Will My College Credits Transfer? Here’s How to Check

Introduction

Every year, a substantial portion of U.S. undergraduates are on the move, in fall 2023, transfer students accounted for 13.2 percent of all continuing undergraduates—up from 12.5 percent in fall 2022—marking a 5.3 percent annual growth in transfer enrollments (an increase of about 62,600 students), driven primarily by upward transfers from two‑year to four‑year colleges (which rose 7.7 percent). Yet, students navigating this route face credit-loss challenges. On average, 43% of their earned credits—roughly a semester’s worth—don’t make the transfer, creating both time and financial setbacks. Some face even steeper losses—federal studies have found that nearly 40% of students receive no credit at all, losing an average of 27 credits each, which can amount to almost an entire year of college. Nonetheless, systems like statewide articulation agreements—such as California’s ASSIST or Illinois’s I‑Transfer—help streamline credit portability, allowing associate degrees to count toward bachelor’s programs across institutions.

Setting the scene: with transfer on the rise but credit acceptance uneven, it’s never been more essential to know how to check if your credits will transfer successfully.

What Is Transfer Credit?

Transfer credit refers to the academic credits you’ve already earned at one college or university that another institution agrees to accept toward its degree requirements.

When you change schools—whether moving from a community college to a four-year university, between universities, or even from an international institution—your new school evaluates your prior coursework to determine:

• Equivalency – Does the course match in content, level, and credit hours with a course they offer?
• Applicability – Will it count toward your specific degree program, or only as general electives?
• Accreditation compatibility – Was your previous institution accredited in a way the receiving school recognises?

For example, if you completed English Composition I at a community college, a university may award you equivalent credit for its Freshman Writing course. 

However, a specialised course—like Marine Biology—might only count as a science elective if the new school’s program doesn’t require it.

Transfer credit policies vary widely. Some schools have formal articulation agreements that guarantee certain credits will transfer, while others review courses individually. The goal is to avoid repeating work you’ve already completed, but the outcome depends on the receiving institution’s rules.

What Counts as Transfer Credit?

When determining what qualifies as transfer credit, colleges typically consider several key factors:

Accreditation of the Sending Institution

Most colleges prefer credits from regionally accredited institutions (e.g., institutions recognised by agencies like the Higher Learning Commission or Middle States Commission).

• Credits from nationally accredited schools—often technical or vocational—may not be accepted by traditional universities.
• If your previous school lacks recognised accreditation, your courses might need additional review or may not transfer at all.
  

Course Equivalency

The receiving school compares your course syllabus, topics, and learning outcomes with their courses.

• A standard course like Intro to Psychology has a high chance of transferring because it exists in most colleges.
• Niche courses (History of Jazz in Chicago, for example) may transfer only as an elective if no direct match exists.
  

Grade Requirements

Many schools require at least a C (2.0 GPA) for a course to transfer.

• Some competitive programs—like nursing, engineering, or business—may require a B or higher for core subjects.
• “Pass/Fail” courses may not transfer unless clearly marked as equivalent to a passing letter grade.
  

Credit Hour Compatibility

If your old school was on a quarter system, your credits may be converted (e.g., 5 quarter credits 3.33 semester credits).

• If the converted credits are lower than the receiving school’s equivalent, you may need to take additional coursework.
  

Program Relevance

Even if a course transfers, it must fit into your degree plan to count toward graduation.

• Example: If you’re majoring in Computer Science, an Art Appreciation class might transfer, but only as a general elective.
  

Recency of Coursework

Some programs—especially in STEM, medicine, and IT—require courses to be taken within the last 5–10 years due to evolving knowledge and technology.

• Older courses may still transfer, but as electives, not as core requirements.
  

Existing Transfer Agreements

Articulation agreements between schools or statewide transfer systems (like California’s ASSIST or Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System) can guarantee that certain credits transfer without extra review.

• If you complete an associate degree under such an agreement, you might enter a university as a junior with your credits intact.

How Are Credits Evaluated for Transfer?

When you move from one college to another, your new school carefully reviews your previous coursework before deciding how much of it applies toward your degree. This evaluation process typically involves several steps:

Transcript Review

Your official transcripts are the foundation of the process. The new institution checks the list of courses, grades, and total credits you’ve completed.

• Unofficial transcripts may help for early advising, but only official sealed transcripts are accepted for final evaluation.
  

Accreditation Check

Schools verify if your previous college was regionally accredited (e.g., Higher Learning Commission, WASC). These credits are widely accepted.

• If the school were nationally accredited (common with technical or vocational schools), many universities may not accept those credits at all.
  
• International credits undergo additional verification, sometimes requiring course-by-course evaluation through agencies like WES (World Education Services).
  

Course Equivalency Matching

Each course is compared to see if it matches one offered at the new institution.

• If you took Calculus I at College A, it’s likely to transfer as Calculus I at College B.
  
• If no direct equivalent exists, the course may transfer only as an elective, which may not reduce your graduation requirements.
  

Grade Verification

Most schools require at least a C (2.0 GPA) for transfer credit to be granted.

• Some competitive programs (nursing, engineering, business) may require higher grades for core courses.
  
• Remedial or developmental courses (like pre-algebra) usually do not transfer.
  

Program Fit Analysis

Even if your credits transfer, they must fit your degree requirements.

• Example: An Introduction to Sociology course may transfer to your Computer Science degree, but it might only satisfy a general elective requirement, not a core class.
  
• Schools often provide a degree audit report showing where your transferred credits apply.
  

Credit Hour Conversion

If you’re switching between systems (e.g., quarter → semester), your credits are converted.

• Example: 5 quarter credits, 3.3 semester credits.
  
• This conversion may cause a mismatch; a course that was 4 credits at one school might only fulfill 3 credits at the new one, meaning you may need to take an extra class.
  

Faculty or Department Review

• Specialized or advanced courses are often reviewed by academic departments rather than admissions.
  
• Example: A unique upper-level course in Data Mining may be sent to the Computer Science department for review to decide if it meets major requirements.
  
• Sometimes you may need to provide syllabi, textbooks, or assignments to help faculty make this decision.

Transfer Credit Examples

Transferring colleges can save time and money, but many students lose credits. On average, 13 credits are lost, with 40% receiving none, making it vital to understand transfer credit rules.

Community College to University (2+2 Pathway)

Many U.S. states have articulation agreements that guarantee transfer from community colleges to universities.

• Example: In Florida, students who complete an Associate in Arts (AA) degree at a community college are guaranteed admission to a state university with junior standing.
  
• In California, the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) ensures that community college graduates can transfer to CSU with 60 credits fully accepted.
  

General Education Credit Transfer

General Education (Gen Ed) courses are the most transferable.

• Example: A student takes Intro to Psychology at a community college; it transfers as PSY 101 at most universities.
  
• According to the National Student Clearinghouse, over 80% of transferred credits in successful transfers are general education courses.
  

Elective Credit Transfer

Some courses don’t match but still count as electives.

• Example: History of Jazz may not fulfil a major requirement, but will transfer as a humanities elective. 
• Roughly 15–20% of transferred courses are counted only as electives, not core requirements.
  

Partial Credit Transfer (Credit Loss Example)

Transfer students often lose credits when courses don’t align with the new school’s curriculum.

• Example: A nursing student transfers 60 credits, but only 36 are accepted.
  
• On average, U.S. transfer students lose 13 credits—nearly a semester’s worth—when moving schools.
  

Grade-Based Denial

Most schools require a C or higher for credit transfer.

• Example: A “D+” in College Algebra is denied and must be retaken.
  
• Surveys show that over 40% of students had at least one course denied due to low grades.
  

Quarter-to-Semester Conversion

Different credit systems lead to conversion issues.

• Example: A 5-credit quarter Chemistry course converts to 3.3 semester credits, requiring an extra lab to meet the requirement.
  
• Around 12% of transfer students face delays because of mismatched quarter/semester systems.
  

International Transfer Example

International coursework often requires evaluation by agencies like WES.

• Example: Microeconomics from Delhi University is accepted as equivalent to Principles of Microeconomics in the U.S.
  
• Each year, over 1 million international students in the U.S. go through transcript evaluations for credit recognition.
  

Military Transfer Credit

Veterans can receive credits for military training.

• Example: A veteran’s Joint Services Transcript (JST) lists logistics training, which earns 3 elective credits.
  
• According to ACE, over 2,300 U.S. colleges accept some form of military training for transfer credit.
  

DOs and DON’Ts for Transferring College Credits 

Transferring college credits can save time, money, and effort—but only if planned wisely. Research shows transfer students lose an average of 13 credits, nearly a semester’s worth, and 40% receive no credit at all. To avoid setbacks, students need to understand the key DOs and DON’Ts of transferring credit.

DOs for Transferring College Credit

Research Transfer Policies Early

Every college has its own rules. Check articulation agreements, course catalogues, and transfer guides before applying.

Earn Strong Grades

Most schools accept only courses with a C or higher (some majors require a B). Aim to keep grades solid to ensure transfer eligibility.

Focus on General Education Courses

Classes like English Composition, College Algebra, and Intro to Psychology transfer most easily across institutions.

Work with an Academic Advisor

Advisors can help you choose courses that are more likely to transfer and fit into your new degree plan.

Save Syllabi and Course Descriptions

If a course is questioned, detailed syllabi or textbooks can help faculty evaluate equivalency.

Use Official Transcript Evaluation Services

For international or military credits, agencies like WES or ACE can verify equivalency and improve acceptance chances.

Confirm Credit Hour Systems

Be aware of quarter vs. semester credit conversions to avoid surprises when transferring.

DON’Ts for Transferring College Credits

Don’t Assume All Credits Will Transfer

Even if a course looks similar, schools may reject it if it doesn’t meet their standards or curriculum.

Don’t Wait Until After Admission to Ask

Find out in advance which credits will transfer—otherwise, you may waste time and tuition on courses that won’t count.

Don’t Overlook Program Requirements

Credits may transfer, but if they don’t fit into your new major or degree plan, they’ll only count as electives.

Don’t Forget About Grade Expiration

Some fields (like Nursing, IT, or Science) may not accept credits older than 5–10 years.

Don’t Drop Out Before Completing an Associate Degree

In states with 2+2 agreements, finishing an associate degree often guarantees full transfer of general education credits.

Don’t Skip Checking Accreditation

Credits from unaccredited or nationally accredited (vs. regionally accredited) schools are often rejected.

Summary 

Transferring college credits can save students time and money, but the process is often complicated. In 2023, transfer students made up over 13% of U.S. undergraduates, yet many lost significant progress—on average, 13 credits, with nearly 40% receiving none. Schools evaluate credits based on accreditation, course equivalency, grades, and program fit. General education classes like English and Psychology usually transfer smoothly, while specialised or outdated courses may only count as electives. To avoid setbacks, students should research policies, maintain strong grades, complete associate degrees when possible, and confirm transfer rules early with advisors or articulation agreements.