Transferring Colleges

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In the 18th century, if you were lucky enough to be able to attend college, you didn’t have many choices. If you discovered that your chosen institution wasn’t right for you, and you wanted to transfer to another, good luck with that. Flash forward to the 21st century. You now have over 5,000 choices for your higher education. And, if you discover that your chosen institution isn’t right for you, transferring colleges to another is a lot easier. In this resources guide, we will walk you through all aspects of transferring colleges, including a 10-step process for transferring colleges that will answer your question about how to transfer colleges.

How does transferring colleges work?

For those who would like a more formal definition of “transferring,” according to the U.S. Department of Education / National Center for Education Statistics:

For students who attended more than one institution, “student transfer” or “student transfer/co-enrollment” refers to the movement from one institution to another (with or without overlapping dates of enrollment).

Estimates of transfer activity vary considerably; however, the majority view is that it is extensive and increasing. However, as of now, there are no standardized nationwide rules for transfers, and requirements can vary considerably by the college. Many states have attempted to make the transition easier and less challenging, particularly from community colleges to four-year schools within their boundaries. These methods include school-to-school credit arrangements called “Transfer Agreements” or, sometimes, “Articulation Agreements.” These are formal understandings one institution has with its partner institutions. These allow you to see what courses will map to, and satisfy, degrees and requirements for specific majors.

Easy Schools to Transfer To

Some institutions refer to themselves as “transfer-friendly.” These colleges, which seek out transfer applicants, often have a transfer coordinator, have housing arrangements for transfer students, an orientation program for transfer students, and are likely to accept most or all of a student’s credits from their previous college. Your college career, undergraduate and post-graduate, can take several years to complete. There is no reason to attend an institution with which you do not have a good fit. Transferring from one to another is no longer an overly complicated and arduous task, as long as you are prepared.

Other pages and articles on this website guide you in making the right selection for your higher educational needs. If that doesn’t work out, then it is important to know what your options are.

Should I transfer colleges?

There are as many reasons to transfer as there are to select an institution initially: Being closer to (or farther away from) home; Not being satisfied with a school’s academics; Changing your educational goals, etc. Here are some of the main reasons students wish to transfer to a new college:

Two-year to a four-year program
Moving back home / Moving out of town
Corporate or job transfers / Changing career direction
Taking Online or Distance Learning courses / Taking Summer courses
Switching majors
Restarting and returning to college
Social circumstances / Financial reasons
Military transfers
Life and work experience / Not being able to test out of courses
Not a good fit

How to Transfer Colleges?

Applying to a college as a transfer student can be similar to applying as a first-year student, but there are a few differences in which prospective transfer students should be aware of. Both your new and initial institutions will probably have a lot of policies with a lot of hard to understand names like transfer articulation, core equivalencies, core waivers, and core substitution policies. Don’t try to take on the transfer process all on your own. Make use of the guidance from your current and future colleges.

Like first-year applicants, transfer students need to plan so they can gather all the needed application materials before their deadlines. Academic transcripts, recommendation letters, essays, and an application form are common requirements for both transfer and first-year students. You will need to submit your high school transcript, first-semester college transcript, and a copy of your SAT or ACT scores (if needed).

Transfer College Admissions

If you are a second-term undergraduate freshman or a sophomore, you will have additional requirements. Check your anticipated school’s GPA requirements for transfer students. Surprisingly the minimum GPA requirement for transfer applicants may be lower than that for first-year students since college coursework is more intensive and challenging than a typical high school curriculum. You will need to provide your official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions you’ve attended. Your college transcript is also critical in determining how many credits can be transferred to your new school.

For students transferring between schools that don’t have any transfer agreements in place, planning is particularly important. Students should pay extra attention to course equivalencies between their schools so they can ensure as many of their credits transfer as possible. You will also want to be aware of your intended university’s core curriculum, GPA, and transfer requirements. Some schools will not accept transfer students who don’t meet credit minimums or who haven’t taken specific core classes. Communicating regularly with advisors from both schools can help transfer students keep track of requirements and transferable credits. How long after completing a course, can you transfer that college credit? Some schools do impose “use by” dates for credits. These limits can range from 5 to 10 years. However, in fast-developing technology fields, innovations are always occurring, so coursework taken several years ago may no longer be relevant or valid today.

Special Transfer Admissions Programs

Many colleges have Special Transfer Admissions programs that make it easier for students to switch schools. Universities and nearby community colleges often team up to facilitate a smooth transfer between two-year and four-year schools. Courses transfer directly, for instance, and degree planning tools are often available to help transfer students transition between partner schools. Some colleges even have two-year “transfer degrees” that set students up to enter a partnering four-year school seamlessly. Some transfer agreements, both community college-to-university, and university-to-university have guaranteed admission policies. Other schools may have dual enrollment policies, which allow students to earn credit from either institution concurrently.

Transferring from Community College to University

Students who attend community college intending to transfer to a university should prepare early and make an academic plan that accounts for their time in both schools. Getting a copy of their schools’ articulation agreement can be extremely helpful for transfer students.

Students who plan to transfer from community college to a university may also consider earning an Associate’s Degree before making the switch. Those who hold Associate’s Degrees are often able to gain automatic junior standing and have all lower-level core requirements met upon entering their new university, eliminating the need to figure out which courses transfer between schools. Key questions to ask are:

Does your community college and intended university have any transfer agreements in place? If yes, will admission to the transfer university be guaranteed?
Does your community college have a transfer degree that makes for a seamless transition between schools? Which classes transfer, and which do not?

10-Step Process for Transferring Colleges

Methodically preparing for a college transfer will help you to finish this process easily. If you intend to transfer to another institution, follow the below step-by-step guide that will make the process smooth:

Step 1 – Plan your current course selections with transferring in mind
Step 2 – Decide which colleges to consider
Step 3- Visit the schools you are considering – at least check out their websites
Step 4 – Talk to the college admission representatives of the schools you are considering
Step 5 – Send your transcripts and request an evaluation of your transfer credit
Step 6 – Receive your Transfer Credit Assessment
Step 7 – Review Your Credit Evaluation before making a final decision
Step 8 – Apply for admission
Step 9 – Apply for financial aid – at minimum, use The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. To find more, read the Best Financial Aid Guide
Step 10 – If you are a U.S. military veteran – activate your benefits