How to get into North Carolina A & T State University
How to get into N.C. A&T: the largest HBCU in the U.S., with engineering and agriculture pipelines
49.9%
Acceptance rate
$6,813
In-state cost
$20,673
Out-of-state cost
What makes North Carolina A & T State University admissions different
North Carolina A&T State University is a large (~12,000 undergrad) public historically Black land-grant university in Greensboro, NC — the largest HBCU in the U.S. by enrollment. The College of Engineering is the institutional flagship: N.C. A&T graduates more African American engineers at the bachelor's level than any other U.S. university, year after year. The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (the land-grant component) is similarly strong and operates the Cooperative Extension Service across North Carolina. Other strong programs include Nursing, Business, and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (a partnership with UNC Greensboro).
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through N.C. A&T's institutional online application or the Common App. Submit transcripts, recommendation, and the personal statement.
- 2.
Apply by the November 1 priority deadline for full consideration for housing, scholarships, and the Honors College. Late applicants compete in a smaller pool.
- 3.
Maintain a strong GPA in college-prep coursework. SAT/ACT is optional in most recent cycles; submit if scores reinforce.
- 4.
If Engineering is the goal, take calculus and physics in high school and reference specific A&T engineering programs (Mechanical, Industrial and Systems, Electrical and Computer, Civil) in the application.
- 5.
Apply for the Cheatham-White Scholarship (full-ride, four-year merit scholarship at A&T and N.C. Central) by the November deadline if you're a top-of-pool applicant — separate application and competitive.
- 6.
Apply for the Honors College on the application — A&T Honors offers smaller seminars, priority registration, and dedicated advising.
- 7.
North Carolina residents: file the FAFSA early to stack federal Pell, North Carolina state aid (NC Need-Based Scholarship, NCSEAA programs), and A&T institutional aid.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the Cheatham-White deadline. The Cheatham-White is the top merit scholarship in the UNC system for HBCUs and runs on a separate application track ahead of regular admission.
- ✕
Treating Engineering as a standard admit. A&T Engineering is competitive within the university; applicants without strong math signal face longer odds.
- ✕
Skipping the Honors College box. Honors at A&T is the academic-enrichment pipeline and benefits applicants who check the box at the time of admission.
The specifics for North Carolina A & T State University
Application deadlines
- Early Action / priority2025-11-01
- Cheatham-White Scholarship2025-11-15Full-ride competitive scholarship — separate application required.
- Regular Decision2026-05-01
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Largest HBCU in the United States
N.C. A&T is the largest historically Black university in the U.S. by enrollment and a public land-grant institution under the Second Morrill Act.
Top producer of African American engineering bachelor's degrees ↗
N.C. A&T graduates more African American engineers at the bachelor's level than any other U.S. university, year after year. The College of Engineering is the institutional flagship.
Full-ride, four-year merit scholarship for top-of-pool admits at N.C. A&T and N.C. Central. Competitive named scholarship with separate application by mid-November.
What graduates actually do
North Carolina A&T is the largest HBCU in the country and a land-grant institution in Greensboro with extraordinary engineering output — it graduates more Black engineers than any other U.S. university. Graduates feed Lockheed Martin, Boeing, NASA, IBM, and the Department of Defense, along with Greensboro-area healthcare (Cone Health, Atrium) and North Carolina's public schools. The 1960 Greensboro Four sit-ins originated with A&T students, anchoring the school's civil rights legacy.
Notable alumni
- Jesse Jackson — Civil rights leader
- Ronald McNair — NASA astronaut (Challenger)
- Joseph McNeil — Greensboro Four civil rights pioneer
- Terrence J — Television host and actor
- Henry Frye — First Black Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
- Tarik Cohen — NFL running back
Transfer pathway
NC A&T honors the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), which guarantees junior-status entry for state CC AA-degree completers with a 2.5+ GPA. Guilford Technical Community College, Forsyth Tech, and Central Piedmont CC send the largest transfer cohorts. Engineering and CS transfers are competitive and may require departmental approval.
Articulation partners
Guilford Technical Community College · Forsyth Technical Community College · Central Piedmont Community College · Alamance Community College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App (supplements re-verified this pass). Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
A&T is reachable for applicants with college-prep coursework and a clear major focus. Engineering, the Cheatham-White Scholarship, and the Honors College all require additional signal and earlier action. For North Carolina residents, the financial story (in-state tuition + state aid + institutional aid) is among the strongest in the South.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.