How To Transfer Colleges

Transferring colleges is a common practice among college students. Community college students transferring to four-year institutions increased by 7.7 percent in 2023, while overall college transfer enrollment increased by 5.3 percent, according to the National Student Clearinghouse [1]. 

If you’re looking to return to school and complete a degree or finish earning your degree at a different institution than where you started, discover more about what it takes to transfer colleges and the reasons to do so. 

What is a college transfer?

A college transfer involves transitioning from one college to another, typically after completing at least a semester at your first institution, and moving your academic record so you can continue progressing toward a degree rather than starting over. 

Transferring colleges is a big step that often requires applying to the new school you’d like to attend and gathering together your transcript for review, so it’s important to know what’s involved and why you might want to do it. 

Common reasons why students transfer colleges: 

• You’re a community college student who wants to transfer to a four-year college or university after earning your associate degree. 

• Your current four-year college or university is not quite what you imagined and is no longer meeting your personal goals and needs. 

• Your current school no longer meets your educational needs, and you want to change majors or pursue a different course of study that might be better donewn at a different institution. 

• You left school before finishing your degree (either associate or bachelor’s) and wish to transfer your credits to a new institution to earn your degree and graduate. 

How to transfer colleges

Transferring colleges usually entails gathering the necessary materials to apply to the school you’d like to attend and making sure you have transcripts from any college you previously attended. That way, your new school can review your transcripts and apply any college credit you’ve earned toward your new degree program.

While you can do this work on your own, if you’re currently enrolled in school, it can be useful to set up a meeting with your school’s student services team because they’ll be excellent resources to help you with your transfer process. 

Step-by-step guide for transferring colleges

1. Research schools you’d like to attend

If you don’t already know where you’d like to transfer, spend time figuring out which schools will be a good fit. Ask yourself: 

• Does this college have my major?

• Will my credits transfer?

• Does this college have the student life I want?

• Does the college offer the kind of student support I need?

• Is the location suitable?

• What kinds of financial aid and scholarships does it offer?

Review the school’s general application process. Now is also when you’ll want to note any application deadlines that apply to transfer (or new) students. 

2. Create a timeline and organize documents.

Colleges have different transfer application deadlines from one another. Some only allow students to start at the beginning of the fall semester, while others have rolling application deadlines that allow for students to join in semesters other than fall. Ensure your list of schools has application deadlines and start dates suitable for your needs. 

Applications typically require documents like your high school and official college transcripts, SAT or ACT test scores, letters of recommendation, and specific requirements, like a personal statement. It can take some time to pull these together, especially when requesting letters of recommendation, so make sure you’re clear about your application deadlines so you can plan accordingly. 

3. Apply to the new college.

Once you’ve gathered the necessary materials, begin applying to the schools you’d like to attend. You’ll likely also need to submit your official college transcripts, which you may need to request from your current school's registrar. They can send electronic transcripts or sealed printed transcripts, but if your new school has a preference it will be important to let your registrar’s office know. 

4. When accepted, begin a transfer review.

Whether you’re applying to one school or many, if you’ve been accepted then you’ll want to review the acceptance terms and any financial aid plan you’re being offered. Now is also a good time to gain clarity around the transfer review process. Once you’re accepted, your new school should review which credits you’ve earned that will transfer to your new degree program. 

If you’re currently enrolled in college, your financial aid package won’t transfer with you. In fact, it may change based on the cost of the new school, the school’s aid offer to you, and your own eligibility for federal aid. If you have federal student loans through your current school, you’ll likely trigger repayment when you transfer schools. However, you can apply for in-school deferment so you’re not expected to begin paying them back until you fully graduate. 

When should you start the college transfer process? 

When you should begin the college transfer process depends on the application deadlines of your new school. Many institutions accept transfers on a similar timeline as new students, meaning you may need to apply somewhere between early January to mid-February. Make sure to review the key deadlines for the schools you’d like to attend and plan accordingly. 

When is it too late to transfer colleges?

You can apply to transfer to a new college when their applications open for the following school year. But generally, it’s recommended that you finish at least one full year of college before doing so. Some students wait two years, earning their associate degree first, before transferring, but there’s no set rule or deadline. 

If you’ve been out of school for some time, it’s still not too late to transfer to a new degree program and achieve your educational goals. If you’ve earned some college but no degree, or you’ve earned your associate and then took a break, you may also want to consider bachelor’s completion programs, which are often designed for returning students who don’t need to start over while earning their degree.  

Tips for a seamless transfer experience

Here are some additional tips for a seamless transfer experience:

• Use an online tool to predict which credits may transfer and what courses will count at the new school, then verify your prediction is correct with each school during the process. 

• Keep track of your progress and stay organized so you remember your important deadlines and necessary documents. 

• Ask about additional scholarships specifically for transfer students and what kinds of financial aid the transfer school offers. 

• Visit the campus or online learning platform to ensure the transfer school has the learning environment and student life you desire. 

Complete your bachelor's degree through Coursera.

Completing your degree can be fulfilling on a personal and professional level. You’ll find transfer-friendly bachelor’s degrees available through Coursera, like the University of North Texas’ Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) or Illinois Tech’s Bachelor of Information Technology. Both offer flexible learning options and in-demand concentrations to make completing your degree more career-forward.