FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 14, 2025
Alamance Community College partners with App State’s Aspire Appalachian pathway program to benefit transfer students
Aspire is a seamless pathway for transfer students to complete their degrees at App State
Graham N.C. — Alamance Community College (ACC) has partnered with Appalachian State University’s Aspire Appalachian program, which provides a streamlined path for students enrolled in community colleges to complete their bachelor’s degrees at App State.
The Aspire Appalachian program is designed to ease the transition between schools for transfer students, boost degree completion rates and minimize student loan debt.
Alamance Community College hosted a signing ceremony for the partnership on Friday, Nov. 14.
“At Alamance Community College, our mission is rooted in creating clear, accessible pathways for students to achieve their goals,” said Dr. Ken Ingle, President of Alamance Community College. “Partnerships like Aspire Appalachian open doors for our students to seamlessly continue their education while reducing barriers such as cost, credit transfer, and uncertainty about next steps. As ACC experiences its highest enrollment in a decade, collaborations like this ensure our students not only start strong here, but finish strong at institutions like Appalachian State University.”
As of this fall, App State has secured new and renewed Aspire agreements with 33 — nearly 60% — of North Carolina community colleges.
“As we celebrate today, we are reminded of the good work being done at our North Carolina community colleges and the potential that can be reached when two- and four-year institutions collaborate to assist our students from their start at the community college through the finish line at their four-year institution, and beyond,” said Jamie Parson, acting senior vice provost of faculty policies, development and training at App State. “Together, we are working to meet workforce demand, and contributing to the economic health and wellbeing of our state and region.”
Aspire Appalachian — benefits, eligibility and how to participate
Students involved in the Aspire Appalachian program gain access to numerous benefits, including:
- Guaranteed admission to App State.
- Dedicated academic advising assistance from both their community college and App State.
- Admission counseling for assistance through the entire App State admissions process.
- Financial aid advising and planning, to help students maximize their aid and minimize their college debt.
- Priority consideration for a select number of Appalachian Excellence Scholarships (available to students who have completed summer or fall admission applications by Feb. 1).
- Invitations to special webinars, events and newsletters designed to help students successfully transfer to and succeed at App State.
Those students who are continuously enrolled at Alamance Community College and are on track to complete an approved two-year associate degree program are eligible to participate in the Aspire program. Students should graduate from their associate degree program with a grade-point average of 2.25 or higher.
To participate in the program, students need to complete the Aspire Appalachian intent form for their respective school; intent forms are available on the Aspire Appalachian webpage at aspire.appstate.edu. Once they submit their intent form, students will be contacted by their assigned App State admissions counselor, who will assist them throughout the admissions process. Students accepted into the Aspire program will begin their application for admission to App State one semester prior to finishing their associate degree.
Students who are interested in transferring to App State through the Aspire Appalachian program should speak with their college’s Aspire contact and/or their App State transfer admissions counselor; both contacts are listed on the Aspire Appalachian webpage.
App State’s strong support of its transfer student population has earned the university the reputation of being one of the most transfer-friendly schools in the nation. For nine consecutive years, App State has been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes four-year colleges and universities across the country for developing dynamic and innovative pathways that lead to success among community college transfer students.
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About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
About Alamance Community College
Founded in 1958, Alamance Community College (ACC) serves more than 10,000 students annually through curriculum, continuing education, and workforce development programs. Located in Graham, NC, ACC is a cornerstone of education and economic development for Alamance County and the surrounding region. With a focus on innovation, accessibility, and student success, the College prepares graduates to be workforce-ready and empowers learners of all ages to achieve their educational and career goals.