College Transfers: Everything You Need to Know

Transferring colleges is common among students who want to save money and time by pursuing the education they want, when they want it.

College transfers are common in most student bodies in higher education, especially those from community colleges. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 48% of all students enroll in two-year programs before tackling a four-year degree. In fact, 40% of all transfers in higher education come from community colleges.

Still, transferring from one school to another can present challenges for students. For instance, they may not know how or when to move schools or programs. To help make the transition smoother, this page explores common transfer pathways and strategies, explaining when students should consider transferring and how to go about doing it.

Students decide to switch schools for a variety of reasons. For example, degree-seekers may transfer for academic reasons, or they might move from two-year programs into four-year programs to gain more career opportunities and earning potential after graduation. They may also want to change majors to a discipline their current school does not offer, or they may just not function well with the educational model at their current institution.

For some transfer students, the reasons are more personal. For example, a student’s financial situation may cause them to move; tuition rates or scholarship opportunities can often influence the decision to switch schools. The school atmosphere might also present issues for learners, such as bullying. Students may also simply find faculty, campus facilities, or extracurricular programs incompatible with their interests and goals.

Sometimes, learners decide to move because their school changed. Schools can alter or even eliminate programs, and some might close altogether. No matter the reasoning behind the switch, transfer students should always go through the process carefully to ensure they optimize their credits and hit the ground running at their new school.

If at all possible, transfer students should always finish out their most recent academic term before switching schools, to ensure they complete their current courses and get the credits they deserve. Most schools offer transfer students a 90/30 credit opportunity, meaning they can transfer up to 90 credits toward the typical 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree.

Learners should also consider their new living and employment situation before making the move. It might also be worthwhile to look into switching fraternity or sorority chapters, along with any clubs or associations of which they are members.

The right school depends entirely on each individual student, but following the steps below can help ensure transfer students have the best chance at success.

First, learners should consider what they want to change about their current school and program, and then find another program that addresses those issues. Explore the curriculum, the faculty, program length, school facilities, and any other factors that are important.

Next, transfer students should consider how their academic performance might influence their transfer decision. They should evaluate whether their college grades meet transfer requirements for their desired school; some schools require a different minimum grade to receive credit. Transfer grades may even qualify students for a program for which they were previously unqualified.

From there, students should speak to admissions counselors to determine if the program matches their needs. Counselors can help navigate transfer credits and set schedules to avoid unfortunate surprises. Learners may also wish to speak with financial aid representatives, who can help them get an accurate financial picture and explore scholarship and grant opportunities.

Transfer students can also get information from students and alumni at their new schools to learn what the school and program look like and if both will meet their expectations.

Though degree-seekers can take different paths when transferring schools, these common steps should help most transfer students.

While many community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year schools to optimize the transfer process and make it seamless, some schools do not view all applicants and their credits equally. Transfer students also tend to enter programs as sophomores or juniors, so they may miss out on student orientation or the usual freshman experience. That means enrollees are on their own to ensure they take the right classes, follow the appropriate steps, and meet deadlines for things like declaring a major.

The growth in online learning has made transferring from online schools more accessible than ever. Online learners can attend schools with limited travel or none at all, allowing them to expand their searches and find programs that meet their financial and academic needs. Transferring to or from online schools, however, may warrant additional consideration.

As with other delivery formats, online students should first ensure that both schools they are attending are accredited, as most schools do not accept transfer credits from unaccredited schools. In fact, some schools or programs may not accept transfer credits at all, so students should carefully research this in advance. You can learn more about transferring to an online college and transferring from an online college from our handy guides.

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