What is a Transfer Degree?

Earning a bachelor’s degree usually requires four to six years of study. While some students enroll in a four-year university and remain there until they graduate, others choose to begin at one institution before moving to another to finish their education. 

A transfer degree refers to an easily-transferable associate degree you earn from a junior or community college before using it to finish your bachelor’s at a four-year university. Transfer degrees can be beneficial for those who want to ease into the rigor of higher education, who need greater scheduling flexibility, or who want to reduce the overall cost of college. Learn more about whether earning your bachelor’s degree this way makes sense for your needs. 

What is a transfer degree?

A transfer degree is an associate degree you earn at a junior or community college that allows you to transfer most or all of your credits to a four-year university and complete your bachelor’s degree. Usually, you’ll complete your general education coursework at your first school, before transferring to another institution and finishing your major coursework in the area you’ve chosen to study. 

However, not every university is transfer-friendly. Some states have a transfer guarantee policy in place to ensure that your work in one school will count when you move to another. Check with the Education Commission of the States to learn more about your state’s policy. It’s also important to research the schools you’re interested in attending to understand their individual policies, as it can vary. 

Types of transfer degrees

In states that prepare students to transfer colleges, you’ll hear transfer degrees called Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) and you can typically earn one of two types that have to do what you choose to study:    

• Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T): concentrations in the natural sciences, mathematics, business administration, criminal justice, or other more technical subjects.  

• Associate in Art for Transfer (AA-T): concentrations in the liberal arts, humanities, journalism, or social sciences. 

Though not a transfer degree, it’s also possible to earn a good deal of college credit at one school and then apply to another school, requesting that they recognize some or all of what you’ve completed so you don’t need to retake any coursework. 

What is a reverse transfer degree? 

A reverse transfer degree allows you to get your associate degree after transferring to a four-year program. If you gain some college credit at a community college and then transfer to a university, you can combine credits earned from both schools to earn your associate degree. This may mean that it takes you longer to complete your bachelor’s once you transfer because you’ll need to work through the general education requirements you haven’t yet finished. 

Transfer degree requirements

If you’re interested in earning a transfer degree, there are important factors to keep in mind as you set about researching your options. 

Academic requirements

Each school sets its own transfer standards, but generally, you’ll need to have previously earned some college credit and be able to meet a minimum GPA expectation. 

• Minimum credits: You will likely need to have earned a minimum number of credits, such as 15, or a full associate degree. This will vary from school to school, so it’s important to check each school’s policy. 

• GPA: Transfer students are expected to have a minimum GPA, usually 2.5 or 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), to prove that they will be able to complete a bachelor’s degree at their new school. 

Policies and timelines

Depending on your state and school, you may also need to consider the factors below. 

• Transfer-friendly school: Not every school accepts credits earned elsewhere, though many do. It’s important to verify that the school you’re interested in attending will accept your transfer degree so you don’t have to redo parts of your education. 

• Set timelines: Some universities only accept transfer students at certain times of the year. You’ll need to apply to your new school, so it’s a good idea to review your new school’s policy and be aware of any important deadlines you’ll need to prepare for.

• Accreditation: When transferring to a new institution, you will likely need to provide transcripts from an accredited institution, which validates the quality of your education. 

• Bachelor’s degree requirements: There can be subtle variations in undergraduate programs from university to university. Even if you earn your associate degree elsewhere, you may still need to fulfill some general education coursework if your new school sets different requirements, such as requiring four science courses instead of three.  

• State requirements: Many states hold some kind of transfer agreement laws, making it easier for you to move from one school to another. However, not all states have that kind of policy in place. You may still be able to transfer credits, but your full associate degree may not be automatically recognized. 

Benefits of a transfer degree

Bachelor’s degrees feature many benefits, including higher earning potential and career advancement. And earning your bachelor’s through a transfer degree can hold special advantages. 

• Lower cost: Community colleges tend to cost less than four-year universities, making it more cost-effective to save on the first two years of your bachelor’s degree before finishing at a higher tuition rate. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a public four-year institution costs $9,800 per year while a public two-year institution costs $4,000 [1]. 

• Less pressure: Junior and community colleges tend not to be as competitive as four-year universities, giving you a chance to build your GPA and prove yourself to a university. 

• Explore your options: While four-year universities give new students some time to decide what they want to study, you may need to figure out your major at a faster pace. However, studying at a junior or community college may provide you with more time and flexibility to figure out where your interests lie. 

• Keep working: Community colleges are often designed for working professionals, offering lots of night and weekend classes and making it easier to keep working while you earn your associate degree. 

How to earn a transfer degree 

Once you decide that a transfer degree is the right option for you, follow the steps below.  

• Do your research: Make sure the education you’re embarking on is transferable. Check your state’s policy as well as the schools that you’d like to attend (both your community college and future four-year university) to ensure they will accept a transfer degree. It’s also important to consider what you want to study since two-year colleges tend not to offer the same variety of majors as four-year universities. 

• Enroll in a two-year degree: Enroll in junior or community college and begin working your way through their general education requirements. In many cases, you only need a high school diploma or GED to attend. 

• Meet with your advisor: Your junior or community college will likely have an advisor you can meet with. Share your goals of transferring so they can advise you about the process and how to best prepare.  

• Earn your associate degree: It typically takes two years or the completion of roughly 60 credits to earn an associate degree when you’re able to attend full-time. It will take longer if you attend part-time. 

• Apply to a four-year university: Once you're ready to transfer, you will typically have to apply to the university, pulling together all of the same materials as any new student would. Be aware of important deadlines for transfer students. 

Earn your bachelor’s on Coursera

There are many bachelor’s completion programs on Coursera that accept previously earned college credits or associate degrees, and offer self-paced scheduling and affordable options. Learn more about earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of London, a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of North Texas, or a Bachelor of Information Technology from Illinois Tech.