Thinking of applying to UNCW?
If you are thinking of applying to UNCW as a military-affiliated student, here are some things to consider:
- UNCW serves more than 2,300 military-affiliated students, including those who have served/are currently serving in the Armed Forces and their family members.
- The Office of Military Affairs is located in Veterans Hall 1029; the space features a large lounge and reception area, a full kitchen, a quiet study room, and a training classroom, as well as office space.
- Veterans and active military members enter UNCW as transfer students; military spouses and dependents may enter as transfer students or as first-year students.
Topics on this page:
Military College or Commissioning Programs
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Admissions Webinar
You may listen to a recorded webinar that answers many common questions about admissions policies and procedures.
How to Apply to UNCW
Active duty service members and veterans apply to UNCW as transfer students.
UNCW waives the application fee for active duty military students; request the fee waiver with this form.
As part of the application process, you'll need to request transcripts from any other schools you've attended. Usually, they have an online option where you can have the transcript emailed to UNCWTransfer@uncw.edu. You can also have transcripts mailed to the following address:
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
601 S College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403 – 5904
You’ll also need to request your military transcript through Joint Services Transcripts (JST); sometimes training that you’ve taken in the military counts toward college credit. When you are in the Joint Services Transcript portal, be sure to search for "University of North Carolina Wilmington" (instead of "UNCW") and select the undergraduate Office of Admissions.
Military spouses and dependents may apply as first-year or transfer students depending on their circumstances.
For more information about majors and minors available at UNCW, as well as specific course requirements for each academic degree program, please select the appropriate major or minor program sheet.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Other VA Benefits
Learn more about how to use VA benefits at UNCW on our VA Benefits Resource page.
Military Tuition Assistance Programs
Students who are interested in using Tuition Assistance (TA) need to proceed to the appropriate website below to begin:
If you have questions about billing and which costs are covered by TA, please contact our Third Party Billing Office at thirdpartybilling@uncw.edu. You are eligible to apply for financial aid and scholarships.
Learn more about the UNCW Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense.
If you do not see your academic program listed in the Tuition Assistance portal, please email Melanie Nelson (nelsonms@uncw.edu) so that it may be added.
Military College or Commissioning Programs
If you are applying to attend UNCW as part of a military college or commissioning program, please contact Micah Jarrett in the Office of Admissions (jarrettma@uncw.edu; 910-962-2550) for help with procuring the necessary admissions paperwork according to the deadlines for your program.
UNCW does not offer ROTC programs with any branch of service.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships and financial aid at UNCW. The general scholarship application is open from Dec. 1-Mar. 1 for the following year; some scholarships are specifically designated for military-affiliated students, while others are designated for non-traditional students, a category that includes veterans, those currently serving, and their spouses.
Students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for fall/spring and an additional FAFSA for the summer term, if taking classes during the summer. Scholarships are also available for study abroad programs.
Many scholarships for military service members, veterans, and their family members are available through a variety of organizations.
UNCW offers a military-affiliated student payment plan, which may be set up through the student's eBill. This payment plan allows the bill to be divided into 3 payments.
Transfer Credit
Any undergraduate student transferring to UNCW may use up to 90 semester hours of external academic credit toward their UNCW degree. These credits must be from regionally accredited institutions attended. Of those 90 hours, no more than 64 semester hours can be accepted from two year institutions.
For military students, credits earned for military training and experience are accepted for transfer and are counted as upper-level, four year institution credits toward the 90 hour limit. You will need to provide your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to the university for evaluation of your credit (or CCAF transcript if Air Force).
Learn more about transfer credits for military students and student veterans.
Honors College
Military-affiliated students often find that they are a good fit for the UNCW Honors College. The Honors College allows students to participate in small classes with dedicated faculty mentorship. The honors designation on your transcript and diploma may help you be a more competitive candidate for graduate programs and jobs. Learn more about student veterans' experiences in the Honors College.
Housing
Housing is available at UNCW for both first-year students and transfer students. Off-campus housing is also available.
For those who choose to live off-campus close to the university, UNCW offers a free shuttle service.
Parking
All faculty, staff and students pay for parking permits to park on campus at UNCW. Students who are veterans or who are currently serving are eligible for a $20 discount on parking permits. Students may register for a parking permit after they have registered for classes. Visitors may park for free in visitor parking.
Testing Services
UNCW offers testing services at the Camp Lejeune Base Education Center; tests include the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Non-traditional Educational Support (DANTES) Standardized Subject Tests (DSSTs), which can replace college credit for certain courses with a single test. Testing is free for active duty and reserve service members, and testing services are also available for veterans and civilians.
In other words, you could take a test in a standard college subject for free and have it count toward general education college credits, saving you time and allowing you to get to the required coursework for your major earlier in your college career. Learn more about CLEP and DANTES testing at Camp Lejeune, including how to register for tests.
Office of Military Affairs
The staff of the Office of Military Affairs is here to answer your questions. You may email militaryaffairs@uncw.edu for more information.
Please continue exploring the Military Affairs website, as well as the rest of the UNCW.edu website.
Additionally, you may find some of the free resources available through PsychHub to be helpful to you as you undergo the transition from the military. PsychHub's The Transition School is comprised of 13 courses covering topics such as telling your own story, navigating medical benefits and pursuing employment. The courses, which can be taken in any order you wish, are designed to support separating and retiring military members, their family members, future employers and even Veterans who are going through new transitions.
Thank you for considering UNCW, and we look forward to helping you begin your academic journey here!
