Transferring credits between schools is one of the most stressful parts of online education. Nothing is worse than finishing 60 credits and finding out your new school only accepts 30 of them. Here’s how to avoid that nightmare.
Check the school’s transfer credit policy. Key things to look for:
Maximum credits accepted (many schools cap at 75–90 credits for a 120-credit degree).
Minimum grade required (usually C or better, but some schools require a C+).
Expiration policies (some schools won’t accept credits older than 5–10 years, especially in technical fields).
Whether they accept credits from nationally accredited schools (some regionally accredited schools don’t).
WGU: Accepts transfer credits and also gives credit for industry certifications (particularly valuable in IT).
Thomas Edison State University: Specifically designed for adult learners and extremely generous with transfer credits from multiple sources.
Excelsior University: Similar to Thomas Edison — built for credit aggregation.
Charter Oak State College: Another credit-friendly option.
Get course descriptions ready. If a course doesn’t transfer automatically, having the course description and syllabus can help the school evaluate it manually.
Appeal denied transfers. If a course is rejected, you can often appeal. Provide the syllabus, textbook information, and a description of what was covered.
Consider CLEP and DSST exams to fill gaps. If you’re missing a specific requirement, it’s often faster and cheaper to take an exam than to retake a course.
Transfer sooner rather than later. The more credits you have at your current school, the fewer you’ll need from your old one, and the less it matters if some don’t transfer.
Quarter credits vs. semester credits. If you’re transferring from a school that uses quarter credits to one that uses semesters, the conversion isn’t 1:1. Generally, 1 quarter credit = 0.67 semester credits.
Remedial or developmental courses. These almost never transfer.
Pass/fail courses. Some schools won’t accept these.
If you’ve successfully transferred credits between online schools, share what worked (and what didn’t) below.
BEFORE YOU TRANSFER
Get a preliminary credit evaluation before you commit. Most schools will do an unofficial evaluation of your transcripts before you apply. Take advantage of this. Contact the admissions or transfer office and ask them to review your transcript.Check the school’s transfer credit policy. Key things to look for:
Maximum credits accepted (many schools cap at 75–90 credits for a 120-credit degree).
Minimum grade required (usually C or better, but some schools require a C+).
Expiration policies (some schools won’t accept credits older than 5–10 years, especially in technical fields).
Whether they accept credits from nationally accredited schools (some regionally accredited schools don’t).
SCHOOLS THAT ARE KNOWN FOR GENEROUS TRANSFER POLICIES
SNHU: Accepts up to 90 credits. Very flexible about credit sources.WGU: Accepts transfer credits and also gives credit for industry certifications (particularly valuable in IT).
Thomas Edison State University: Specifically designed for adult learners and extremely generous with transfer credits from multiple sources.
Excelsior University: Similar to Thomas Edison — built for credit aggregation.
Charter Oak State College: Another credit-friendly option.
TIPS FOR MAXIMISING TRANSFER CREDITS
Transfer from regionally accredited schools when possible. Credits from regionally accredited schools are accepted almost everywhere. Credits from nationally accredited schools are accepted by some schools but not all.Get course descriptions ready. If a course doesn’t transfer automatically, having the course description and syllabus can help the school evaluate it manually.
Appeal denied transfers. If a course is rejected, you can often appeal. Provide the syllabus, textbook information, and a description of what was covered.
Consider CLEP and DSST exams to fill gaps. If you’re missing a specific requirement, it’s often faster and cheaper to take an exam than to retake a course.
Transfer sooner rather than later. The more credits you have at your current school, the fewer you’ll need from your old one, and the less it matters if some don’t transfer.
COMMON TRANSFER CREDIT TRAPS
Electives vs. core requirements. Your old course might transfer, but only as an elective — meaning it counts toward your total credits but doesn’t satisfy a specific requirement. You could end up retaking material you’ve already learned.Quarter credits vs. semester credits. If you’re transferring from a school that uses quarter credits to one that uses semesters, the conversion isn’t 1:1. Generally, 1 quarter credit = 0.67 semester credits.
Remedial or developmental courses. These almost never transfer.
Pass/fail courses. Some schools won’t accept these.
If you’ve successfully transferred credits between online schools, share what worked (and what didn’t) below.