Getting Your Bachelors Degree Online
Community college may have provided an affordable start for your higher education, but you might be ready to do a college transfer now.
Even if you have your eye on an out-of-state school, you may be able to transfer some of your community college credits to your new institution. This can be especially valuable when it comes to online education. Distance learning allows you to take courses from an out-of-state school without ever leaving home.
So, if you find that you have a lot of college credits but no degree, by transferring your community college credits to an accredited online college, you might be able to wrap up your studies more quickly and graduate with your bachelors degree.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Accreditation & Credit Transfer
Attending an accredited institution is always a good idea, but for transfer students, its especially important. Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation that institutions and programs of study may undergo to show they meet certain quality standards. Students who attend unaccredited institutions are not only ineligible to receive federal financial aid but also risk losing all their credits when they transfer to a four-year college. Most accredited colleges do not accept coursework completed at unaccredited schools, so students who plan to take care of core classes or earn an associates degree at a two-year institution before matriculating to a university must make sure their school is accredited.
Potential Tax Implications And Rollover Information For Refunds
This answer depends on your situation. If you have made money in your GET account, and request a refund, you will be issued a 1099-Q tax form the following January that shows the earnings and principal portions of your withdrawal. If you do not use your funds to cover qualified higher education expenses incurred in the same calendar year, your account earnings may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty and will be taxed as ordinary income. It is our understanding that you will not be subject to these penalties if you rollover your funds into another qualified 529 plan within 60 days of the date that your refund is processed.;Note that, per IRS regulations, 529 plan rollovers can only be performed once every 12 months.
If your refund is for contributions only, and does not include any gains, you will not receive a 1099-Q tax form and should not need to report your refund to the IRS. Please note, this means all amortization refunds will not receive a 1099-Q form.
Note that we always recommend consulting IRS Publication 970, a tax professional and/or financial adviser to fully understand any potential tax implications before requesting a refund of your account.
Note that we always recommend consulting IRS Publication 970, a tax professional and/or financial adviser to fully understand any potential tax implications before requesting a refund of your account.
You May Like: What Do Colleges Look At
Can I Skip The Research
Now you may have an idea why I said transferring from community college to university is possible, but not easy. This kind of research takes a long time, is confusing as heck, and in the end youre still just guessing.
Unfortunately, skipping out on this research phase isnt advisedunless you want to risk being one of the 40% we mentioned earlier. But I have good news for you: there is one way you can get out of it. Let us help.
At Pearson, we help students use transfer credit to mimic the cost-savings of a community college. But we take it one step further. 94% of Accelerated Pathways graduates earn their degrees 100% debt free.
Were credit transfer experts, equipped with over a decade of experience transferring credit to and from hundreds of colleges. My point? We can guarantee with confidence that the affordable, online courses you take through us will, in fact, transfer to the college of your choice . All without you lifting a finger.
After taking time to discuss your goals and plans, and how your college degree can help you achieve them, our Accelerated Pathways advisors will help you craft your own fully-customized degree, selecting the most affordable school and courses to meet your goals. With our help, youll end up graduating with a debt-free degree thats not only perfectly tailored to your budget, but also your lifestyle. Learn more about Accelerated Pathways by clicking here.
Youve got this!
Transfer Policies For The Core Curriculum
All students must complete the Contemporary Challenges learning goals at RutgersNew Brunswick. No transfer or AP courses can be used to fulfill these learning goals.
Once a student matriculates at SAS, writing courses must be completed at RutgersNew Brunswick. Transfer credit for 01:355:101 is not awarded except to transfer students. However, the two-part writing sequences from RutgersCamden and RutgersNewark may still substitute for 01:355:101, provided that both courses are passed before matriculating at SAS.
All students must complete the Revision-Based Writing and Communication Learning Goal by taking a class at RutgersNew Brunswick; transfer and AP courses are not certified to meet this learning goal.
All students will be able to complete the Discipline-Based Writing and Communication Learning Goal with either a RutgersNew Brunswick course or a transfer course equivalent to a Rutgers course that has been certified as meeting the goal.
In all other cases, when a course transfers as equivalent to a course that has been certified as meeting a core curriculum goal, SAS will accept that course as fulfilling that core curriculum requirement.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Recruited For College Softball
More Frequently Asked Questions
That depends on whether you plan to enroll at a school you have previously attended. Often, when students have taken time off from college and then start taking classes again, they are considered “returning” students, particularly if they go back to the same institution.
“Transfer students” are students who have previously attended a different college or university and hope to attend a new school.
Requirements for transfer students and declaring a major vary between institutions. For example, the University of California, Santa Cruz requires junior students to declare their majors by the second quarter, while the University of Florida requires students to declare a major when they apply.
There is a great deal of similarity between the application process for transfer students and incoming first-year students. However, since transfer students have already been through the process at least once, they may be more comfortable with it.
Some schools may require a lower grade point average for students who are switching colleges than they do for those right out of high school. However, some schools accept a lower percentage of transfer student applicants than first-year applicants.
It is possible to transfer schools midyear, but to do so you need to start the process in October. However, most students transfer schools at the beginning of the year.
Transferring College Credits After 10 Years Or More: How Long Do College Credits Stay Valid
How long are college credits good for? How long do college credits stay valid? These are common questions among people considering a return to school after having spent some time away from the classroom.;
While the easy answer is that most college credits for core courses will stay valid for years or even decades some credits may have a more finite shelf-life. Typically, course credits within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields expire within 10 years after the time they were earned. Due to ever-evolving technological and scientific advances, information learned in the STEM field more than a decade ago may be rendered obsolete and require students to rebuild a foundation grounded in newer practices before moving forward. So, if you took STEM-related courses over 10 years ago, be forewarned that they may not necessarily be able to be applied to your new college or university degree program. Its always a good practice to check with your admissions office to find out whether or not any of these courses may be able to be transferred.;
While some courses do have an expiration date, the upside is that, if youve worked in a field related to your desired degree program, you may be able to earn college credits in exchange for your work or life experience in that field. Again, consult with your college or universitys admissions team to learn if you may be able to leverage recent field experience for college credit.;
Recommended Reading: What Are The Top Online Colleges
Typical Admission Requirements For Transfer Students
When considering transferring schools, students should check their anticipated schools GPA requirements for transfer students. Often, the minimum GPA requirement for transfer applicants is lower than that for first-year students. Admissions offices tend to consider that a students college coursework is more intensive and challenging than their high school curriculum and adjust requirements accordingly. Nonetheless, prospective transfer students should be aware of their schools minimum GPA so they can stay on track while planning their transition.
Because colleges typically look at applicants college GPAs for admission, transfer students need to provide their official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions theyve attended. Submitting college transcripts is also crucial in determining how many credits will transfer to their new school.
Transfer applicants may still be required to submit their high school transcripts and standardized test scores and should check with their new schools admissions office. Students who have completed an associates degree or those who have been out of high school for a specified length of time can usually skip these requirements.
High School: Ib Credits
IB stands for International Baccalaureate. It was a program designed in Switzerland in the 1960s but now exists worldwide, including the United States.;
High schools that offer an IB program provide students with the opportunity for advanced learning, as well as the possibility of advanced placement and college credit when they enter college.
This program also has exams that students take upon completion. Based on your exam scores and whether you have taken Standard Level or Higher Level IB courses, you can earn college credit.
Many IB programs also offer an IB Diploma upon high school graduation. Students who have earned this credential can sometimes place out of all of their general education courses upon entering college, although policies vary by institution.
Also Check: How To Raise Money For College
Before Applying To Sacramento State
All applicants must have all the following items below:
- A copy of their unofficial transcripts ready before filling out the application. Students will be asked to enter all the courses that have been completed on the CSU application; those that are currently in progress; and any courses you plan to take. Transcripts will be requested by campuses as needed
- Applicant’s Social Security number
- Applicant’s citizenship status.
- A method of payment
- The annual income of applicant’s parents if they are a dependent; your income if you are independent
- CCCID and Campus ID ; every California Community College student is assigned a CCCID and a campus-specific ID number. These numbers should be printed on applicants transcript
- Applicants parents’ employment background and two letters of recommendation
How Do My Transfer Credits Count Towards General Education Requirements
Through the General Education Requirement Transfer Agreement;, youll receive greater transferability of coursework at UND. If you’re transferring from one of the institutions within UND’s transfer network, you may be able to complete all of your lower-division general education;requirements at your current school and transfer the credits to fulfill UND’s;39-credit general education requirements;.
Transfer Evaluation Appeals For Students Transferring From New Jersey Community Colleges
Students who wish to appeal their New Jersey Community College transfer evaluation to the School of Arts and Sciences must do so withing 30 days of receiving their Official Transfer Summary Report.
Students should first refer to njtransfer.org to determine the proper evaluation of any given course offered at a New Jersey Community College. If the transfer evaluation and njtransfer.org are in disagreement the student should notify the SAS Transfer Center via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The email should include the student name, RUID, and the specific information detailing the error. All clerical errors will be corrected promptly and the student will be notified by return email within 30 days.
If the student is appealing the nature of the evaluation as correctly stated on njtransfer.org.org, they shall submit a completed copy of the Transfer Course Departmental Evaluation with an attached syllabus of the course in question to the undergraduate director of the specific academic department in which transfer credit is sought. If the department agrees that the evaluation for the course needs to be updated they will notify the SAS Transfer Center. Upon such written notification, njtransfer.org will be updated appropriately and the student record will be adjusted accordingly within 30 days of receipt of notification from the academic department.
Transfer From New Jersey County Or Community Colleges
In the case of students who apply and are admitted directly to SAS after successfully completing an associate degree transfer program at any public New Jersey county or community college that conforms with the New Jersey Statewide Transfer Agreement , credits taken at the community college awarding the degree and required for that degree program are accepted for transfer credit, up to a total of 60 credits. This excludes transfer credits accepted by the community college from other institutions, credits earned by examination, credits in physical education, and courses equivalent to non-credit courses offered by SAS. Credits earned beyond the requirements for the degree program are evaluated for transfer on a course-by-course basis.
Transfer credits from New Jersey county or community colleges for students who did not earn an associate degree conforming with the statewide transfer agreement are considered under the General Transfer policies outlined above.
College Credit Transfer Guide
- College Credit Transfer Guide
College is a significant investment. Many students try to make the most out of this investment by getting classes and credits out of the way cheaply before going to college or transferring to a four-year school.
While in high school, students can sometimes earn college credits by taking AP or IB classes or through dual enrollment programs with a local community college. Many community colleges offer the same courses you would find in the first two years at a four-year school but at a much lower price.;
In this guide, we explore the types of credit you can earn in high school or college and how well these types transfer to different institutions.
How To Transfer Dual Enrollment Credits To College
As graduation approaches, you might be wondering how the dual enrollment courses you took as a high school student will transfer as credits that count toward your degree at your new university. The answer to this question varies by state and individual college; public and private schools have different protocols when it comes to dual credit transfers, so it is important that you do your research.
One crucial point to keep in mind is that, even if each state sets a standard for public schools general education curriculum, some states do not require public schools to accept dual enrollment credits. Otherwise, its not uncommon for public colleges to approve of credits that were earned at a different school in the same state. Private schools are trickier, as they are able to choose for themselves whether or not to accept credits and how they apply to your transcript.
Ultimately, your university will determine how many credits will transfer as well as whether they will count toward your major or general education requirements. And especially if youre attending a college out of the state you took your dual enrollment courses in, you should be aware that not all credits will transfer equally.
There is no universal rule or policy for transferring credits, so if you want to be sure about what you are getting, do not hesitate to ask how it works in your state or at your university. You will not regret being proactive about your education!
College Transfers Are Common
Before we get into the issue of transferring credits successfully and how that affects graduation rates, it may comfort you to know that you wont be alone in your quest. Far from it. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics , more than a third of undergraduates transfer at least once, and 11% transfer twice. And, believe it or not, we do indeed live in a country of movers, as about one in 50 students transfer three times or more.
So you have plenty of company.
These students fall into several different categories. The NCES reports that, of all the students who transfer, the greatest number transfer from two-year to four-year schools. Still, a significant portion transfer between four-year institutions and between two-year institutions , and almost one in five reverse transfer from a four-year to a two-year school.
Regardless of the situation, all these students have the same basic challenge, and that is to find an appropriate school that will credit them for the bulk of their previous coursework. In fact, research has shown that the likelihood of completing ones bachelors degree depends largely on getting this one piece of the transfer puzzle right.
Will My Credits Transfer
The primary academic concern for any student considering a transfer between schools should be “will my credits transfer?” The answer to this question is highly variable, so research is key. In general, transferring credits is simplest between public schools within the same state. These schools often maintain articulation agreements, which facilitate credit transfer and may even guarantee admission to students meeting specific requirements.
For example, the University of Wisconsin-Madison maintains transfer agreements with several in-state partner institutions. Additionally, the California State University System maintains a website to show students how credits earned at one state school can transfer to another.
Checking to see if the school you want to transfer to has an articulation agreement with your current school is a great first step in determining if your credits will transfer. Use online tools to search for transfer agreements.
Regardless of the relationship between schools, remember that the power to accept or reject transfer credits always lies with the credit-receiving institution. Be sure to look specifically at policies surrounding course equivalency, transfers between course levels, and transfers between quarter and semester systems.