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Early College High Schools

UNC Charlotte welcomed more than 400 early college high school graduates in last year’s incoming class! We are committed to ensuring you have a smooth transition to the University.

Early College Student Application Process

Wondering how to apply if you are completing college courses while in high school? Apply to Charlotte as a first-year applicant! First-year application requirements include:

  • Online application
  • Application fee or fee waiver
  • Essay
  • Official high school transcript

Optional: college transcript, SAT or ACT test scores*, recommendation letter(s) and personal statement.

Transfer Credit
  • First-year applicants receive credit for college courses completed during high school as well as AP and IB exam credits. Your transferable credits will be evaluated and your class standing will be determined at that point.
  • For early college high school students enrolled through a North Carolina community college, we follow the transfer credit policies defined in the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between the UNC System and the North Carolina Community College System.
  • High school students completing college coursework through any other institution can use the Transfer Credit Advisor tool to identify the credits that will be awarded for successfully completed college coursework.
What to submit with your application:
  • Early college high school graduates who have not completed college courses after graduation from high school are considered a first-year applicant for reporting and application purposes.
  • When you apply to Charlotte, please submit your college transcript along with your other application materials.
What We Review/Consider:
  • We will consider both your high school academic coursework, essay and optional test scores as well as your college courses and grades.

Looking for additional information?

At UNC Charlotte, we are committed to ensuring that high school students earning college credit have a smooth transition to our institution.

Cooperative & Innovative High School Students

N.C. legislation outlined below does offer certain application review options to students who graduate from a Cooperative Innovative High School (Early Colleges) who WILL earn an associate degree in addition to their high school diploma. All other early college students will be evaluated using standard first-year student criteria.

More About These High Schools
  • Applicants from North Carolina Cooperative Innovative High Schools (CIHS) receive special consideration in the admission review for UNC System universities based on North Carolina law.
  • According to House Bill 97 Section 11.16.(a) “any student who graduated from a cooperative innovative high school program with an associate degree and who applies for admission to the constituent institution has the option of being considered for admission as a freshman or as a transfer student.”