BraveNation Advantage Opens New Pathway for RichmondCC Graduates to UNCP

April 21, 2025 - Richmond Community College students can now qualify for guaranteed admission to the University of North Carolina-Pembroke through the BraveNation Advantage Transfer Program.

Leaders of both colleges met at the Cole Auditorium on April 16 to officially sign the BraveNation Advantage transfer agreement. They were also joined by many UNCP graduates who work at RichmondCC, including RichmondCC President Brent Barbee.

“I received a master’s in public administration from UNCP in 2008. At that time, I had been out of school from earning my bachelor’s degree for 13 years, so I was very apprehensive about going back. But I was welcomed with open arms,” Barbee said. “I’m very proud of the degree that I earned from UNCP.”

Barbee also thanked the university’s staff and leaders for their collaboration and cooperation to make BraveNation Advantage an option for RichmondCC students.

“Because of this partnership, our students here in Richmond and Scotland County know they can get a quality education from a UNC constituent institution inexpensively and have the option to live at home or live on campus.”

UNCP Chancellor Dr. Robin Cummings said he was proud to partner with RichmondCC and is looking forward to attracting more students to UNCP. According to Cummings, there are more than 400 students from Richmond and Scotland counties currently enrolled at UNCP, including 113 RichmondCC graduates.

“The pathway we are launching here today is just another example of a close relationship between UNC-Pembroke and RichmondCC,” Cummings said. “It’s all about creating opportunities and education for students.”

RichmondCC students enrolled in an approved transfer program taking 12 or more credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher can qualify for the BraveNation Advantage. This also includes high school juniors or seniors enrolled in RichmondCC’s dual enrollment program or one of the Early Colleges.

The BraveNation Advantage provides:

• A waived UNCP application fee
• Joint academic pre-transfer advising
• Joint financial aid counseling
• Opportunities to participate with the BraveNation community prior to enrollment
• Priority consideration for transfer scholarships
• Priority consideration for acceptance into the Maynor Honors College
• Early Access to on-campus housing
• A connection to faculty and staff at UNCP during your transfer into UNCP. 

BraveNation Advantage students will be able to receive admission, financial aid, advising, registration and orientation communications early in the transfer process. BraveNation Advantage students also get access to:

• Campus recreation and activities
• The Career Center
• The Writing Center
• Access to UNCP’s Summer Study Abroad Experiences
• Discount on special Performing Arts productions

Students begin their education at UNCP once they graduate with an associate degree from RichmondCC.

Besides the growing degree opportunities at UNCP, students can save thousands of dollars in tuition through the NC Promise program. Undergraduate students pay $500 per semester for in-state tuition and $2,500 per semester for out-of-state tuition, dramatically reducing the expense of a college education.

The college savings increases more for students who pair the NC Promise with the RichmondCC Guarantee, which allows eligible students to attend RichmondCC for two years and pay no in-state tuition and fees.

“The first step to putting your child on the path to the RichmondCC Guarantee begins when your child is a junior or senior in high school, which is when he or she can enroll in RichmondCC’s dual enrollment program,” said Dean of K-12 Partnerships Kary Edmondson, who is also a graduate of UNCP. "A high school advisor can help you learn more about dual enrollment at RichmondCC or visit RichmondCC.”

The Career & Transfer Advising Center is located on both the Hamlet Campus and Scotland County Campus. Walk-ins are welcome to come learn more about the RichmondCC Guarantee, the BraveNation Advantage and other guaranteed admissions programs that save families thousands of dollars on a college education. Call (910) 410-1700 or text (910) 518-9685.