UNC Asheville and Southwestern Community College signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, April 29, to launch the Bulldog Promise Program, a pioneering direct-entry admissions partnership designed to make a bachelor’s degree more accessible, more affordable, and more achievable for students across Jackson, Swain, Macon Counties and the Qualla Boundary.
Effective fall 2026, the program creates a clear, supported pathway from SCC directly to UNC Asheville — giving students from western NC a guaranteed route to a four-year degree while dramatically reducing the cost of their education.
Students who follow the Bulldog Promise pathway can graduate from a prestigious public liberal arts university with significantly less debt than those who enroll at a four-year institution from the start. The program has no participation fee, and students can even apply for a waiver of the UNC Asheville application fee.
Students who meet the straightforward eligibility requirements — including earning a minimum 2.0 GPA, maintaining good standing, and completing an associate degree in a college transfer program — are guaranteed admission to UNC Asheville. There are no surprises, no uncertainty about whether credits will count and no need to start the college search process from scratch.
Every credit earned at Southwestern in a qualifying program transfers to UNC Asheville — so students aren’t forced to repeat coursework or lose time. From the moment students sign up for the program at Southwestern, they gain early access to financial aid communications, orientation and registration resources at UNC Asheville — setting them up for success before they ever set foot on the Asheville campus.
"Southwestern Community College graduates looking to advance their education will find a welcoming home at UNC Asheville, and we've made it our mission to make that transition as smooth as possible," said UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort. "Our dedication to accessible, affordable, career-focused education means that students who transfer here can expect real, tangible returns on their investment — an edge that will equip them to tackle the complex challenges facing our region and the state as a whole."
Currently enrolled SCC students interested in the Bulldog Promise Program can sign up by completing a brief online form available through the UNC Asheville Transfer Counselor.
"We are always eager to find new opportunities to help our students succeed, and our new partnership with UNC Asheville is a perfect example," said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC's President. "I'm thankful to all our administrators at Southwestern, and also to our friends in Asheville, for putting this MOU together. Ultimately, our students will benefit - and that's good for all of us as well as for the communities we serve."
