The Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) is a partnership between Craven Community College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for high-achieving, low- to moderate-income students who will enroll in an associate in arts/science program with the aim of transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill as juniors with completed associate degrees. Entry into the program is competitive and is based on both demonstrated financial need and academic excellence. Statistics show that transfer students from North Carolina Community Colleges, on average, perform better as juniors than those who enter UNC-Chapel Hill as freshmen.
C-STEP is not a scholarship program. However, C-STEP students are provided exemplary advising, mentoring, and support during their transition and subsequent enrollment at UNC-Chapel Hill. They participate in group activities, trips to UNC, and community service projects during their time at Craven. This ensures that Craven C-STEP students feel academically prepared and engaged in the campus community, as both are strong indicators of student success.
An important consideration for many students interested in transferring to a four-year university is how to pay for their education. Once enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill, the university attempts to meet 100% of every admitted C-STEP student’s demonstrated financial need through grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs. In addition, qualified C-STEP students will be eligible to apply to be Carolina Covenant Scholars, a program that enables students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to graduate with minimal debt from UNC-Chapel Hill.
View the C-STEP Leaflet for additional information and helpful links.
Application Requirements
Students must be high school graduates enrolled as full-time community college students, pursue an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree, and still have at least half of their associate degree coursework remaining (30 hours) to complete when they apply. The next cohort of students would graduate from Craven in Spring 2025 and enter UNC in Fall 2025.
Application Deadlines
Spring Application Deadline: April 1, 2024
Fall Application Deadline: October 1, 2024
Application Checklist
In order to be considered, these materials must be received by the deadline for which you are applying:
- Fill out UNC-Chapel Hill’s C-STEP online application. Please include all requested information. If you answer “yes” to any of the community standards questions, please submit an explanation and supporting documentation as requested in the instructions. Please note that we are unable to review incomplete applications that do not include an explanation and support documentation standards incidents.
- Include the contact information of two people who can provide a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Once you’ve submitted this information, we’ll email your recommenders inviting them to complete a recommendation online. We require two letters of recommendation for your application.
- Upload all unofficial copies of transcripts from your graduating high school and all colleges and universities attended. (You must submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions in which you have enrolled, regardless of whether you completed coursework.)
- Self-report SAT or ACT results (if taken).
Contact Information
Program Advisor
Cameron Kishel
Ward Hall, Room 124C
New Bern Campus
252-633-2871