Many students enroll in community college with the intention of transferring to a four-year college later on. With a bachelor’s degree becoming increasingly desirable—even for many entry-level roles—students are looking for more affordable ways to earn their bachelor’s degree.
One of the benefits of community college is the opportunity to earn credits at a low cost that can then be transferred into a bachelor’s degree program.
Transferring credits helps students avoid taking the same courses multiple times. This can speed up their education and allow them to finish their bachelor’s degree sooner. As a result, they can save money on their education and start working earlier to gain valuable experience and reach their career goals.
Can you lose credits during a transfer?
When considering transferring from community college to a university, there are several factors aspiring undergrads should keep in mind regarding the transferring process. For instance, losing credits during a transfer from community college to a university is a possibility.
Typically, this scenario would result from differences in curriculum, course content, or accreditation standards between the two institutions. For instance, each institution’s policies on what credits it’ll accept can vary, making certain courses less likely to align with equivalent courses at other universities.
In addition, some universities have caps on the number of credits they’ll accept from outside institutions or require students to complete a certain number of credits at their institution to earn a degree. Because of this possibility, it’s crucial students talk with academic advisors and carefully review the transfer policies to minimize the risk of losing credits during the transfer process.
Despite this possibility, it’s clear that transferring can be cost-effective and beneficial for the student. Here are some tips for transferring college credits you should know beforehand to ensure a smooth transition.
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Leverage our expert tips to navigate the transfer process and make a smooth transition.
Tips for transferring credits
1. Apply as early as possible and submit all transcripts.
Give yourself plenty of time to apply. A transfer credit award can take anywhere from two to six weeks to be completed by a four-year college. Applying ahead of time gives you an opportunity to receive your transfer credit award early and enroll in the appropriate courses well before they fill up.
Remember to submit all the transcripts you have. You can request your transcripts through your registrar’s office, either on campus or online. Missing transcripts will prevent your transfer credit award from being completed, or will keep you from receiving credit from courses you’ve taken in the past. Keep in mind, if you attended a two- or four-year college prior to the institution you’re currently attending, you’ll have to reach out to that registrar’s office separately.
Applying early also gives you an opportunity to challenge the transfer credit award. If you didn’t receive credit for a course, and believe you should have, you have the right to challenge it. That can increase the number of transfer credits you’re awarded and decrease the number of courses you have left to take.
If you’re currently working, or have industry experience, you may qualify for prior learning assessment, or PLA, credit. This process awards college credit for your relevant work experience or based on test results. If you feel like there is a course or two in the curriculum that is repetitive— maybe you’ve worked in an accounting department and feel like you don’t need an intro-level accounting course—let your advisor know. PLA credit is completely free of charge.
2. Know which courses to take.
An academic advisor can be a valuable resource for any student. One of the biggest mistakes students make is signing up for courses without first consulting their advisor. Not only can he or she assist you with mapping out your two years in community college, and ensure you finish on time, but he or she can also advise you on which courses to take to ensure that you’re in the best position to transfer into the four-year college of your choice.
Some four-year colleges can have strict or confusing transfer guidelines, and advisors are a tremendous resource to help you navigate them.
3. Learn the cutoff points.
This goes without saying, but do your best. Many students think that any course will be transferable as long as they didn’t receive an F. This is not the case. At Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies, we will only award credits from courses in which students received a C or higher. Most schools do have a cutoff, so do your due diligence to understand what that cutoff is before you apply.
Most four-year colleges also have a cutoff point when it comes to the total number of transfer credits they’re willing to award. At Northeastern, we’re willing to accept 50% of a bachelor’s degree through transfer credit, so if your degree is 120 credits, you can transfer up to 60. It’s also important to remember that other schools may have a cutoff point of less than 60 credits. Make sure you know where you stand before applying.
Benefits of transferring college credits
Transferring college credits from a community college to a university for a bachelor’s degree offers a valuable opportunity to enhance their educational journey and future career. By completing foundational courses at a community college, students can lower their tuition costs and move directly into advanced coursework at a university once they’re ready.
If you have completed those foundational courses at a community college and are wondering about the next steps, transitioning to a university to complete your bachelor’s degree through credit transfer could be a smart strategic move. This step maximizes your prior investment in education. It’ll help you reach your career goals with a university degree that is considered essential in today’s competitive job market.
Are you interested in learning more about transferring into a bachelor’s degree completion program? Download our guide below to learn more.
