If you plan to transfer to a new university, keep in mind that every college does things its own way. Professors design courses according to the standards of their own university, which may be different from another school’s.
When you transfer, your new school looks at your transcripts (and your grades) and decides what coursework meets its standards. It then applies that course credit to your degree. The more credits you bring, the closer you are to your degree. That means you save time and money, too.
So, if you want to transfer—whether you’re a community college student, a returning student or a four-year college student—then you should plan to make sure you can take as many credits with you as possible.
Here are some things you should know about the process, so you can make an informed and confident decision when you transfer.
How to start your transfer
Wherever you are in your transfer process, here’s one tip from University of the Pacific Director of Transfer Admission Channon Rosencrans: Talk to the school you’re interested in.
“As soon as you’ve identified the school, go meet with them,” Rosencrans says. “As soon as they reach out to us, we help them with everything they need to know about the transfer process.”
It’s never too early to speak with a transfer counselor. They can help you understand the process at that particular university and make sure you’ve checked all your boxes.
It’s also worthwhile to review a university’s transfer credit policy, typically found on its website. These offer important guidance on grade minimums, credit transfer maximums, quarter-to-semester conversions and similar information.
Course articulation
Course articulation is the process in which a university decides an external course is equivalent to one of its own courses.
Universities may develop articulation agreements with other institutions, typically community colleges, that guarantee certain courses will transfer. That’s a huge boon for planning courseloads at your current school.
If the university you’re interested in doesn’t have an articulation agreement with your institution, speak with your transfer counselor. They may be able to offer guidance on course selection.
“At Pacific, the easiest way is to follow the transfer pattern for the UC system. We’re a bit more lenient, so if you follow that transfer process, then you’re meeting our requirements as well,” Rosencrans says about California General Education Transfer Curriculum, better known as Cal-GETC.
Even though universities differ, there are a few common factors they use to determine whether credits transfer:
- Accreditation: Certain organizations recognized by the Department of Education can grant accreditation to universities that meet their quality standards. Typically, universities only accept credit from other accredited schools.
- Course equivalency: A course needs to be similar in content and level of rigor.
- Grade requirements: You typically need a minimum grade of “C” for a course’s credit to transfer to your university.
Unit caps
You can only bring so many credits to a new university. Review your university’s transfer credit policy or speak with a transfer counselor for guidance on your situation.
At Pacific, for example, community college students can bring up to 70 units. After that, courses can still satisfy content requirements but will not count toward your minimum units needed for graduation.
Major requirements and transfer pathways
Some universities offer transfer pathways to make the process easier. Think of them as a roadmap to help you graduate on time.
These pathways include recommendations for lower-division or pre-requisite courses that ensure you have a similar knowledge base and standing as a four-year student at that university.
Pacific groups its transfer pathways by college or school. Find out which college your desired major is housed in, then check the dropdown menu for more information, tips and recommendations.
No transfer pathway for your major? You can still speak with a transfer counselor and apply through the normal channels.
Tools
There are some tools that help you take the guesswork out of credit transfers. If you use one, keep in mind that these are unofficial evaluations. In other words, the system gives you the best answer it can, but that is not a guarantee.
California college students can use ASSIST to find articulation agreements between their current institution and other universities.
The university you’re interested in may have its own tools, too. Pacific, for example, partners with EdVisorly to provide an easy-to-use system to get an idea of which credits will transfer. All you have to do is provide your current institution, then upload a photo of your transcript.
Common transfer student questions
Does GPA transfer from community college to university?
No, your GPA does not transfer. When you start at a new university, only your grades there count toward your GPA in its system. That being said, your past GPA is still important for acceptance, scholarships and other things.
Do transfer students get financial aid?
The short answer is yes. As long as you file an updated FAFSA, you can receive financial aid after you transfer to a new university. However, you should speak with the financial aid department at your university to ask questions about your situation.
At Pacific, all transfer students in eligible programs are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships after they submit an application.
Do college credits expire?
Technically, no. Once you’ve earned college credit, it’s yours forever. That’s only part of the story, though.
If you’re a returning student, your field of study may have evolved since you were in school. So, a university may decide a course you took, which may once have articulated is now out-of-date and therefore no longer matches the rigor of current courses.
If you’re uncertain about any of your courses, this is a good question to ask a transfer counselor.
Where can I learn about the transfer student experience?
Here are some other blog articles you can read to learn more.