Guaranteed Admissions
The guaranteed admission programs offer a structured pathway for progressing directly from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree. Students who participate in one of the guaranteed admission programs are considered fully admitted to the community college and conditionally admitted to either East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, NC Wesleyan, NC State University, or UNC-Wilmington. Successful completion of any college transfer degree program grants the student guaranteed admission to the four-year institution. Note: Competitive programs are not guaranteed.
Student Benefits
- Waived transfer application fee
- Access to advisors at the transfer school
- Baccalaureate degree program planning and preparation for successful transition
- Visits from transfer school representatives including admissions and financial aid
- Access to select campus facilities at transfer school
- Access to campus programming and student activities and organizations
Participating Universities
East Carolina University Pirate Promise
Prepare for your future: join the Pirate Nation with Pirate Promise. ECU extends an invitation to participate from your community college before you graduate and transfer. Pirate Promise is the starting point for full-time community college students to attend special events, get advising and have support as you transfer to ECU.
Get these benefits:
- Guaranteed admission to ECU with a completed associate degree (see link below for list of approved associate degrees)
- Waived ECU application fee
- A dedicated transfer coach
- Joint academic advising
- Eligible to purchase an ECU 1 Card to get access to:
- Athletic tickets
- Campus recreation opportunities
- Campus events
- Library resources
- Community Writing Center
- Access to ECU Libraries
- Access to Virtual Job Shadow, ECU Career Services’ virtual workshop series
- Participate in select campus activities including “invitation only” Pirate Promise events at ECU.
- And much, much, more at Student Affairs
By participating you will have a seamless degree-completion pathway to graduation at ECU.
Eligibility Requirements:
- You are enrolling or already a full-time student in your first year at one of the NC Community College Pirate Promise schools in an associate degree program (AA, AE, AFA, AAS, AS, Early Childhood Education)
- You are a full-time student (minimum 12 hours a semester) unless you are an Early College or Career and College Promise student
- Early College and Career and College Promise students are eligible if they are pursuing an approved associate degree, have earned at least 12 credit hours, and are in at least their junior year of high school.
- To retain eligibility, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Application & Acceptance
- Complete the Pirate Promise Application between February 1 and April 1.
- Your community college will verify your eligibility.
- For application questions, contact an ECU representative at piratepromise@ecu.edu.
The Pirate Promise program does not guarantee admission to a specific major or program. The Pirate Promise is not an application to ECU. Students are encouraged to submit an application to ECU six months prior to graduating from WCC.
Apply to the ECU Pirate Promise program
The Pirate Promise application period is March 1 to April 1.
Please note, your community college will verify your eligibility.
Fayetteville State University—Bronco Benefit
Fayetteville State University (FSU), one of North Carolina’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), has partnered with Wilson Community College (WCC) to offer the Bronco Benefit to transfer students. This program is designed for students who wish to earn their college transfer degree at WCC and then transfer to FSU to complete their bachelor’s degree. FSU offers free tuition for veterans, and as an NC Promise school, tuition for all other students is just $500 per semester.
FSU provides resources and support to students who have completed at least 30 hours of their college transfer degree at WCC.
Get these benefits:
- Guaranteed admission to Fayetteville State University
- Access to transfer assistance/guidance from FSU’s Office for Adult Learners, Transfer, and Military Students upon completion of 30 semester hours
- Waived application fee
- Reduced tuition rate for in-state students
- Low-cost rental alternatives for student books
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be currently enrolled at WCC, in one of the approved transfer degree programs:
- Associate in Arts
- Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation
- Associate in Science
- Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation
- Associate in Fine Arts
- Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the student’s most recent term.
- Earn an associate degree from WCC in at least one of the college transfer programs listed above.
- Meet all FSU transfer admissions requirements.
- Must complete a letter of intent to confirm your intention to enroll at FSU upon graduation from Wilson Community College.
- Note: Dual-enrolled and Early College students are eligible if they have earned or are pursuing an approved college transfer degree at Wilson Community College and meet the eligibility requirements listed above.
For more information, please visit Fayetteville State University Transfer Partnerships.
NC State University — Community College Collaboration (C3)
NC State has partnered with Wilson Community College to offer the Community College Collaboration (C3) dual-admission, dual-enrollment program.
C3 is intended for community college students from low-to-moderate income backgrounds with demonstrated potential for academic success who aspire to transfer to NC State after completing their associate degree.
C3 provides academic and program support for students during their time in community college and prepares them for a successful transition to NC State and timely completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Get these Benefits:
- C3 students will be assigned an NC State academic advisor upon admission.
- Students will have direct access to NC State’s specialized online advising and course planning tools.
- Students are able to enroll in designated NC State courses while enrolled at WCC without paying additional tuition.
- Students will have opportunities to attend networking programs and specialized C3 activities.
Eligibility Requirements:
- You can apply to C3 during high school or your first year at a community college, as long as you have completed fewer than 30 credit hours. High school students with CCP credit should apply in their final semester of high school. Note: Early College students are not eligible to apply for C3.
- You should have at least one full academic year (fall + spring semesters) remaining at your community college and must remain enrolled there at the time of your admission into C3, before completing your associate degree and transferring to NC State.
- You should be from a low-to-moderate-income household. While C3 seeks students who fall at or below the $110,000 household income range, we are dedicated to considering you and your unique story. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss extenuating circumstances regarding your application and eligibility.
- You must also submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) alongside its verification requirements, maintain a 3.0 GPA or better cumulative GPA for community college coursework or attempted NC State coursework, and remain in Good Standing with both NC State University and your community college. To learn more about what we expect from you, please check out our Program Acceptance Agreement.
- Your major must be offered at NC State. The C3 program applies to most majors that NC State offers. However, while we can guarantee admission into NC State, we cannot guarantee admission into a particular program.
- For more information on the eligibility requirements, visit: https://c3.ncsu.edu/apply/eligibility/.
Deadlines:
- Spring Semester (Starting in January)
- Application Available: September 1st
- Application Deadline: November 1st
- Decision Notification: November 15th
- Enrollment Confirmation Deadline: December 1st
- Fall Semester (Starting in August)
- Application Available: February 1st
- Application Deadline: June 1st
- Decision Notifications: March 1st, April 1st, May 1st, June 15th
- Enrollment Confirmation Deadline: May 1st (Mar/Apr decisions), July 1st (May/June decisions)
NC Wesleyan University — Wesleyan Works
Wesleyan Works is a transfer program designed for community college students who plan to continue their education at North Carolina Wesleyan University. NCWU guarantees acceptance upon completion of an eligible associate’s degree.
Get these Benefits:
- Students are able to apply for admission to NCWU at any time during their program at WCC, gaining access to advising and a waiver of the application fee.
- Guaranteed admission to NCWU for college transfer graduates in the Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS) programs, and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) graduates, regardless of discipline.
- Access to academic advising and financial aid counseling through NCWU
- Access to attend events on NCWS’s main campus in Rocky Mount, NC
Eligibility Requirements:
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA and in Good Academic Standing
- Be at Least 21 Years of Age – The Vice President of Adult & Professional Studies has the right to waive this requirement upon successful completion of the age waiver process.
Application & Acceptance
- Students are able to apply for admission to NCWU at any time during their program at WCC, gaining access to advising and a waiver of the application fee.
- Complete NCWC’s Free Application
- Complete Your Free Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA School Code 002951). Note: You can add up to 10 school codes to your FAFSA without impacting your financial aid at the attending Community College.
- Complete the AA/AS/AAS Degree with the Attending Community College.
- Submit an Official College Transcript from Each School Previously Attended.
For more information, visit Wesleyan Works.
For a list of Wesleyan Works degree programs, visit NCWU’s Adult Degree Programs.
NC Wilmington PathWays Program
UNCW is committed to creating access opportunities and meaningful partnerships to support transfer student success. UNCW is in the process of re-launching the guaranteed transfer admission program (formerly Pathways to Excellence), re-branded as PathWays. The PathWays program will provide guaranteed access for students transferring between the North Carolina Community College System and the UNCW System. It is a pathway for guaranteed transfer admission to UNCW for students completing an AA, AS, AE, AATP, ASTP, or AFA from a North Carolina Community College.
Get these benefits:
- Guaranteed admission as a transfer student and $80 application fee waiver.
- $2,000 one-time scholarship for eligible students (only available for fall entry; students must apply by March 1 to be eligible).
- A UNCW transfer success coach to offer personalized support, guide you through the process, and provide updates on deadlines, opportunities, and more.
- Access to campus visits, events, and workshops to prepare for the transfer process and ensure a smooth transition.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Only students who are planning to apply as a transfer student are eligible for guaranteed admission.
- Students must have 24 transferrable credit hours for guaranteed admission.
- Early college students are only eligible for PathWays if they apply as transfer students, not first-year students. To learn more, please visit the UNCW Early College website.
Application & Acceptance:
- Enroll by completing the UNCW PathWays Enrollment Form—available year-round.
- While there is no deadline, joining in your first year at a partner community college ensures maximum benefits.
- Once enrolled in Pathways, you’ll receive updates from UNCW and your Transfer Success Coach.
For more information, contact:
Dean of University Transfer/College & Career Readiness
Department: Faculty
Phone: (252) 246-1309
Email: sroberts@wilsoncc.edu
Office: C203a
