What Are Transfer Credits? How to Find Transfer-Friendly Colleges

The path to a degree looks different for everyone. While some students earn all their college credits at one school, others may enroll at two, three or more institutions along the way to a diploma for various reasons.

Some may decide to attend a different school after taking a long break from college. Others realize one school isn't the right fit and opt to move directly to another. There are also students who earn credits through other experiences, like military training and education, before or while enrolled in college.

Transfer credits serve as a bridge between the progress you've already made and your path to finishing a degree.

What Makes a College Transfer Friendly?

Transfer-friendly programs are designed to help you apply as many of your existing credits as possible toward a degree so you can graduate as fast as possible.

"A transfer-friendly institution values students' prior learning, works to maximize applicable transfer credit whenever possible and creates a smooth transition so students can continue their education without unnecessary delays or repeating coursework," Panny said.

Students at SNHU, for example, can transfer up to 45 of the 60 credits required for an associate degree and up to 90 of the 120 credits required for a bachelor's degree. That means you could be 75% of the way through your program when you start.

"We are continually looking for ways to expand opportunities for students to receive credit for the knowledge and skills they have already developed, while maintaining the academic quality and standards that support their success," said Panny.

Some transfer-friendly schools might also allow you to earn additional credits while you're enrolled. That's what Emma Hutchinson '23 did while earning her bachelor's degree in math with a concentration in applied mathematics from SNHU.

Hutchinson said she took a decade-long break from college while raising her children. Then, she transferred her existing credits and got to work on finishing her degree.

"I had a difficult time choosing which online program to enroll in, and I could not be more satisfied with SNHU," she said.

Along the way, she took courses from Sophia Learning, a subscription-based online education platform partnered with SNHU, and said transferring those credits allowed her to graduate much faster than she had anticipated. "I had no idea I would be able to fast-track my degree," said Hutchinson.

Learn more: Finish What You Started: Online Degree Completion Programs

How to Choose a Transfer-Friendly College

Finding transfer-friendly colleges requires research. In addition to choosing a school that allows you to transfer as many of your existing credits as possible, you may wish to consider what the path to the finish line will look like.

For instance, does the school's schedule work with your life? If you have a busy schedule, you might decide on an asynchronous online program without set class times, allowing you to earn a degree at your own pace while adhering to weekly deadlines.

Another consideration is whether you'll have people to turn to along the way. Some schools, like SNHU, offer a full network of support with returning learners and nontraditional students in mind, including:

• Academic advising
• Career services
• Mental health services
• 24/7 drop-in tutoring 

Keep reading: This Time Will Be Different: Student Support for Returning Learners

Can Credits From 20 Years Ago Transfer?

In many cases, credits from 20 years ago can still transfer into your program and count toward your degree at a transfer-friendly school.

"SNHU was not my first college experience," said Christine Viera '21.

She said she had earned an Associate of Arts (AA) from another school about 20 years prior to going back to finish her bachelor's in marketing with a concentration in social media marketing.

"I realized SNHU was trustworthy as soon as I was accepted, because almost all of my previous credits from (my) AA transferred over," she said, noting that she didn't need to retake courses that she had already taken previously.

College credits typically don't expire, according to Panny. However, she said older credits might not apply toward your major requirements in certain fast-moving fields, like information technology. In those instances, Panny said your older courses might count as elective credits instead. 

Read more: Do College Credits Expire?

How to Get Started

If you're wondering whether your credits will transfer, it may be time for a transfer credit evaluation at the school where you hope to finish your degree.

Here are three easy steps to start your transfer credit journey at SNHU:

1. Complete the free 5-minute online application. There’s no obligation after filling it out.
2. Get your transcripts requested — for free. Chat with an admission counselor to have your transcripts requested on your behalf.
3. Receive your free evaluation. Soon after all your transcripts are in, you'll get your official evaluation. It will show you what was transferred in and which credits you need to graduate.

"Every student's situation is unique, which is why we encourage students to explore their transfer credit options and have their previous coursework, certifications and learning experiences reviewed," Panny said.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor’s and master’s, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon’s short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.