Undergraduate Admissions

General Requirements

North Carolina Central University is committed to equal educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or handicap. Moreover, NCCU is open to people of all races and actively seeks to promote racial integration by recruiting and enrolling a culturally and racially diverse student population. 

NCCU accepts qualified high school graduates who have never attended college and those who have previously attended college. The Undergraduate Admissions Office serves as the point of entry for all undergraduate students, whether on-campus or via distance education, who wish to pursue a degree program or who wish to take courses for credit. Applications are reviewed and admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year. In addition to leadership participation and community service activities, the admissions decision is based on an evaluation of the high school record and/or college record together with the results of standardized tests.

Each Undergraduate Admissions staff member strives to give each applicant the full attention deserved by responding as promptly as possible. Applicants can assist by submitting the information requested in a timely manner. All communications regarding application status and admissions-related issues must be addressed to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

NORTH CAROLINA LAW REQUIRES THAT AN IMMUNIZATION RECORD FOR EACH NEWLY ADMITTED (OR READMITTED) NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT (UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE, PROFESSIONAL, OR SPECIAL STUDENT) BE ON FILE AT NCCU PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.

The application deadline for freshmen is August 1. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis. For priority consideration for fall admission, transfers should apply by July 1. The final deadline for transfer applications and all credentials is August 1. International applicants must submit all documents by May 1. For priority consideration for spring admission, candidates should apply by November 1. The final deadline is December 1. International spring applicants must submit all materials before October 1. Applicants must supply the following*:

• Completed Application with Residency information and a $40 non-refundable processing fee. (Fee subject to change.)
• Official high school transcript sent from the institution.
• Official results of the SAT I (the College Board code number for NCCU is 5495) or ACT (NCCU code number 3132). (Freshmen only).
• FAFSA Code is 002950.
• Official transcripts of ALL college course work (if applicable) sent from the institution.
• List of courses in progress.
• International students MUST contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to request additional requirement information in addition to the enclosed forms.
• NCCU will only accept the College Board Fee Waiver (available through your high school counselor) from freshmen applicants.
• Applicants must meet minimum academic criteria for consideration.
• Supportive information such as essays and recommendations are welcomed. No faxed copies of required documents, please!

Students should give the application procedures their top consideration. Admission to North Carolina Central University is NOT contingent upon eligibility of financial aid or housing, nor contingent on preferred class scheduling. However, students who are admitted early have the best opportunities for consideration of scholarships and financial aid, residence hall assignments, orientation, class registrations, and more. Students who prefer to apply online may do so at www.nccu.edu.

Admissions | Freshman

Minimum standards for freshmen admissions to NCCU include the 1990 Minimum Admissions Requirement (MAR) and the 2004 Minimum Course Requirements as determined by the Board of Governors for all 16 campuses of the UNC system. Admission to undergraduate study at NCCU, as a freshman, is moderately selective for North Carolina residents and more selective for out-of-state residents. By state guidelines, no more than 18% of the freshman class may come from out-of-state. Applicants are considered individually and in accordance with the following criteria:

• Evidence of MCR, academic achievement and promise with considerable facility in the use of the English language, and with an understanding of the fundamental mathematical process.
• Complete record from an accredited secondary or preparatory school with graduation based on no fewer than 20 units.
• Competitive SAT/ACT score.
• Satisfactory class rank with a grade point average of at least 2.0.
• Leadership and service opportunities. Evidence of participation in scholastic, community, and civic organizations including leadership participation.
• All applicants for undergraduate admission must submit a standardized test score. The SAT I is preferred, but students may also submit the ACT. Students applying for admission for fall 2006 or thereafter must submit either the new SAT I (which includes the writing component) or the ACT with the writing component. The ACT without the writing component is not acceptable as a standardized test for admission.
  
  Writing skills are keys to college success. Information received from the SAT essay serves as a useful tool for placement and advising purposes. Consistent with most institutions nationally, North Carolina Central University will use the Writing scores for advisement.

The minimum course requirements (MCR) for North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) system are the same, and high school graduates are eligible for consideration if they successfully complete the following in grades 9–12:

In English, four course units emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature;

In mathematics, four course units including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and a higher- level mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite, Math 140 or higher for N.C. students; out-of-state students please consult with Admissions Office;

In science, three course units including one unit in a life or biological science, one unit in a physical science, and one unit in a laboratory science course;

In social studies, two course units, including one unit in United States history;

At least two course units of one foreign language.

It is also recommended that prospective students take one mathematics course unit in the 12th grade. Please note that in order to receive credit for college courses (100 course level or higher), please submit all official final college transcripts no later than July 1. No credit will be granted for any courses taken in any high school, college, or university after class registration.

Students who graduated from high school prior to 2006 should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to determine specific high school course requirements for admission.

Admissions | Transfer

For a transfer student at the undergraduate level, admissions to the University is governed by the following standards:

• The transfer applicant must not currently be on probation at the last or current school of attendance and must submit the required Statement of Confidential Information Form from the last institution enrolled in. The transfer applicant has not been suspended or expelled from the last or current institution.
• The transfer applicant has a cumulative average of at least a “C” in the institution from which the student is transferring and is eligible to return to that institution.
• Leadership and service opportunities. Evidence of participation in scholastic, community, and civic organizations including leadership participation.

Transfer students who have attended another college or university, but have earned fewer than 30 semester hours of specific acceptable credit, must meet all freshman requirements. However, transfer applicants may be exempt from freshman requirements and from sending high school transcripts and/or standardized test scores if they fall under the following categories:

• Category 1: Applicants awarded the high school diploma prior to 1988 and/or who are at least 24 years old prior to the beginning of classes and have completed nine semester hours of degree creditable work. For applicants who are at least 24 years old and are seeking admission as nontraditional students, institutions may waive some of the minimum requirements for applicants in this category.
• Category 2: Applicants who have the associate of arts, the associate of science, or the associate of fine arts, the baccalaureate or any higher-level degree.
• Category 3: Applicants who have completed a degree under an articulation agreement.
• Category 4: Applicants who have completed six semesters of degree creditable work in each of the following areas: English, Mathematics, the Natural Sciences, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences and Foreign Language.

No course is accepted as a transfer course in which a grade below “C” is earned. Accepted courses are recorded to the student’s transcript; grades and grade points are not calculated. The University does not accept transfer credit from challenge examinations or for course work where grades of pass/fail have been given. The maximum number of transferable credits is 64 semester hours from a two-year college. There is currently no limit for transferring credits from four-year institutions.

Credit For Advanced Standing (Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate)

Credit for advanced standing will be awarded according to the following regulations:

• The appropriate semester hours of credit will be awarded for all community college or university work in which the student has earned a grade of “C” or better, provided that the institution from which the credit is being transferred is accredited by its regional accrediting agency and/or its State Department of Education.
• Credit for formal advanced placement programs (AP/IB) and credit by formal examination programs are awarded in accordance with the appropriate national norms established for such programs. These norms and standards are available in the undergraduate Admissions Office and the University Testing Center.
• After matriculating at NCCU, a student may not pursue courses of any type at another institution without obtaining, in advance of registration for such courses, written permission from the dean of the school or college in which the student is registered at NCCU. Work taken without prior approval may not be accepted by NCCU.

Admissions | Special Students | Unclassified

Special students are those who are not candidates for a degree at the present time. This category includes 1) visiting students, and 2) persons who have not enrolled for one academic year and are ineligible for admissions as a transfer student. The University welcomes into this admission status persons who are pursuing degrees elsewhere or who desire to earn prerequisites for graduate work. Such students may register upon the presentation of a signed statement from the appropriate official of his/her institution or certifying agency specifically listing and approving the courses to be taken. Such enrollment does not constitute regular admission to the University.

• To apply for this category of admissions, the applicant must submit an application for admission with the $40 application fee as well as the Statement of Confidential Information Form from the last institution enrolled and must provide supporting documentation as appropriate. Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are required if the applicant plans to enter degree-seeking status at a later date.
• Visiting students must submit a transient course study form from the home institution that has been approved by the department chairperson, academic dean, and the University Registrar.
• All others must provide evidence of readiness to pursue the courses desired and a statement of objective and purpose related to the request for special student admission.
• Special students may register for no more than 12 semester hours. After completing one semester of full-time study, or its equivalent, the unclassified student may petition the Admissions Office to be admitted to the University as a regular degree-seeking student on the basis of their academic accomplishments.

SPECIAL NOTE: Designation as unclassified may affect eligibility for veterans’ benefits. Students expecting to apply for veterans’ benefits should contact the Registrar’s Office. Unclassified and special students are ineligible for financial aid. ADMISSION IN THIS CATEGORY DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY GUARANTEE ADMISSION AS A DEGREE-SEEKING NCCU STUDENT.

Admissions | Former NCCU Students

Former North Carolina Central University students who wish to return to the University should apply for admission prior to August 1 for the fall semester or December 1 for the spring semester.

• All students who missed one or more semesters of attendance or who officially withdrew from the university must apply for readmission through their respective deans and the Registrars’ Office. Students who have attended another institution since their last enrollment at NCCU must have official transcripts from such institutions sent to the Registrars’ Office before they can be considered for readmission.
• No application fee is required for NCCU Re-Admit students who have not yet earned a degree. A student who has been expelled from NCCU for any reason cannot be readmitted at NCCU or admitted to any UNC System institution.
• All students who withdraw from the University voluntarily or who are suspended must obtain permission to return before resuming their studies at the University. The request must be in the form of an application for re-admissions in the Registrars’ Office. However, academic deans in the student’s respective major must be involved in readmitting students to NCCU. Before a student who voluntarily leaves or withdraws is re-admitted, his or her academic record is reviewed. If the student did not attain the minimum academic performance level for the number of semester hours enrolled at the University, the request for re-admission is subject to be denied.
• Former students who have been dismissed from the University for failure to meet the scholastic eligibility requirements may appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee in the department or school of the student’s major for a review of their case. The appeal should be addressed to the Academic Appeals Committee. Applicants should not present themselves for re-enrollment until they have received a reply from the Committee. Appeals should reach the Committee at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the term in which the applicant expects to register. Former students whose attendance has been interrupted by the University for disciplinary reasons must apply to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for a review of their case for possible re-admission.

Admissions | International Students

North Carolina Central University welcomes international students. These students, in addition to meeting the regular freshman or transfer requirements, must submit the International Applicant Supplemental Form and present evidence of their proficiency of the English language and meet fully the financial obligations associated with their study at the University. Results of the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or SAT or ACT test scores, a financial responsibility statement, and proof of accident and hospital insurance must be submitted along with the application for admission. All materials for admission must be in the appropriate admissions office no later than three months prior to the student’s planned enrollment. Applicants for admission who submit foreign transcripts must pay any costs associated with having those transcripts translated and/or evaluated before they can be admitted.

Admissions | Second Degree Undergraduates (Non–NCCU Graduates)

Students who already hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution may apply to North Carolina Central University for a second baccalaureate degree by submitting an application for admission, a non-refundable $40 application fee, transcripts from degree-granting institution, and statement of confidentiality to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants must also have an official transcript of all previous college work sent to the Admissions Office from their previous institutions. See the catalog section “Degree Requirements” for additional information on second baccalaureate degrees.

Admissions | Second-Degree Undergraduates (NCCU Graduates)

Students who already hold a baccalaureate degree from NCCU may apply for a second baccalaureate degree by submitting an application for admission; no application fee is required. The Office of the Registrar will confirm verification of degree earned. See the catalog section “Degree Requirements” for additional information on second baccalaureate degrees.

Admissions | Military Personnel and Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States

North Carolina Central University is a member of Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a consortium of over 1,800 colleges and universities that provide college-level educational opportunities for service members and their families. SOC members serve the National Guard, the Reserves, the Coast Guard, new recruits, and veterans as well as the 400,000 active-duty service members. As a SOC member, NCCU:

• Recognizes the GED high school equivalency certificate/diploma.
• Recognizes learning gained from specialized training and experience in the military services.
• Recognizes that competency may be established by nationally recognized means, such as standardized tests.
• Maintains a flexible transfer of credits policy for the mobile, active-duty service member.
• Will allow service members to take up to 12 semester hours as an Unclassified Special Student. See section on “Admissions-Unclassified/Special Students.”
• Conducts a timely evaluation of the educational records and relevant experiences of service members.
• Completes a student degree- completion plan for all degree- seeking service members. Applicants must otherwise satisfy University admissions requirements.

Credits from Military Schools and Experience

Credits for courses from military service schools and for military service experience are based on recommendations in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education, commonly referred to as the “ACE Guide.”

Students seeking credit must provide official documentation to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as follows:

1. Copy of the DD 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), and
2. Copy of the service member’s military transcript, obtainable on the web from the respective branch of service, such as the “AARTS” (Army/ACE Registry Transcript System), the “SMART” (Sailor/Marine/ACE Registry Transcript) and the “CCAF,” the Community College of the Air Force.

Credit for Basic Health, Physical Education, Speech, and Military Science Electives

Veterans, active duty service members, and members of the National Guard and Reserve components may receive a total of four credits for two courses (basic health and fitness) and three credit hours for speech upon completion of certain military courses approved by the student’s appropriate academic dean. In addition, up to 12 semester hours for military science electives may be awarded based on the number of years on active duty (for example, two semester hours for every year of active duty).

Second-degree or Licensure-only Teachers

The Second-Degree and Licensure-Only programs are individualized programs that are based on a student’s previous course work and experiences. Completion of either program requires the fulfillment of the same licensure program requirements as those for a traditional degree-seeking student. Typically, the designation “second-degree” refers to a student who has previously earned an undergraduate degree and who is seeking initial licensure. A second-degree student will be considered an undergraduate for tuition purposes and must apply for admission to the University through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Generally, the “licensure only” program is designed for students who have an advanced degree or who already hold a license in one area and want to add on another licensure area. The licensure-only student will be considered a graduate student for tuition purposes and must apply through the Graduate Office in the School of Education. There is a $25 non-refundable application fee. A Lateral Entry Teacher may pursue a second-degree or licensure-only program. A Lateral Entry Teacher is one who holds a current provisional license; is currently employed by a North Carolina School district; does not possess a teaching license and has not previously completed a teacher education program prior to application for initial licensure in North Carolina. Contact the Teacher Education Program (TEP) representative in the appropriate program area for specific program requirements. The TEP admissions process for students who possess an undergraduate degree is as follows:

• The student submits transcripts to the coordinator of the academic program in which he/she seeks licensure. (Second-degree students initially apply through Undergraduate Admissions.)
• The coordinator evaluates the transcripts and submits the evaluation to the Director of Teacher Education for review.
• After the evaluation is reviewed, the papers are returned to the program coordinator.
• If not already done, the program coordinator interviews the student and shares the completed transcript evaluation.
• If the student decides to enter the program and has at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale and the recommendation of the coordinator, the student completes and submits a Teacher Education Program application to the program coordinator.
• The program coordinator forwards the application, transcript evaluation, and other appropriate materials to the licensure officer, who presents the candidate for Teacher Education Program admission to the Teacher Education Council.
• Upon completion of the academic program, second-degree or licensure-only students must pass the specialty area test(s) or subject assessment(s) of Praxis II.
• When the scores are received, the student completes the necessary licensure forms and submits the appropriate fee to the Licensure Office. The Licensure Officer submits the documents to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the agency responsible for issuing teaching licenses.