What Are College Transcripts?

A college transcript—sometimes called an academic transcript—is proof of the education you’ve completed at a college or university. College transcripts usually contain information about the courses you’ve completed, your grades, and the dates you were enrolled, among other things. 

In this article, we’ll explore more about college transcripts, the two main types, and how you can request a transcript from your university. 

What are college transcripts? 

A college transcript officially details your higher education and is issued by the registrar’s office. It’s a record of the fact that you attended a certain institution, the courses you took while enrolled there, and how you did in each of those courses. 

Depending on the school you attend, your transcript may include:  

• Personal information (name, birth date, and permanent address) 

• School-relevant information (ID number and whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate) 

• Dates you attended

• Courses you took and the grades you received 

• Grade point average (GPA) 

• Your major and minor 

• The degree you obtained (if you graduated) 

• Whether you graduated with honors 

• Awards and accolades for your academic performance 

• Any academic probation or honors code violations 

Types of academic transcripts 

There are two main types of academic transcripts: official and unofficial. Each type of transcript has specific use cases. 

Official transcripts

An official transcript is a full academic record of your time at a college or university. They are either sent electronically or in a sealed envelope. There’s typically a fee associated with ordering official transcripts, and you should check with your registrar’s office to determine the cost. 

When ordering official transcripts, you can elect to have them delivered directly to you or sent straight to the requesting parties (like a graduate school or potential employer). 

Unofficial transcripts

Unofficial transcripts are usually electronic copies you can access for your own personal records, such as seeing your final GPA and how you’ve performed in your major-specific classes.

If you do elect to print them out, you won’t receive them with an official seal or registrar’s signature. Because of the lack of signature and seal, you cannot use unofficial transcripts to transfer universities or apply to graduate programs. 

What is a degree transcript used for?

An official transcript is used to transfer colleges, apply to graduate school, and other use cases requiring tamper-proof evidence of your education. Let’s take a look at some common uses for degree transcripts:

• Transferring schools: When transferring schools, you’ll likely need to submit an official transcript so your new school can verify the courses you’ve already taken so you can keep making progress toward your degree. 

• Graduate school: When applying to graduate school—or when offered admission—the university may need a copy of your official transcript to verify your academic record, including proof that you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree. 

• Employer review: Some employers request official transcripts for proof of education, especially at the bachelor’s level. 

• Obtaining a professional license: To obtain a professional license, like nursing or teaching, a confirmation of your degree is often necessary. 

• Foreign certification or apostille: You need a notarized transcript to prepare an apostille so that a foreign government or institution can authorize and ensure your degree transcript is valid. 

Unofficial transcripts, on the other hand, are a chance to review your academic record or to send your transcripts to any interested employer who does not require an official transcript. 

How to request a degree transcript

When you’re a recent graduate, you can request your official college transcript—or access your unofficial transcript—through your online registrar’s office. If it’s been some time since you’ve been in school, check with the registrar’s office to determine the process. It’s often the same, but you may need pieces of information, like your student ID number, to access those documents. Learn more about how to get your college transcripts.

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