You've already put meaningful time and effort into your education. If you're thinking about returning, North Carolina colleges and universities may offer support that helps you finish with a clearer path and fewer barriers.

Find your school below, connect with the right person, and see what support may already be available to you.

Jump to section:

• Who to contact when you're ready to enroll
• Schools offering pre-admission degree audits
• Resources for learners with a high number of credits
• What to do next

Who to contact when you're ready to enroll

Appalachian State University Contact the advising office for your intended major to get started.

East Carolina University Stephanie Whaley, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director for Admissions whaleys19@ecu.edu

Fayetteville State University Tiffany Watson, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions twatson23@uncfsu.edu

University of North Carolina at Asheville Academic Success Center asc@unca.edu

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Debbie Smith dsmit295@charlotte.edu

University of North Carolina at Greensboro Gina Ingraham, StopOut Prevention & ReEntry Coordinator (336) 334-3449 | gsingra2@uncg.edu

University of North Carolina at Pembroke Ashley Oxendine Dial — for returning learners in good standing Student Success & Readmission Coordinator bcb@uncp.edu

Krystin Woodell — for learners who were dismissed or suspended Associate Director of Admissions Krystin.Woodell@uncp.edu

University of North Carolina at Wilmington Amber T. Ferrel, Program Director, Returning & Transfer Student Pathways (910) 962-3845 | ferrellat@uncw.edu

Western Carolina University Travis Bulluck, Director of Advising (828) 227-7753 | tlbulluck@wcu.edu

Winston-Salem State University Jason Sneed, Interim Director of Advising Services, University College (336) 750-8684 | sneedjh@wssu.edu

Schools offering pre-admission degree audits

These schools may be able to review your credits before you formally re-enroll. Reach out to the contact listed for your school to ask about availability and eligibility.

• Appalachian State University — contact the advising office for your intended major
• Fayetteville State University — available for learners with 60 or more credits who are interested in the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies; contact Tiffany Watson at twatson23@uncfsu.edu
• University of North Carolina at Asheville — email the Academic Success Center at asc@unca.edu before applying to ask about your remaining coursework
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte — available for learners with 60 or more credit hours; contact Debbie Smith at dsmit295@charlotte.edu
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro — contact Gina Ingraham at (336) 334-3449 or gsingra2@uncg.edu
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke — contact Ashley Oxendine Dial at bcb@uncp.edu if you're in good standing, or Krystin Woodell at Krystin.Woodell@uncp.edu if you were dismissed or suspended
• Western Carolina University — contact Travis Bulluck at (828) 227-7753 or tlbulluck@wcu.edu
• Winston-Salem State University — contact Jason Sneed at (336) 750-8684 or sneedjh@wssu.edu

Resources for learners with a high number of credits

Appalachian State University

Online programs are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free. If you've been away for more than one year, submit the returning student application. Contact the advising office for your major if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

East Carolina University

Fully online degree completion programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: The Finish What You Started initiative is designed for learners who have earned more than 90 credit hours and have been out for at least two terms.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: There is a $35 application fee for returning students. Submit the returning student application.

Fayetteville State University

Online programs are available. The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies lets you build an individualized program of study based on your interests, goals, and experience.

Money that may help you finish: NC Promise — undergraduate tuition is set at $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 per semester for out-of-state students.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application fee is waived for ReUp students. Submit the returning student application. If you have 60 or more credits and are interested in the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, contact Tiffany Watson about a pre-admission degree audit.

University of North Carolina at Asheville

UNC Asheville does not offer fully online programs but does offer online classes. The Individual Degree Concentration is available as a flexible degree-completion option.

Money that may help you finish: The UNC Asheville ReUp Readmit Scholarship offers two $1,000 scholarship opportunities per student — one ReUp Scholarship and one Retention Scholarship, for a total of $2,000. To qualify, you must be one of the first 50 students admitted, deposited, and registered for Fall 2026.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application fee is waived for returning students. If you have not attended any other school since leaving UNC Asheville, submit the returning student application by the term deadline. If you have attended another school since leaving, submit the transfer student application.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

100% online degree completion programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: The 49er Finish Program is available for learners who have earned 90 or more credit hours, have a 2.0 GPA or better, are in good academic, disciplinary, and financial standing, and have been away for at least one year.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for both current tuition and past-due balances.

How to apply or come back: There is a $75 application fee unless you have more than 90 credit hours and are applying through the 49er Finish Program. Submit the returning student application. Contact Debbie Smith if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Online programs are available.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application fee is $65. Learners in good academic standing should submit the returning student application. Contact Gina Ingraham if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Online programs are available.

Money that may help you finish: NC Promise at UNCP — $500 per term for in-state tuition and $1,500 per term for out-of-state tuition.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition. Note: payment plans are not available for summer or online accelerated programs.

How to apply or come back: The application is free with the promo code in your next steps email. Submit the returning student application.

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Online programs are available. The Interdisciplinary Studies program is available on campus or online — many IDS students are working adults taking online courses part time. The Workforce Learning & Development B.S. is a flexible, accelerated online program that may offer the opportunity to earn credit for work experience.

Money that may help you finish: The Return to Soar Scholarship is a one-time $1,000 award paid as $500 per semester across two semesters. It supports returning learners in Interdisciplinary Studies who have shown resilience, motivation, and a strong commitment to finishing. No separate application is required — eligible students are considered at admission.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application is free when using the fee waiver code in your next steps email. Submit the returning student application.

Western Carolina University

Online programs are available. The Finish Line Program is designed for learners who have been away for one year or more and have 90 or more credits.

Money that may help you finish: WCU participates in NC Promise Tuition Rates — contact Admissions for current rate details.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: The application fee is $65. Submit the application for admission. Contact Travis Bulluck if you'd like to review your credits before applying.

Winston-Salem State University

Online programs are available. The BIS Interdisciplinary Studies program offers flexibility in your course selection and academic focus and can be completed online.

Help with what you owe: Payment plans are available for current tuition.

How to apply or come back: There is no application fee for learners returning to WSSU unless you have attended another school since leaving — in that case, the fee is $50. Submit the readmission application by the deadlines posted on WSSU's returning student page.

What to do next

If you're close to finishing, a good first move is finding out what still counts, what returning may cost, and which path fits your life now.

• Connect with the contact listed for your school
• Ask whether a degree audit is available before you commit to applying
• Check whether NC Promise, a scholarship, or a payment plan may help with costs
• Look into online or degree-completion options that match your remaining credits
• Review the readmission steps specific to your school — they vary

You've already built momentum. Returning is about picking it back up with the right support behind you.