Course transfer planning and tools

College roles in credit transfer determine what credits will transfer and/or fulfill course requirements for your chosen program, degree or major. To qualify for transfer, course credits need to meet various criterion set by system, institution-specific and program-specific policy.

Systemwide Transfer programs and opportunities are available.

When researching and evaluating transfer opportunities:

1. Use the Minnesota Transfer First Steps Action Plan to guide you in getting started.
2. Check the Articulation Agreement database to see if an agreement exists for a degree you have earned or a program you are currently pursuing.
3. Discover course-by-course transfer opportunities at Transferology by generating a Program Request that shows you how the various general education or technical courses you have completed will transfer to specific programs or degrees at another college or university.
4. Research the advantages of completing the general education courses comprising the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). This is especially important if you are transferring to another college, a Minnesota State university, the University of Minnesota or an out-of-state institution.
5. Discuss the following questions regarding transfer of technical credits with online support or the Transfer Specialist from your current or future college or university:
   • Does the college or university I am considering accept technical credits earned from a different college or university? Is there a limit to how many technical credits will transfer?
   • Does the date technical credits were earned influence whether the credits will transfer?
   • To what extent will the transferred technical credits apply to the specific program(s), degree(s), or major(s) that interest me?
   • Are there any advantages to completing a technical degree with my current college or university and then transferring? Or, will as many credits transfer if I elect to transfer the group of technical credits I have earned thus far?
   • Will earning a certain package or block of technical credits from my current college or university increase the number of credits that will fulfill the requirements of the program(s), degree(s), or major(s) at my new school?
   • Will I benefit from any special relationships (articulation) between my previous college and my transfer university?

In many cases, if a course does not transfer as an equivalent course, a college or university may accept it as elective credit. It is also important to realize that developmental or remedial courses typically do not transfer. The upper limit of transfer credits accepted will depend on how credits must be taken in residency for the institution to award your degree. (Note: "Taken in residency" means taken through the institution awarding your degree.)

For guidance, including tips for course and program search tools, Ask Us questions seven days a week.