College Transfers – FAQS
Students who plan on transferring schools at some point during their college education should ideally research their options before they even take their first course. Unfortunately, students who transfer extend the time it takes to graduate by one semester, on average. To avoid this, students need to plan ahead, do their homework and make smart choices. Below are answers to common questions that will help potential transfer students navigate the often complex world of college transfers.
Can students transfer from any school as long as it is accredited?
Not only is it important that the school a student is transferring from is accredited, but the type of accreditation is also relevant. Traditional four-year colleges and universities will only accept transfer students from schools that are accredited by a regional accrediting agency. These are the accrediting agencies that accredit the academically-oriented, public colleges and universities. Most community colleges, two-year acadmic colleges and many online schools are regionally accredited but most career colleges, technical schools and some online schools are not. If in doubt, evaluate a school's accreditation before choosing a school.
What are "articulation agreements" and why are they important?
Many community colleges and four-year universities within the same state have articulation agreements between each other which ensure that most or all course credits can be transferred between the schools. Articulation agreements are becoming more commonplace and are also now found at private schools as well as public ones and across state lines. These agreements benefit students from colleges that have them because they give their students admission preference over other transfer students. It also makes the transfer process itself easier and more transparent since these agreements have already defined how credits will be transferred.
Can a student transfer from an online school to a campus-based school?
Students who attend an online school and plan to transfer to a campus-based school should be particularly careful about their choice to ensure they don't waste precious time and money taking classes that can't be transferred. Many online schools are accredited by a regional accrediting agency which then makes transferring credits to another regionally accredited school a possibility. However, online schools do not usually carry the same weight as campus-based schools when applying as a transfer student. Students should get more information from their target campus-based school before taking this path. Schools that have another legitimate accreditation can be a good choice but students will be limited to transferring credits to another school without regional accreditation. To learn more about the types of accreditation, read "Understanding the Types of Accreditation and Agencies".
Once accepted as a transfer student, will all course credits be transferred?
When transferring to a new school, the new school has the right to accept or deny any course credits that they choose. The exception to this is if there is an Articulation Agreement between the schools which specifies what course credits are transferable. Every school is different but below is a list of common limitations that schools put on transferring credits:
- There is usually a minimum GPA that one must earn in a class for a course's credits to be transferable.
- The number of credits that can be transferred may be limited.
- There may be a statute of limitations on when the credits were earned.
- There may be a minimum number of credits that must be completed at the first school before a transfer student will be accepted.
- Some schools will not evaluate what credits will be transferred until after the student has been accepted, which makes it difficult for a student to decide where to enroll.
In addition to a school's stated limitations such as those listed above, there is a subjective aspect to the decision of whether to allow a course's credits to be transferred. School officials use their personal judgment to determine whether a course's curriculum is similar enough to the college's own course to be transferable.
Are the acceptance rates the same for transfer students as for freshman students?
Many schools accept transfer students at a lower rate than they accept freshman students. A number of top-notch schools take very few transfer students at all and the competition for admission as a transfer student to these schools is very intense. Even at more typical schools, the acceptance rate for transfer students tends to be lower than for freshmen. The acceptance rates at a given school also vary by major with engineering, nursing, business and other popular majors typically being among the hardest majors to transfer into.
Do two-year schools do anything to help students who plan to transfer?
Many two-year schools offer programs that prepare students to transfer to a four-year school after they complete their two-year program. These "transfer programs" are designed to correspond to the first two years of courses a student would have taken at a four-year school. These programs work best when a student stays with the same major as they transfer from one school to the other.
Quick Tips
- Research articulation agreements – Attending schools with articulation agreements will greatly simplify the transfer process and ensure credit is given for all coursework.
- Check a school's accreditation – Students should check that a school is appropriately accredited before enrolling.
- Keep timing in mind - Many schools only accept transfers students for the fall semester, so students should plan accordingly.
- Research acceptance rates – Transfer student acceptance rates vary widely between schools and majors so it makes sense to target those schools that have higher rates.
Resources
U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
California's ASSIST website - Provides students with transfer information and articulation agreements for California public colleges.
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