Online colleges are flexible enough to work for most students, but some take just a few classes online before deciding to complete their education at a college campus. Online courses can also be great for students who want to complete college faster by working over the summer break or who want to supplement their schedule with relevant courses. The bottom line is that you don’t have to intend to complete your degree online to takes a few distance learning classes.

At the same time, you don’t want the work you’ve done to be for nothing. If you currently attend college on a campus or are considering this option in the future, it is prudent to see whether or not your credits from online classes will transfer. If the classes don’t transfer, they can still improve your knowledge of a subject, but there may be better options for your educational career.

First, it is important to look for an online college that is accredited. There are dozens of organizations that accredit colleges in the United States, along with many that work specifically to accredit online programs. Online college, as all other colleges, must meet certain education standards, which prevents you from getting a degree from a so-called “diploma mill.” If your online classes aren’t part of an accredited program, chances are that they will not transfer to a campus college. That doesn’t mean that they won’t teach you anything, but since there are so many programs that are accredited, it’s foolish not to consider these options first.

To learn about credit transfer, you need to look at the requirements of your specific college. Some colleges are extremely lenient and accept transfers from just about any college. Others have very high standards, only accepting transfer credits if you meet certain conditions. These conditions could include the following:

• The credits you’re transferring are from a course that is very similar to a course you would have had to take at the campus.
• The credits you’re transferring are from a course that fulfills general education or elective requirements, but not from a course that you want to replace one of the classes directly related to your major.
• You got a very high Grade Point Average (GPA) in the course and can prove that you were held to high academic standards.
• You’re only transferring a small number of credits. Most colleges don’t allow you to transfer more than 30% to 50% of your total credits, so if you go to college online for more than two years, you may have to repeat some classes.
• The credits were earned within the past few years. Many colleges won’t accept credits that were earned more than six to eight years ago, but it depends on your program and your specific college.

Not every college accepts transferred credits, but most that do are happy to also accept online college credits, as long as they’re from an accredited college and you otherwise meet your school’s specific requirements.

You should get in touch with the admissions office from each college to facilitate the transfer. You’ll need official transcripts, and you may need letters from your college as well as proof that your online college is accredited. All of this information should be submitted when you apply to the second college, as this information can actually help you be accepted into the program.Every school is different (here’s one example of transfer requirements), so work with staff from your college of choice to find out more about the process.

Remember, you can transfer credits from a campus college to an online college as well. The challenge in either case is that online colleges and campus colleges often have fundamental differences that require you not just to coordinate the transfer credits, but also to change how you think about education. With an online class, you have to be extremely motivated and self-reliant, and the education is more focused. Many students finish programs online faster than is possible at a typical college.

On the other hand, when you go to school on a college campus, you’re expected to interact more with other students, completing more group projects and participating in classes. You also have a more rigid schedule, as you’ll attend classes in person at specific times every week. These major differences often throw transfer students for a loop, so be prepared for these differences as you learn about transferring your credits.