Undergraduate Admissions

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is committed to the recruitment of a diverse, achievement-oriented, and socially responsible student body that will enrich the intellectual, cultural, and social community of the University and the community at large. UNC Pembroke welcomes applications from persons who have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent and whose academic preparation and aptitude predict success in higher education. No single consideration dictates admission decisions; instead, numerous factors and their relationships to one another enter in such decisions. All applicants demonstrating that they can profit from and succeed in undergraduate studies qualify for admission to the University.

Any student who supplies false or misleading information or conceals pertinent facts in order to secure admission to UNC Pembroke may be denied admission or, if admitted, may be immediately dismissed from the University. Such a student may be ineligible to receive any credit from the University.

  Qualified applicants are admitted in the following categories:

1. New Freshmen
2. Transfer Students
3. Re‑Enrolling Students
4. Special Readmission Students
5. International Students
6. Special Students
   1. Enrichment (Non-degree)
   2. Teacher Licensure/Renewal
   3. Second Degree
   4. Transient
   5. Joint Enrolled

New Freshmen

Applicants for the freshman class must be graduates of an approved or accredited high school or home school. Non‑graduates must possess a high school equivalency certificate and present evidence of maturity and the potential to achieve success in a university environment.

1. Submit completed application by one of the priority deadlines:

1. Submit a non-refundable $55 application fee with the application - this can be paid online at time of application.
2. Submit high school transcripts.  These can be sent electronically to admissions@uncp.edu or sent via mail to:  Office of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 1 University Drive, Pembroke, NC 28372.
3. We recommend that you complete a writing sample (graded paper, short answer, and submit with application for admission.) 
4. We recommend that you submit recommendation(s) from a school counselor or core academic teacher.  These should be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UNCP. 
5. The submission of test scores (SAT and/or ACT) is optional.  (SAT code for SAT is #5534 and the ACT code is #3138).  The phone number for the College Board is 866-756-7346.  The phone number for ACT is 319-337-1270. 
6. PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
   1. If enrolled in dual enrollment course work, a community college transcript of that college work must be submitted.
   2. Students enrolled in an Early College Program must also submit community college transcripts. 
   3. If you have taken Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or any other rigorous coursework during high school, please make your admission counselor aware.  With appropriate scores and documentation, credit, in many cases, can be awarded.
   4. Final official transcripts and test score information must be submitted and reviewed before matriculation.

Minimum Course Requirements (MCR) at the 16 University of North Carolina Campuses

The following courses will be required for admission, in addition to each UNC institution’s specific requirements: In English, four course units emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature;

In foreign language, two consecutive units of language other than English (required of Dec. 2003 and later high school graduates);

In mathematics, four course units including algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and for December 2005 and later high school graduates, a higher level mathematics course for which algebra II is a prerequisite; or successful     completion of three Integrated Mathematics courses and a course for which Integrated Mathematics 3 is a prerequisite.

 In science, three course units including:

at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology),

at least one unit in a physical science (for example, physical science, chemistry and physics) and at least one laboratory course; and

In social studies, two course units including one unit in U.S. history.

In addition, it is recommended that prospective students take one foreign language course unit and one mathematics course unit in the twelfth grade. Course units as defined in these requirements may include those high school level courses taken and passed by an applicant while enrolled as a high school student with all courses reflected on the high school transcript. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to individual programs; individual program admission requirements are described in specific academic sections.

Exception Procedures for Normal Admissions Requests:

The Chancellor, with the recommendation of the Director of Admissions and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment, may allow a Special Talent Waiver to a student who does not meet UNC minimum requirements but has otherwise demonstrated promise for academic success, as measured by grades, class rank, SAT or ACT scores (optional), when compared with other students admitted to the University.

Transfer Students

• Students must submit a completed application for admission.

• Students seeking to transfer from other collegiate institutions must furnish an official transcript from each institution attended. The transcripts must indicate a cumulative “C” (2.0) average on all work attempted prior to admission to UNC Pembroke. Courses satisfactorily completed at institutions recognized by accepted institutional accreditors are evaluated in terms of courses offered and academic programs available at UNCP. Accepted institutional accreditors include but are not limited to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).  Other US Department of Education recognized national accreditors which are not listed above may also be considered accepted institutional accreditors.

• An official high school transcript is required if the student is under 21 and has not completed 24 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited institution.
• A nonrefundable $55.00 application fee is required.
• The student must attain at least a grade of “C” (2.0) in a course in order for that course to be allowed for transfer credit. Grades from transferred courses will not count toward the student’s cumulative quality point average at UNC Pembroke, except for honors designation upon graduation.

Transfer applicants who are under the age of 21 must meet the minimum course requirements outlined in the previous section (See Minimum Course Requirements-MCR). Students under the age of 21 are also required to meet freshman high school GPA or SAT/ACT requirements for admission (please contact the Office of Admissions for appropriate GPA and/or SAT/ACT requirements). If a student is only deficient in one area (either GPA or SAT/ACT), they may complete 12 transferable semester hours of general education from a regionally accredited institution with an overall GPA of 2.5. If a student is deficient in both areas (GPA or SAT/ACT and MCR) they must complete 24 transferable semester hours from a regionally accredited institution with an overall GPA of 2.0.

• Applicants 21 years old or older may be admitted as non-traditional freshmen or transfer students without meeting MCR.
• Applicants 21 years old or older applying as a transfer student, must meet a minimum 2.0 cumulative college GPA for all college courses as calculated by the UNC Pembroke Undergraduate Admissions Office.
• All transfer students entering UNC Pembroke must attend a transfer orientation session to acquaint the student with the academic, co‑curricular, and social life of the University and to gather information to assist in the student’s academic advancement.

Because of differing admission requirements, transfer applicants who are candidates for teacher licensure degrees should refer to the admission requirements stipulated for the Teacher Education Program.

The classification of transfer students (freshman, sophomore, junior or senior) is determined by the number of transfer credit hours accepted by UNC Pembroke. A minimum of 25 percent of semester hours applied toward a bachelor’s degree must be earned through regular enrollment in UNC Pembroke courses, and students must satisfy all UNC Pembroke degree requirements for their chosen major.

UNC Pembroke is an active participant in the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), which governs the transfer of credits between N.C. community colleges and public universities in North Carolina. UNC Pembroke accepts all credit under the guidelines of the agreement for courses in which a grade of C or better is earned. A link to full details on the CAA may be found at https://www.uncp.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/transfer-students/transferring-credits.

Re-Enrolling Students

Students who have interrupted their course of study for at least consecutive two semesters must apply for readmission through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions ($35 readmission fee).  Students who are seeking readmission to UNC Pembroke after completing additional work at another regionally accredited institution must reapply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transcripts of any academic work completed in the interim at any other regionally accredited institution must be provided prior to approval for readmission, along with an application, and $35 application fee.

Special Readmission Policy

Any former UNCP student who was academically dismissed, suspended, or placed on academic probation at the end of his/her final semester and has not attended UNCP for a period of two (2) academic years may apply for readmission under the Special Readmission Policy. All students admitted under this policy return on probationary status and must follow the policies and procedures outlined under “Academic Probation” in the Academic Policies section of the UNCP catalog and on the website of the Registrar. In order to qualify for the Special Readmission Policy, students must earn a 2.0 or higher in their first 12 hours after being readmitted. Students may apply for readmission under this policy one time. Once approved, the decision will not be reversed.

Upon meeting the requirements for this policy, the student’s GPA will be computed excluding all previous grades below C (2.0). All grades will remain on the student’s transcript, but only those previous courses in which a grade of C or better was earned will count toward graduation. All course work, however, will count toward attempted hours, and all grades, including those from the student’s previous GPA, will be calculated for honors purposes.

Students admitted under the Special Readmission Policy may not make use of the grade replacement policy and must continue to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00. Failure to maintain this minimum GPA will result in a two-semester suspension.

Departments with more rigorous GPA standards than the general University requirement of 2.0 have the right to deny admission to a program. Any student readmitted under this policy must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at UNCP after readmission in order to qualify for graduation.

  Students must apply for the Special Readmission Policy through the Registrar’s Office.

International Students

Applicants from non‑English-speaking countries must provide evidence of proficiency in the English language with their applications for admission to UNC Pembroke. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test are required. For students born in non‑English-speaking nations but educated in senior high schools in the United States, scores on the SAT or ACT can substitute for scores on the TOEFL or IELTS. Each student must submit official verification of financial resources sufficient to cover educational expenses. Certified translations by a licensed or professional translator must accompany academic documents not written in English. For transfer students, the Admissions Office requires that all international college transcripts be evaluated by an accredited transcript evaluation agency.

The courses will need to be translated into the U.S. equivalencies. The international undergraduate admissions application and other information relevant to prospective international students may be accessed at https://www.uncp.edu/departments/global-engagement. It is preferred that all documents be sent to the Admissions Office six months prior to date of entry. All documents must be received and evaluated before a DS-2019 and I-20 can be issued.

Special Students

Persons applying for admission as Special Students should meet the qualifications described in one of the following categories: Enrichment, Teacher Licensure/Renewal, Second Degree, Transient, and Joint Enrolled. A $55 nonrefundable application fee may be required.

Enrichment: Applicants not enrolled in a degree program at another institution who wish to complete courses at UNC Pembroke for personal or professional enrichment may qualify for admission as Special students. Such applicants must submit an application for admission, a $55 nonrefundable application fee, and a final high school or college transcript. Students in this category cannot earn more than 15 semester hours. Continuation of enrollment in additional courses will require the approval of the Director of Admissions. These students enroll without entering degree programs, and they may not later become degree candidates unless they have been admitted as regular students. Students under academic suspension from any university are not eligible to enroll as special students.

Teacher Licensure/Renewal: Individuals who have a baccalaureate degree may be admitted to earn teacher licensure or take courses for renewal purposes. An application for admission, $55 nonrefundable application fee, and a copy of the transcript reflecting the baccalaureate degree awarded must be submitted prior to admission to the University. In addition to applying to UNC Pembroke through the Admissions Office, individuals must also contact the Director of Teacher Education (and submit any additional required documentation) to design an individualized education plan. All licensure candidates must meet the admission and retention standards of the Teacher Education Program and the National Teachers Examination requirements established by the State Board of Education. (See Teacher Education Program.)

Second Degree: Applicants who wish to enroll at the University to complete a second undergraduate degree must submit the application for admission, a $55 nonrefundable application fee ($35 if applying for readmission), and a transcript reflecting the receipt of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. (See Requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree.)

 Transient Students: Transient students are students enrolled in a degree program at another college or university who qualify to study for one semester or summer session at UNC Pembroke and plan to transfer credits earned back to the institution at which they are pursuing a degree. To gain admission as transient students, applicants must be in good academic standing and be eligible to return to their parent institution. They must also have permission from their institution to study at UNC Pembroke. Students may retrieve the transient application from the online application portal. Transient students are not required to pay an application fee.

Joint Enrolled: The Joint Enrollment Program is designed for high school students who have excelled academically in high school and prove ready for college-level work. Students may register for no more than one course per semester while completing their high school curriculum, and they cannot take courses that are offered at their high school. Interested students must submit a special Joint Enrollment Application, an official high school transcript, SAT/ACT scores (if available), and class rank. Permission must be granted from the student’s high school principal or guidance counselor and the Director of Admissions, prior to admission as a Joint Enrolled student. An application fee is not required.

Auditing

All persons, whether regularly enrolled in the University or seeking to take a course for enrichment, who desire to audit a course must complete an enrichment application using the online application portal, and secure the permission of the instructor and the Enrollment Office. Audits may not be added to a student’s schedule after the last day to add a class. The fee charged for auditing a course will be the same as if the course were taken for credit. Students who are regularly enrolled at the University must file a copy of the permission letter from the Enrollment Office with the instructor at the beginning of the course. Audited classes are listed on the permanent record and are designated by the letters “AU.” Class participation by and requirements of auditors are at the discretion of the instructor. An application fee is not required.

Graduate Admissions

Inquiries concerning graduate admissions should be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Admissions requirements are stated in the The Graduate School section of this catalog.

Degree Completion Program for Military Personnel

The University of North Carolina Pembroke is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium and the SOC Degree Network System.

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium: Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), established in 1972, is a consortium of national higher education associations and more than 1,700 institutional members. SOC Consortium institutional members subscribe to principles and criteria to ensure that quality academic programs are available to military students, their family members, civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard, and veterans. A list of current SOC Consortium member institutions can be found on the SOC Web site at www.soc.aascu.org/.

SOC Degree Network System: The SOC Degree Network System (DNS) consists of a subset of SOC Consortium member institutions selected by the military Services to deliver specific Associate and Bachelor’s degree programs to servicemembers and their families. Institutional members of the SOC DNS agree to special requirements and obligations that provide military students, their spouses and college-age children with opportunities to complete college degrees without suffering loss of academic credit due to changes of duty station.

SOC operates the 2- and 4-year Degree Network System for the Army (SOCAD), Navy (SOCNAV), Marine Corps (SOCMAR), and Coast Guard (SOCCOAST). Refer to the SOC Degree Network System-2 and -4 Handbooks to view Associate and Bachelor’s degree programs, location offerings, and college information. An electronic version of the Handbook is posted on the SOC Web site, http://www.soc.aascu.org, on the SOCAD, SOCNAV, SOCMAR, and SOCCOAST home pages.

In recognition of the educational experience gained by military personnel in their regular training, in service school courses, in USAFI or DANTES courses, and through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), UNC Pembroke will accept transfer credit toward a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

Men or women who have served one or more years in the armed services will be awarded two semester hours credit for each year of service, up to 12 semester hours of credit, as elective credit. In addition, military members will receive credit for physical education courses. A copy of the student’s DD-214 form and AARTS or SMART transcript must be submitted with the application in order to receive credit.

Credit may be awarded for service school courses comparable to those offered by UNC Pembroke. The amount of credit granted will be according to the recommendations of the American Council on Education as listed in the most recent edition of A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. These recommendations are evaluated in terms of courses offered and curriculum accepted at UNC Pembroke.

Credit may be granted for work completed with an acceptable rating in USAFI courses that are parallel to courses offered at the University, provided a transcript of the work is sent directly to the Director of Admissions.

Credit may be earned through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

In addition to the special provision for granting credit to military personnel for their educational experience, the University will accept transfer credit toward a Bachelor’s degree:

1. All transferable work completed in residence at accredited institutions of higher education provided the student has an overall cumulative quality point average of 2.0;
2. Up to 24 semester hours of work completed through correspondence and/or extension courses from  institutions recognized by accepted institutional accreditors (with no more than 12 semester hours by correspondence). Accepted institutional accreditors include but are not limited to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).  Other US Department of Education recognized national accreditors which are not listed above may also be considered accepted institutional accreditors. Work completed in courses offered by UNC Pembroke’s Continuing Education Division at cooperating technical institutes is not counted as extension work.

International Baccalaureate Course Equivalencies

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke awards college-level credit for acceptable completion of the following International Baccalaureate courses:

College Level Examination Program

UNC Pembroke participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and accepts CLEP examinations which measure mastery of college-level, introductory course content in a variety of subject areas. Students meeting the credit-granting score on CLEP Examinations may earn up to 30 semester hours of college level credit. Transfer students may earn credit through prior CLEP exams provided the following criteria are met: 1) their scores must meet UNCP’s credit-granting standards, 2) their scores must be sent to the UNCP Admissions Office, and 3) their exams must be among those listed below. CLEP credit will not be granted for previously failed courses.

CLEP Examinations may be taken prior to or during the student’s enrollment with the following exception: no CLEP examination credit will be accepted during the final 25 percent of a student’s course work. Successful completion of each Examination earns three to twelve semester hours of credit and may exempt the student from certain General Education (as defined below) or major requirements. In some cases, only general elective credit will be awarded.

Students interested in information regarding CLEP testing centers should contact the College Board by:

Incoming freshmen may also obtain this information from their high school counselors.

Advanced Placement

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke participates in the Advanced Placement program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Credit may be earned in various subject matter areas. UNC Pembroke especially welcomes applicants with preparation in Advanced Placement courses. It awards University credit for such preparation according to the following table. For general information about Advanced Placement programs call 609-771-7300.

^*Laboratory notebooks from AP courses will be examined to determine amount of credit.

Part-time Students

A part‑time student is a student who is regularly admitted to UNC Pembroke and is registered for fewer than 12 semester hours of course work in a Fall or Spring Semester.

  Students in a part‑time status taking seven or more semester hours are charged all fees; activity and tuition charge is based on the number of semester hours taken. Part‑time students taking four to six semester hours will pay a reduced student activity fee

Esther G. Maynor Honors College

The Esther G. Maynor Honors College is designed to recognize outstanding students and to promote the scholarly growth of the students selected for the program by providing interdisciplinary around a learning community of honors students and include selected general education courses, small interdisciplinary seminars, cultural and service programs, and shared residential facilities with other honors students. The Esther G. Maynor Honors College offers an intellectually stimulating social environment, greater curricular flexibility, more personal contact and scholarly discussion with students and faculty from the various disciplines, and closer interaction with individual faculty members in the College. Each Esther G. Maynor Honors College student prepares a senior project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. For program description, see Special Programs.

Program participants are selected on the basis of class rank, high school grades, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores or American College Testing (ACT) scores (test scores optional), and extra‑curricular and community achievements. Esther G. Maynor Honors College students are appointed by the Dean of the Esther G. Maynor Honors College upon the recommendation of the University Honors Council.

Brave Start

The Brave Start program is designed to admit a limited number of students who meet most, but not all, of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s regular admission standards. Students are selected on the basis of high school academic record, scholastic standing in the high school graduating class, and SAT or ACT scores (optional). The application for admission should be filed as early as possible.

Students enter Brave Start based on recommendations from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and students enroll in courses designed to develop academic skills which will be necessary for their success at UNC Pembroke. In the Fall and Spring Semesters, the student is allowed to register for 15-17 hours of academic courses. In addition, students meet regularly with the Brave Start advisors for academic counseling as well as participate in special programs throughout the academic year. Students who meet the University’s academic eligibility requirements and have successfully completed the Brave Start program (made a “C” or higher in ENG 0104, UNV 1000, ENG 1050, and ENG 1060) then continue at the University as other regularly admitted students.