CREDIT TRANSFER POLICIES
Colleges have graduation regulations to determine eligibility for an associate and bachelor’s degree. If a student is planning to transfer a lot of credit hours into a two-year or four-year college, it’s important to learn what these regulations are in advance. There’s a lot a variation between schools, so do your homework. Below are graduation regulation examples from four different schools.
1.) Here’s what North Carolina State University requires to be eligible for a bachelor’s degree:
- Be enrolled in a degree program at NC State
- Have completed at least 25% of credit hours required for graduation through courses offered by NC State
- Have earned at least 30 of the last 45 hours of credit through NC State courses
2.) Here’s an example from a private college that accepts a lot of CLEP credit hours:
At least twenty-five percent of the credit hours required for the bachelor’s degree must be completed at College XYZ. Fifty percent of the semester hours in the major and minor must be completed at College XYZ, unless otherwise specified within the degree requirements. (25% percent amounts to 1 college year)
3.) Here’s an example from a state school that accepts a lot of CLEP credit hours:
At least 31 credits in residence at College XYZ, 12 of which must be in the major field and nine (9) of which must be in the minor if a minor is sought
4.) Here’s an example from our community college:
Students must complete at least 25 percent of the hours required for a degree, diploma, or certificate in residence at XYZ Technical Community College. (This amounts to 1 semester)
MAXIMUM TRANSFER CREDITS
Colleges may have a maximum number of credit hours that will transfer from another college. This can depend on where the credits are coming from. One local four-year college will only accept a maximum of 64 credit hours from a two-year college. If the credits are from a four-year college, there is no maximum.
LOCATING COLLEGE GRADUATION REGULATIONS
To find this type of information at a target school, search for “graduation regulations,” “graduation requirements,” or “requirements for a bachelor’s degree” on the college’s website.
FOR STUDENTS WITH A LOT OF EARLY COLLEGE CREDITS
If you are bullish on getting a lot of CLEP credits and other early college credits, it will be important to determine the number of credits that your two-year or four-year school requires to earn your desired degree. You don’t want to overdo it!
See CLEP Quick Start for information on how to take CLEP exams in high school.