College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

Will Your Credits Transfer?

A recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics has shed more light on the problem of transfer students losing credit for many of their classes. According to the results of the study, 40% of transferring students lose all of their credits.

Transfer Credit Statistics

Of the students who transferred or “co-enrolled” in another college:

On average, students lost about 13 credits when transferring from their first college.

Transfer Patterns

Over a third of students end up transferring at least once in a six-year period of study. Of those who do transfer:

Most Successful Transfers

Least Successful Transfers

The Impact on Graduation

Transfer students who can’t take their credits with them are:

What Colleges Are Doing

Many universities are recognizing this loss of credits as a serious issue for both them and their students. This has led to:

What You Can Do

The study found that one of the reasons for students losing their credits is that they did not inform the new college of their previous academic experience! Being organized and assertive in the transfer process will help students achieve the best outcome.

Planning to Transfer?

If you’re planning on transferring from a two-year to four-year school:

  1. Know the policies in place
  2. Determine if your major is offered at both universities
  3. Research the track record for students who have gone down this path before

Transferring Between Four-Year Schools?

If you’re planning on transferring from a four-year public university to a four-year private:

  1. Research both schools’ transfer policies
  2. Understand accreditation requirements
  3. Check credit transfer agreements

Not Planning to Transfer?

Even if you’re not planning to transfer, you should still:

  1. Keep a high GPA
  2. Maintain records of all your classes and experience
  3. Be aware of transfer policies in case you change your mind

Learn more about transfer policies

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options