How to Transfer Credits to Online College

Do you want to transfer your college credits? Are you confused about how to go about transferring your college credit? If yes, read this article to get more guidance on how to transfer your credits to an online college.

Transferring to a new college is an overwhelming and complicated process. Transfer students are faced with several issues but one of their most paramount concerns is figuring out transfer credits.

Another concern for them is how many credits a certain college accepts and how these credits are applied towards their degrees or if the number of credits to be transferred differs by mode of study(online or on-campus). This article will focus on how to transfer credits to an online college.

It is important to note that the rule of credit transfer differs by college. There are unique sets of rules that apply to online colleges and traditional universities.

Whether a student is transferring from a community college to a four-year college or the student is resuming their degree pursuit after a long pause, it is important that they make the most of their transfer credits.

We are aware that each university has different transfer credit policies, we have done intensive research and have come up with the best guide to help you with your concerns.

Can College Credits be Transferred To An Online College?

The answer to this question is yes, most online colleges accept transfer credits. It does not matter if you just completed an associate degree, earned some credits, and want to transfer, or you are currently attending university, this process is actually less tedious than it seems to be.

Online colleges are designed to meet the needs of students who are not interested in the traditional modes of learning. Many of these students are professionals who are active in the workforce. To this effect, these colleges have flexible transfer policies and also accept more credits than traditional colleges.

It is also easier to transfer college credits to online colleges than it is to transfer to traditional colleges. These colleges accept credit transfers at the associate, master’s, and even doctorate levels.

Do Online Colleges Accept Transfer Credits From Community Colleges?

Online colleges are likely to accept transfer credits if a student has just completed community college courses or earned an associate degree. Each online college evaluates a student’s community college courses, this helps them determine how these credits apply to the student’s bachelor’s degree program.

If a student has just completed their associate degree and transfers to an online college, their general education requirements have already been met. This leaves them with only two years’ worth of coursework which will be mainly focused on the major courses to complete.

One of the safest ways to ascertain if you may be able to transfer credits is to check if the community college you are attending maintains a partnership with any four-year colleges. Students can also earn more credits at their community college which will in turn help them save more on tuition.

It is never too late to start thinking about transferring to a four-year college for a degree completion program. In fact, planning sooner helps maximize your transfer credits.

Will A State University Accept Transfer Credits From Online Classes?

The answer to this question is iffy. It is a lot more difficult to transfer from an online college to a state university than it is to do it the other way. Traditional colleges require specific courses and usually do not boast the flexibility that online colleges offer.

Every student that intends to transfer college credits should ensure that they do proper research so as not to progress backward.

What Counts as Transfer Credits and What Does Not?

Transfer credits involve more than coursework, this depends on the online college you choose. Online colleges are bound to accept transfer credits from varying sources. This includes.

1. Military training credits can be granted when a student submits military transcripts and certifications.
2. Pre-evaluated learning evaluated by the American Council on Education can help orient previous training and experiences with college courses.
3. Exam or test scores acquired from recognized testing organizations, including DSST, CLEP, and UCEL.
4. Professional experiences which include professional training, specialized certifications, and business and industry courses.
5. Portfolio credit also provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge that cannot be assessed through exams. A student’s portfolio must illustrate that their existing knowledge aligns with the learning outcomes assigned to that specific course.

How Do Online Colleges Determine Transfer Credits?

There are different factors that determine credits that can be accepted as transfer credits and how it is calculated towards a student’s degree. These factors vary by college, there is no set policy for determining transfer credits. However, some colleges follow set guidelines put in place by their state.

Some of the more popular ones are:-

1. Credits must be submitted from an accredited institution, such as those recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Credit will be accepted for any college course completed with a grade of “D” or higher, including grades of “Pass” and examination credit, subject to GPA and course requirements of the major program.
3. “D” grades are not permitted in major area courses regardless of where the course is taken.
4. Some majors, such as Accounting, Computer Science, and Financial Management, may have rules regarding the transferability of credits taken 10+ years ago.
5. Credit is awarded based on subject matter, prerequisites, level, and laboratory requirements.

Does Transferring Credits Attract Extra Costs?

Most colleges charge an amount for requesting official transcripts required to transfer credits, the fee is usually around $15-$25, but these charges may vary by institution.

Students are required to have official transcripts from every institution they’ve previously attended.

Additionally, few institutions charge a fee to apply previous credit to a degree program. However, many online colleges will not charge an additional fee to transfer your prior college credits.

What Is The Maximum Number of College Credits That Can Be Transferred?

Most universities that accept credit transfers allow the transfer of up to 75% of the required credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

Some schools have a residency requirement that 25% of credits must be earned at their institution. Many universities will not accept transfer credits at the masters and doctoral levels. However, progressive online universities may accept transfer credits if the faculty deems previous courses equivalent to degree requirements.

How Can You Tell If An Online College is Transfer Friendly?

There are four important factors to look out for when determining if an online college is transfer-friendly. You should look out for online colleges that:-

1. Provides transparent transfer credit policies that make it easy for students to determine how much credit they can expect to receive.
2. Accepts a wide range of learning experiences as transfer credit, not just previous college courses.
3. Applies a high number of credits toward your degree and major courses, rather than just general education and electives.
4. Offers one-on-one transfer credit support to help you navigate the process and make the most of your transfer credits.

We hope that after this read, you have obtained helpful information on how to transfer credits to online colleges.