Fast Track the Graduate School Experience: A Guide to Credit Transfer

When applying to graduate school, you’re already planning to submit your college transcript as part of the process.

But did you know there’s a chance that some of your college credits might transfer and count toward your intended graduate degree?

This guide to credit transfer will help you find gems like this:

Example: Your undergraduate business classes might count toward your intended MBA at certain universities.

Credit transfer eligibility ultimately saves time and tuition dollars, which are major factors in graduating sooner and with less debt.

As someone who graduated a YEAR early due to graduate credit transfer, it’s my moral duty to help others ask the same questions that saved me time and money.

Here’s what we’re covering today:

• The Types of College Credits Eligible for Transfer

• How to Navigate Credit Transfer and What Questions to Ask

The Types of College Credits Eligible for Transfer

Every college and university operates differently based on the credits their students earn and outside credits they will accept for transfer into their programs.

These are the types of credits that could transfer depending on your previous education and where you are applying:

Undergraduate Credits Eligible for Transfer

Depending on the classes you took as a college student and the graduate program you are pursuing, some of the core courses in your undergraduate curriculum could count toward your future graduate program.

Example: If your undergraduate degree is in business and you are pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA), some of your undergraduate business credits could count toward your MBA credit requirements. 

Graduate Credits Eligible for Transfer

If you took graduate-level courses as a college student or even just for fun as a working professional, there is a chance those credits could transfer and count toward your future graduate program.

When I started a doctorate, it was a shock to learn that some of my elective courses I took as a master’s student could transfer and count toward the elective credits I needed in my doctoral program.

With those credits and by taking one extra course during one semester, I was able to graduate a full year early. It was incredible. 

How to Navigate the Credit Transfer Process and What Questions to Ask

Step 1

Contact the Admissions Office of the graduate program where you’re applying.

Note: They may connect you with an academic advisor or academic department administrator.

Step 2

Ask if the program accepts completed undergraduate or graduate credits toward the graduate degree requirements.

Pro Tip: Attach an unofficial copy of your transcript to help start the conversation.

In your email, ask specifically about:

1. The courses you took that seem similar to required courses in the graduate program

2. Elective courses you took that relate to required courses in the graduate program

3. Graduate-level courses you took as an undergraduate student, through a graduate non-degree program, or even as a graduate student in another program.

Formal credit transfer decisions will be made based on your official transcript once you’ve been accepted and enroll as a graduate student.

Step 3

Consider how the response affects your application process.

If finances and time-to-degree are crucial factors in your decision to go to graduate school, you might choose to apply to schools that maximize your existing credits.

Credit transfer is highly individualized based on an applicant’s completed credits (both undergraduate and graduate), where those credits originated, and the graduate program that will review those credits for possible transfer.

If you do not get a definitive response from someone in the process, it is acceptable to reach out to someone else at the university who can confirm.

Think of it as getting a second opinion from a second doctor when you’re going through a health event. 

Even if credit transfer seems cut-and-dry, depending on the credits you already have (especially if they’re from graduate-level courses), there’s a possibility someone else might have a different opinion as to whether they can count toward your intended graduate degree.

It’s worth the time and energy to ask, especially if it saves you months of time and thousands of dollars in tuition by graduating a semester early or more.

Take the first step today by emailing the admissions offices of the programs you’re applying to and ask whether they accept credit transfers toward the degree requirements.

Good luck, you've got this!

Follow Dr. Jena on LinkedIn for honest insight and helpful tips on your journey to graduate school as a working professional.

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