Will Credit Hours from an Online University Transfer?
Not every student completes a college degree at a single school. It is common to transfer to campus colleges after completing classes online. Not every class will transfer to every brick-and-mortar college however, which means that you could waste your time if you aren’t careful. How can you ensure that your credit hours will transfer from your online school to a traditional campus college?
Make sure that your school is accredited.
Accreditation is a process where a third party looks at a program to see if the education a student gets is of a high quality. Very few colleges will accept credits from non-accredited schools. They want to make sure that the credit they’re giving you from classes is comparable to the credit you would receive had you taken the class at their college. To find out if your online university is accredited, search the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Talk to the admissions office at your college of choice.
Sometimes, you may not know where you intend to transfer when you start taking online classes. But if you have a few schools in mind, get a copy of their credit transfer policies before you actually start taking classes. With many schools, it isn’t just about whether or not your classes were taken online. Most campus-based colleges have rules about how many credits you can transfer in total, including how many major-specific classes you can transfer.
For example, if you took three general education classes and seven classes relating to your field of study at an online college, a campus-based college may only allow the general education credits and half of the major-specific credits to transfer. Others have extra requirements relating to transferring classes. For example, for your credits to transfer, you might have to take an entrance exam to prove that you learned enough information in your online classes to move on to more advanced classes.
Take introductory classes.
Whether you’re transferring to a campus college from an online school or from a different campus college, there’s a better chance that your credit hours will transfer if they’re only introductory classes. As you advance in your education, colleges structure their courses differently, so it can be difficult to enter one program when you’ve been taking classes from a different program. Most colleges offer introductory courses on various subjects, so these have the best chances of transferring from your online school to your new school.
Sometimes, sticking to a single program online can help you get your degree faster, without wasting any money. If you transfer, you always run the risk of losing some of the work you’ve already done. When transferring, choose your new school, in part, based on how many of your credits will transfer. Otherwise, you could find yourself essentially starting over with your education.
Top Online Universities
According to our user selection data, the universities listed below are those in which prospective students are most interested. You can click on each college's logo to request more information from that particular school.
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Kaplan University – Kaplan University is one of the largest accredited online colleges, with degree programs available in a wide range of subject fields. Enjoy a vast library of resources, dedicated advisors, and innovative learning techniques through Kaplan’s online programs. |
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University of Phoenix – Now the largest private university in North America, the University of Phoenix maintains over 200 convenient campus locations as well as one of the leading online learning formats to serve students anywhere at any time. The University of Phoenix degree programs are designed in collaboration with academic and industry professionals to ensure quality, relevance and rigor. |
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Ivy Bridge College – Ivy Bridge College offers online associate’s degree programs in accounting, business, computer technology, healthcare administration, criminal justice and general studies. The programs provide the flexibility and convenience of online learning while offering unparalleled mentoring and student support. For students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree, Ivy Bridge provides streamlined admission to some of the best four-year colleges in the U.S. |
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Post University – Now dubbed the largest provider of online higher education in the state of Connecticut, Post University has been offering accredited, accelerated online degree programs for nearly 15 years. Post’s online programs are thriving today thanks to an effort to providing the detail of in-person learning to students needing the convenience and flexibility of online education. |
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Walden University – Founded in 1971 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Walden University’s motto states their mission: "A higher degree. A higher purpose." The coursework offered at this university is designed with working adults in mind. Those who previously may not have had the time to attend class can now earn a degree online from Walden in convenient and affordable style. |
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