at a North Carolina Community College will transfer as having met lower division General Education requirements at Appalachian if no grade of "D" was received. Completion of the core must be indicated on the official community college transcript to be recognized by Appalachian.

Transfer Guides for North Carolina Community College Students

• NC Community College General Education Checksheets 2011-12
• NC Community College 44-Hour Core Checksheet
• Undergraduate Majors Checksheets
• Course Equivalency Search - find out how courses from other institutions will transfer to Appalachian

Transfer Guides for Other Students

• General Education Checksheets - General Education Checksheet 2011-12 (PDF 142K)
• Course Equivalency Search  - find out how courses from other institutions will transfer to Appalachian
• Undergraduate Majors Checksheets

Credit Evaluation

To find out how your college credit obtained at other universities/colleges will transfer into Appalachian, complete the following steps. If you have any questions concerning your transfer credit, please contact the Office of Transfer Articulation at 828-262-7877.

1. Log into First Connections.
2. Review/Print credit evaluation in your First Connections account. If you have not submitted transcripts from other institutions, enter your institution information and view college transfer equivalencies at Appalachian. 
3. Print either the General Education checksheet or the NC Community College General Education Checksheet, which ever is most appropriate.
4. Compare Appalachian equivalents from credit evaluation with the General Education checksheet.

If you have any questions about your Credit Evaluation, please take a look at our Understanding Transfer Credit Evaluation document which explains terminology and requirements.