Transferring College Credits? Here are Our Top Tips for You

If you started a college degree but never finished, you’re not alone. Did you know there are over 40 million students in the United States who have completed some college credits but never completed a college credential? Often finances or demands of splitting time between work, family, and school are some of the common barriers that prohibit students from finishing a degree.  

Transferring your previously earned college credits to a tuition-free university like University of the People is a great way to reduce your costs and time of completing a degree, especially if you are trying to finish your bachelor’s degree.  

However, whether your previously earned credits can transfer and be applied toward a degree depends on a few variables such as how old the credits are and if you are switching majors. 

Transfer policies vary from institution to institution, which makes it difficult for transfer students to compare institutions and find the right transfer destination fit. Here are some tips to help you maximize your transfer credits and find the right transfer institution for you: 

Accreditation  

Transfer credits earned from an accredited institution or credits earned through a provider whose courses have been reviewed and recommended for credit by ACE (American Council of Education) or NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service) are eligible to transfer. Some institutions will only accept credits from regionally accredited institutions versus nationally accredited institutions. Look for that distinction in your chosen university’s transfer credit policy.  

Number of Courses 

If you are transferring credits that are considered general education, most likely your courses will transfer to satisfy general education degree requirements at your transfer destination institution. Every degree requires a certain number of classes in areas such as English, math, computing, arts and humanities, social science, and science. Each college or university may also require a certain number of specific courses in each subject area (usually 1-2 courses in each general education area). 

Likeness of Chosen Majors  

Your credits are more likely to transfer if you are transferring to the same or similar majors, meaning if you were pursuing a business administration program at your prior institution and want to study in the same or similar program at your transfer destination institution, your previously earned credits are more likely to apply toward the degree at the new institution. Conversely, if you are changing majors, you will probably lose some credits.  

Degree Level 

If you earned courses at the undergraduate level (associate and bachelor’s), they are eligible for transfer to other undergraduate programs. Credits earned at the graduate level typically only transfer to other graduate degree programs.  

Age and Credit Validity  

Some institutions may put a time or age limit on the acceptance of transfer credits. Some institutions will not accept credits that are, say, 5 or more years old. Other institutions, like UoPeople, do not put that age limit on transfer credits. This is usually more strictly enforced in regard to programs that are technology-focused.  

Credit Applicability within the Chosen University 

Many universities claim that X number of credits will transfer to the university BUT what they don’t tell you is that those credits may not transfer into the “School” within the university. Many universities have a School of Business, School of Education, and so on. Those “Schools” may have different policies and procedures from the university itself. So yes, your credits may transfer generally to the university, but they may not transfer into the school within the university that oversees the specific degree program. This is something you want to specifically ask your transfer institution.  

Cap on Number of Credits 

Another factor affecting the transferability of your transfer credits is how many transfer credits can be accepted in totality. Many universities typically have what is called “home institution credits” or “residency credits,” which means you must take a specific number of credits at the degree-granting institution. Most four-year universities require 30-45 residency credits, and a specific number of those residency credits may need to be upper-level, meaning 300 and 400-level courses. Generally speaking, though, most universities will accept up to 90 credits in transfer if you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree.  

Not All Grades are Treated Equally   

Usually, grades must be a “C” or “pass” to transfer and apply toward your degree. If you are in the U.S. and transferring to another institution within the same state where you earned your transfer credits, the transfer institution may accept credits that are a “D” and above but may not apply those courses toward satisfying major requirements. 

Special Evaluation for Non-US Credits 

If credits are earned from a non-US-based institution, you will need to obtain either a course-by-course or general evaluation provided by an international evaluation agency with AICE or NACES. You will have to check with your transfer institution to identify which type of evaluation they will accept.   

Relaxation in Admission Requirements  

If you transfer at least 24 or more credits, you may be exempt from certain entrance exams or admission requirements. At UoPeople, you do not have to submit proof of high school completion when you transfer with 24 or more college credits. In addition, you may be considered under “advanced standing” at the college or university (such as sophomore or junior status, as opposed to freshman status) when you transfer with 24 or more credits. Other benefits may include: 

1. You could be eligible for transfer-specific scholarships at some institutions.  

2. Some four-year universities have transfer agreements with community and technical colleges. For instance, if you transfer with an associate degree or 60 credits, more or all of your credits may be accepted. 

3. At more select institutions, you may be able to jump right into major course requirements instead of taking only general education courses in your first semester or term. 

Summing Up 

We recommend you look for transfer-friendly institutions that encourage students to transfer optimally and complete their degree in a timely fashion. Most such institutions will clearly state their transfer credit policies and clearly explain all essential steps involved in the process. Their official website has a section or page dedicated to explaining this relevant information.   

They may even have transfer credit tools such as the UoPeople Cost Calculator that allows you to clearly see the requirements for each degree, estimate how your transfer credits may apply toward a degree program, along with your cost of attendance and the time it will take you to reach completion. 

Institutions may also have course equivalency guides, transfer pathway roadmaps with transfer agreements between community colleges and universities, and other transfer tools that may aid you during the admissions process. As a transfer student, you deserve transparency and ease during the admission process so you can earn your degree with confidence.  

*Written by Dr. Lisa Romano-Arnold, the Associate Vice President for Community College Partnerships at UoPeople. She is known to many as the “Queen of Transfer,” and has served in higher education for over 20 years, focusing much of her career on changing traditional college practices to better serve the needs of community college transfer students and working adult students. She has created model programs to remove barriers and increase success for transfer students. In her current position at UoPeople, Lisa works with government, corporate, association, and academic partnerships.