Are you considering transferring from a traditional on-campus college program to an online college? We have tips for your success and maximizing your transfer credits and a list of the best online colleges for transfer students.
You may be thinking of transferring from a traditional campus to an online college. While the transfer process can be confusing, when you understand what to look for, it doesn’t have to be a complicated process. In fact, we have a look at some of the best online colleges for doing just that. Read on for more info.
Online colleges have a reputation for being flexible and allowing many types of degree-seeking students to take advantage of the easy access for their online eduation.
Whether you are a working adult who needs more flexibility in your school schedule, or a traditional student who wants to attend college closer to home, or doesn’t enjoy a bustling college campus, online colleges may be the perfect solution for you. Maximize the work you have already completed by knowing the rules around how to transfer credits to an online college.
Many students who have earned an associate degree, or at least have completed some courses as part of an associate degree, are also considering transferring to an online college to complete their degree.
A community college may offer online courses that result in an associate degree. Even better, online colleges can be extremely flexible and convenient, especially for busy adults.
Gone are the days when working professionals have to work and spend each evening sitting in a classroom to earn their associate degree. Online colleges are the perfect solution when students are scrambling to balance work, school, and family life.
And an associate degree is increasingly recognized as a stepping stone into a four-year degree, or as a career boost into many trades and entry-level positions. Some online associate degree programs at the best online colleges may even award students credit for work experience.
While the right online colleges may offer the ability to transfer from on-campus to online, there are several factors that prospective students need to consider before taking the plunge.
It is important that the online college you have your eye on will allow you to transfer as many college credits as possible. If online colleges are unwilling to accept a lot of your existing credits, you will not only lose time, in having to retake those courses for credit, but you will obviously be losing money as well.
It is important to note that each online college is different. You will need to work directly with the school to make the determination.
Some of the best online colleges have a limit on the number of credits they will allow to be transferred. This is an especially important consideration if you have already completed the majority of your courses.
Some online colleges may also only accept transfer credit from courses that received a grade of “C” or higher. That means if you barely scraped by in that calculus class, you could have to repeat it.
Another critical component to consider if you want to transfer from on-campus to an online college is regional accreditation. The online college landscape is rife with shady schools looking to make a quick dollar on unsuspecting students. You want to be certain that your valuable time and money result in a college degree that is recognized as valuable by employers.
If the online college you are considering is accredited through one of the six regional accrediting associations, you can be reasonably certain that the school is highly reputable, and thus, the online learning degree you earn will be legitimate.
The six regional accreditation associations include:
If you are planning to transfer into an online college with an academic focus, make sure all of the schools on your list are recognized by at least one of these accrediting groups.
To learn more about what it takes to be one of the best online colleges, check out What is Accreditation and Why Does it Matter?
It’s not uncommon for an online college to require students to complete a certain number of credits, or be enrolled for a specific number of semesters in order to receive a degree from their online school.
For example, some schools may require students to complete 75% of their courses through their online education program. If you are considering transferring in your second or third year of a traditional degree program, this rule could have a major impact on you.
A number of online colleges offer degree completion programs. These programs are specifically tailored for students in this situation.
Key Point: Every school is different and has specific rules in place for transfer students seeking an online education, so it is critical that you understand those rules before beginning the process of moving from a traditional on-campus program to an online college.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
30%
Graduation
91%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
University of Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
UF is open to transfer students. As a transfer student, you will have to complete at least 60 transferable college credit from a regionally accredited school or an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public institution.
As part of their online programs offered, they have an web-based Bachelor of Arts or Science in Business degree that offers the best professors and top-notch courses under the nationally recognized Warrington College of Business.
Due to limited accessibility, many online degree programs rely on space availability, quality, and several transfer applicants. You need to anticipate fierce competition when you want to transfer to U.F.
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
66%
Student body
73K
Median SAT/ACT
1210/24
Arizona State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Arizona State University offers the Bachelor of Arts in Art with a concentration in Art History online that emphasizses visual media across time and cultures. You might consider this a credible online degree once you transfer to ASU.
Arizona statute prohibits considering failing grades earned by a veteran before military experience at an Arizona university or community college.
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
62%
Student body
39K
Median SAT/ACT
1215/25
University of Houston’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
With more than 120 degree options and world-renowned faculty, it’s definitely worth considering transferring to the University of Houston. At the University of Houston, you’ll find one of the most diverse student populations in the country. Generally, transferrable courses are courses at the college level offered by regionally accredited colleges or universities. The Office of Admissions will calculate your cumulative GPA from all transferrable college-level courses taken at all schools to determine your admissibility.
The online Bachelor of Science in Retailing and Consumer Science aims to integrate consumer and merchandising knowledge and help professionals use that knowledge to implement technology-based consumer practices in industries such as retailing, e-commerce, sales, customer service, and training.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
67%
Student body
49K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/26
Florida International University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Nearly 9,000 transfers attend FIU each year. By partnering with other Florida public and community colleges and offering campus life programs, you can transfer to FIU quickly for your online degree program. No matter how many credits you have or whether you have your associate’s degree, you need to verify your transfer credits.
One of their online programs is their Master of Science in Early Childhood Education. This program trains graduates to understand and teach children from birth to age eight. Early childhood education focuses on curriculum, instruction, learning, and development.
The regular transfer process is not required for students already enrolled in the Connect4Success program.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
36%
Graduation
75%
Student body
63K
Median SAT/ACT
1250/27
University of Central Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
At UCF, transfer students can access a convenient tool for accessing established course equivalencies from other universities. Transfer credit is awarded upon receipt of official transcripts from the sending institution, but the portal can help you plan your transition. You must prepare for official transcripts, SAT scores, and the application fee.
With UCF Online, you can complete your bachelor’s degree with the necessary support and tools. UCF Online’s creative writing courses will help you develop your communication and reader skills. The online bachelor of arts in English- creative writing is a great online degree program option to pursue as a transfer student.
With DirectConnect to UCF, you can transfer an A.A. or state-articulated AS degree from one of their partner colleges and be admitted to UCF (consistent with university policy).
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
60%
Student body
36K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/23
University of North Texas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Transfer students are individuals who have earned sufficient college credit hours after graduating from high school but have not earned a four-year degree from another college of higher education. You will need to fill out the online application form, submit official transcripts, and pay the application fee.
The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of North Texas prepares students to practice behavior analysis effectively and compassionately. You might be interested in this online program as a transfer student at UNT.
The Individual Review process is a review of a transfer student’s application by an admissions officer at UNT who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission into an online degree program. In the event that UNT’s minimum admission requirements are not met, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions conducts this review automatically.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
58%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/22
University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will count you as a transfer student if you have earned 24 or more college credits. You need to complete the application form, pay the fee, prepare your transcripts, and fill out the Community standards questionnaire. Consider the BS Program in Accounting online degree program if you want to focus on preparing and analyzing financial statements, use accounting information to make business decisions, and learn auditing and taxation.
Your last institution must be in good standing, and you must be eligible to return if you want to be accepted as a transfer student into one of the online degree programs at UNT.
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
79K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Liberty University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Transferring credits for many standardized exams is acceptable at Liberty University.
While ministry-focused certificate programs are not equivalent to accredited coursework, they can be reviewed for transfer credit into one of their online degree programs. A course credit can be earned through the Experience Plus Portfolio process even if you don’t have formal courses or training. If you are an undergraduate student at Liberty, you can transfer up to 90 credits.
Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Aviation online degree program will prepare you for an exciting career as an aeronautical decision-maker in the commercial, military, or missionary sectors. This is a good online program to consider.
Liberty University’s tuition rates are among the lowest in the country and have not increased for 8 years.
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
21%
Student body
37K
University of Maryland Global Campus’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Your degree helps to determine how many credits you can transfer at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Community colleges that offer two-year degrees can transfer up to 70 credits toward a bachelor’s degree. If you have earned credit by examination, military service, or other noncollegiate training, you can transfer up to 90 credits.
The online master’s degree program in Cloud Computing Systems at the University of Maryland Global Campus prepares you for designing, operating, and maintaining cloud computing systems.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
71%
Student body
36K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/20
California State University, Fullerton’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The minimum eligibility requirements at California State University-Fullerton include earning 60-90 transferable credits and completing at least 10 general education courses.
As a student in Cal State Fullerton’s online degree-completion program in sociology, you’ll learn about interpersonal relationships of all kinds.
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
61%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1066/22
Point Park University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
In the event that you have completed an associate degree at a community college, you may be eligible to continue your education at Point Park with a bachelor’s degree in any of the more than 70 undergraduate majors, regardless of whether a student is coming from Pennsylvania or another part of the country, Point Park welcomes transfers from community colleges into one of their online degree programs from all over the nation.
Point Park offers an applied computer science degree online that allows you to learn programming skills in addition to other technical skills highly in demand in various industries.
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
68%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1104/21
Ashland University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
If you’re planning to transfer to Ashland University, meeting with an Ashland University representative who can help you with your academic plans and goals is advisable.
Transcripts from your college should be sent to the department, as well as your application fee.
In an online associate of arts in business, you’ll learn business fundamentals and gain a general education for a career in government or industry. Use this as a pathway into an entry-level career, or as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree in business.
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
83%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1265/27
Miami University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
You can experience a world-class college experience by continuing your education at Miami University. To complete your bachelor’s degree requirements, Miami University may accept university-level credits you’ve earned at other recognized post-secondary institutions.
Miami University’s online Foundations of Business Analytics certificate prepares you to use data for business decision-making. This online program’s online business analytics courses will provide you with the workforce’s quantitative skills and business intelligence competencies.
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
76%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1250/27
Clarkson University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Transfer students from colleges and universities within and outside the United States are welcome at Clarkson. Students who transfer to this university must have strong academic records, persuasive recommendations, and a spark that sets them apart from first-year applicants. Prepare to submit your official transcripts, attend an interview, and prepare letters of recommendation and a personal statement.
Students majoring in Financial Information and Analysis for their bachelor’s degree will develop a deeper understanding of market analysis, finance, and accounting through economics courses. And, if you are interested in this field of study, they have a Business Intelligence and Data Analytics major that combines economics and data analytics courses.
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1470/33
Cornell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The degree offered by Cornell University is unmatched in the Ivy League, whatever the reason for transfer. The university has welcomed transfer students since its founding in 1865. The transfer program at Cornell enrolls between 500 and 600 students each fall and spring, bringing a broad range of experiences to the classrooms and campus.
Among the Ivy League schools that accept transfer students, Cornell is one of the most transfer-friendly.
Most online colleges and universities and require that transfer students complete one year of study before enrolling as a student at their institution. University requirements vary, however. But the most common requirements before students can transfer credits include an application form, application fee, letters of recommendation, SAT scores, and personal statement.
Do transfer students qualify for financial aid?The good news is that need-based financial aid is available to transfer students as long as the school is regionally accredited by one of the accrediting bodies mentioned above. Visit the Federal Student Aid website for more information.
Are online degrees credible and legitimate?You can earn a legitimate online degree just as easily as you can get one on campus if you go to a regionally accredited school like the ones in our list. These days online programs are highly regarded and are perceived with the same quality as in-person programs.