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.

Transfer students have graduated from high school at least one year prior to beginning a program at Appalachian State University and meet the following criteria:

•   Completed or in progress of completing 30 or more semester hours of transferable coursework at another accredited college/university if minimum course requirements for North Carolina were met in high school.

•   Must have at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA on all college work (as computed by Appalachian).

Please note: You are considered a freshman if you have less than 15 hours of college credit, or if you graduated from high school less than a year prior to your intended entry term.  

For Students who meet Minimum Course Requirements (MCR)

• You will need 30 semester hours of transferable college credits. Please see the Prospective Student tab on the OTA webpage for detailed information about coursework that will fit your transfer needs. Please note that technical, developmental and orientation courses are usually not transferable. (You must be in progress of meeting 30 hours, with 12 hours of coursework completed and a transcript for those courses on file.)
• 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. Please note that any courses with a grade of “C-“or below will not transfer. 

For Students who do not meet Minimum Course Requirements (and are under the age of 24)

Students younger than 24 years of age who have not completed high school Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) must complete one of the following at an accredited institution in order to satisfy MCR. Please note that only an accredited NC community college degree is guaranteed to meet general education requirements at Appalachian. 

• Associate in Arts*
• Associate in Science*
• Associate in Fine Arts
• Baccalaureate

           or

• Complete the Transfer Core Diploma (44-hour core) at a NC Community College* 

           or

• Complete 6 semester hours in each of the following college level areas: English, Math, Science, Foreign language and Social sciences

Note: The completion and award of the applicable degree or 44-hour core diploma must be indicated on the official community college transcript in order to be recognized by Appalachian.

* Please communicate closely with your advisor at your community college if you intend to complete the Transfer (44 hour) Core Diploma or the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science.  Each community college has their own unique requirements for graduation. 

• 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. Please note that any courses with a grade of “C- “or below will not transfer. 
• GED diplomas do not meet minimum course requirements (MCR's).  Adult High School Diplomas may meet minimum course requirements (MCR's) and transcripts for these diplomas are reviewed on a case by case basis.  

For Students who are 24 years of age or older

Students who are at least 24 years old are exempt from meeting minimum course requirements and are reviewed on a case by case basis. Please contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.

How to Apply Online

• Complete the online application.
• Follow these instructions to complete the application:
• After you complete a screen, click the NEXT button at the bottom or on one of the sections listed on the left column to move to a different screen.
• Simply type your answers in the corresponding fields or select your answers from the popup lists.
• After you complete a screen, click the NEXT button at the bottom or on one of the sections listed on the left column to move to a different screen.
• Make sure you click the 'SUBMIT' button located on the left column in order for your application to be received by Appalachian State University.

Items that Complete your Application

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 additional time to process.  Your application may go to Conduct Review if applicable. 

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

Application and Notification Deadlines

Transfer students are encouraged to apply early; at least six months before the fall semester begins and as soon as possible after the application opens for spring semester in September.  The time to apply is dependent upon the number of credit hours that are completed and available for review, along with the term entry.  Applications are typically processed within four to six 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. 

See the table below for suggested times to apply: 

 Transfer Guides

Please see the Prospective Student tab on the OTA webpage for detailed information about coursework that will fit your transfer needs.

Credit Evaluation and Transfer Guides

We recognize the importance of providing services and resources that will minimize the stress and confusion that can accompany the transfer process. The Office of Transfer Articulation and the recently created transfer articulation website were created for just that reason.  We encourage you to become familiar with the perspective student link on this website as it contains all the information you need to determine how your credits will transfer and will assist you in registering for courses at your current institution.