FAMU partners with North Florida College, marking 20th transfer program partnership

As Florida A&M University continues to attract scholars from both near and far, it established its 20th partnership with a public state college to give transfer students a better chance of becoming a Rattler. 

In partnership with the university, North Florida College in Madison County has joined the FAMU Ignite Program – an admissions initiative that offers eligible students attending an institution in the Florida College System a smooth transfer process to select programs at the HBCU (historically Black college or university) once they complete their associate degree. 

Allyson Watson , FAMU's provost and vice president for academic affairs, says the new partnership marks an "exciting milestone" for the university as its partnerships are now with 20 of the 28 colleges in the Florida College System .

"Expanding access to higher education within the region provides a seamless pathway for talented students to continue their academic journey at FAMU," Watson said in a statement sent to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Other FAMU news: FAMU Assistant VP Carmen Cummings-Martin named university's new chief of staff

NFC, established in 1958, is a two-year college about an hour away from FAMU's Tallahassee campus. It mainly serves its six-county district, which consists of Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties.

Through the college's new partnership with FAMU, eligible NFC graduates are able to transfer to the university's in-demand programs, where the top four based on workforce and career-readiness needs are nursing, healthcare management, pharmacy and aerospace engineering, according to Watson. 

"By strengthening these partnerships, we are not only empowering students with the opportunity to earn a world-class education but also ensuring we cultivate a future-ready workforce that will drive innovation and economic growth in Florida and beyond," Watson said.

Closer to FAMU's campus, Tallahassee State College is one of the other many colleges across Florida that are partnered with the HBCU through the Ignite Program while it also has a similar partnership with Florida State University through the Aspire Transfer Program . 

An average of 371 transfer students have enrolled at FAMU since fall 2021 while the university has an average incoming class enrollment of 1,500 students every year.

Currently, there are 78 students enrolled at NFC who are a part of the FAMU Ignite Program, according to FAMU's associate provost for First Year Studies and Academic Excellence Jennifer Collins. The application deadline for FAMU's fall 2025 semester is April 1. 

"We are thrilled to offer our Sentinels a streamlined path to continue their education at FAMU," NFC's Career and Transfer Center Advisor Snowey Hagan said in a prepared statement. "In addition to participating in NFC's vibrant campus life, our students will also have access to FAMU's events and activities, making for a truly enriching college experience."

More information about the FAMU Ignite Program can be found on the university's website . Here's a list of all the colleges FAMU is partnered with through its Ignite Program:

• Broward College 

• College of Central Florida 

• Daytona State College 

• Eastern Florida State College 

• Florida Gateway College 

• Florida State College at Jacksonville 

• Florida Southwestern State College 

• Hillsborough Community College 

• Indian River State College 

• Miami-Dade College 

• North Florida College 

• Palm Beach State College 

• Pasco-Hernando State College 

• Polk State College 

• Santa Fe College 

• South Florida State College 

• St. Petersburg College 

• State College of Florida 

• Tallahassee State College 

• Valencia College

Tarah Jean is a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at  tjean@tallahassee.com  and follow her on X:  @tarahjean_ .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU, North Florida College become partners through transfer program