Life is not a straight-line journey from point A to point B, and for many people, the same is true of the journey toward earning a college degree.
Some high school graduates will enroll in a four-year school and remain there until they earn their degree. Others will enter a two-year program – either at a traditional institution or online – and transfer to a four-year college later. Students don’t always pick the perfect university on the first try, and for those, they will start their college careers at one four-year school and end it at another. Many students will enter a two- or four-year program and leave it to enter the work force before completing any degree.
In all but the first scenario, the ability to transfer credits is integral to obtaining a degree. Thirteen percent of first-time degree seekers complete their degree at an institution other than where they started, according to a study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC). Of the nearly 27 percent who leave before finishing their studies, many will return later – perhaps a decade or more after leaving – to complete their degree.
“… As students attend multiple institutions on the way to their first completion,” the NSCRC’s report notes, “each of these institutions is likely to have contributed, in its own way, to each student’s pursuit and achievement of their educational goals.”
Facilitating the transfer of credits is a key way learning institutions help students achieve their degree goals, whether they move from one brick-and-mortar school to another or choose to finish their degrees through online education.
The Benefits of Transferring
If you’re considering switching schools, transferring credits offers many benefits, including:
- The opportunity to improve academic performance at a two-year school before applying and transferring to a more demanding four-year institution.
- Greater flexibility to explore different degree programs until you find the one that best suits your interests and talents.
- Continuing to move toward your degree without the need to repeat courses or overcome other academic setbacks.
- A greater likelihood of completing your degree; 73.5 percent of students who transfer from a two-year to a four-year institution completed their degree within eight years, while just 63 percent of those who began at a four-year college completed their degrees in the same time frame, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. For students returning to college after a hiatus, transferring credits from past coursework can help shorten the time required to complete their degree.
The Mechanics of Transferring
While well worth it, the transfer process is not always easy. Differences in policy and curricula from school to school can often complicate the process of transferring credits from one degree program to another at a different school. In some cases, the destination school may lack certain courses that are equivalent to the classes already completed by the transferring student.
Your reasons for transferring can also impact the process. Students who enter a two-year institution with the intention of transferring later to a four-year college should research credit transferability before enrolling in a class. If you know ahead of time whether the four-year college you want to attend will recognize credits earned at your two-year school, you can tailor your course of study to make the transfer as easy as possible.
If you’re transferring from one four-year institution to another, you should work closely with advisors at both schools to ensure you receive the most credit possible for the coursework you’ve already completed. If you’re re-entering college after a hiatus, you may face greater challenges when transferring credits, especially if you’ve been out of school for several years or more.
Regardless of the circumstances, every transfer begins with your college transcript, according to CollegeTransfer.Net. The institution you’re transferring to will need to review your transcript and compare your past coursework with its own courses and degree programs. The process allows the destination school to assess whether their courses are comparable to those at your previous school. Your new school will evaluate courses case by case, deciding whether your past classes measure up to the level of difficulty, covered comparable material, and fit into the degree program to which you’re applying.
Sometimes, credits won’t be transferable. This outcome may happen if:
- You’re unable to provide a full transcript from other colleges where you completed coursework.
- The transfer college does not have a class equivalent to one you completed elsewhere.
- The completed courses don’t fit into the degree program you’re pursuing at the new school.
- Your grade for a completed course was too low, indicating you failed to master the material.
- You completed the coursework so long ago that academic standards have changed or comparable courses are no longer available.
If credits for a course don’t transfer, you may need to repeat the class or take a different course that covers material you’ve already studied.
The Transfer Advantages of Online Degree Programs
Many professionals returning to school to complete their degree also need to continue working at the same time. Online degree programs provide non-traditional students with maximum flexibility to fit their studies into the schedule that works best for them. When it comes to transferring credits, whether from a brick-and-mortar school or another online education program, online degree programs can also offer enhanced flexibility.
If you’ve earned community college credits, check with the school you attended previously to see if it has an articulation agreement with the online school that has the degree program you’re interested in pursuing. Such an agreement can help you transfer credits for completed coursework. Ask advisors at your online education institution for assistance in transferring credits for coursework completed at other accredited universities – you may be able to get credit for the work you’ve already finished.
Some online degree programs will also award credit for learning you’ve accomplished outside a classroom, such as military experience or corporate training. In these instances, some testing may be required to verify whether you’ve mastered certain required material.
“The majority of students who transfer from a two-year to a four-year institution are successful,” Dr. Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center noted in a 2013 announcement of the organization’s latest study. “Pre-transfer degrees, destination institutions, timing of transfer, and enrollment intensity are all important factors in completion.”
Multiple studies have shown that the majority of transfer students are successful at completing their degrees. As our education system and the workplace continue to evolve, more students may find that transferring credits is their best route toward earning a degree.
Author Bio
Lizzie Wann is the Content Director for Bridgepoint Education. She oversees all website content and works closely with New Media, Career Services, and Student Services for Ashford University.
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