Key takeaways
- To transfer colleges, you’ll need to research schools, check deadlines, gather transcripts and recommendations, write a transfer essay, and apply.
- Not all credits transfer, so check with both your current and target schools before applying.
- Financial aid may carry over to your new school, but it’s not automatic, so contact both financial aid offices early.
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Wondering how to transfer colleges? Nearly one-third of all college students transfer at least once, so, if your current school isn’t the right fit, you’re not alone. If you’re on the path to transferring colleges, the process is more manageable than it may seem. Start by identifying why you want to transfer and what you’re looking for in a new school. Here’s what you need to know to make the switch as smooth as possible.
Should you transfer colleges?
Before diving into the process, make sure transferring is the right call. Some reasons are worth acting on. Others may resolve on their own.
Good reasons to transfer:
- Your school doesn’t offer the program or major you want.
- The cost is no longer manageable, and a more affordable option exists.
- The campus size, culture, or location isn’t working for you.
- You’re moving from a community college to a four-year program.
Reasons to pause and reconsider:
- Homesickness or trouble making friends; these often improve with time.
- A conflict with one professor or roommate.
- A rough first semester; adjustment takes time.
If your reasons are academic, financial, or tied to long-term goals, transferring may make sense. If they’re temporary, give it more time before making a move.
How to transfer colleges: A step-by-step process
Step 1: Identify what you want in a new school
Think about what your current school is missing. Make a list of must-haves, like specific programs, location, campus size, cost, or culture. Use College Raptor’s College Match tool to find schools that fit your academic profile and priorities.
Step 2: Research transfer requirements and deadlines
Every school has its own transfer application deadlines, and they’re often different from freshman deadlines. Check each school’s admissions page and note every deadline. Missing one may cost you a full semester.
Also check each school’s eligibility requirements. Some programs have minimum GPA requirements for transfer applicants.
Step 3: Check your credit transfer options
Before you apply anywhere, find out how many of your credits will transfer. Not all schools accept every credit, and some have caps on how many transfer credits they’ll accept, often between 60 and 90.
Step 4: Request your transcripts
All transfer applications require your college transcript. Some also require your high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores, especially if you’ve completed fewer than one year of college credits. Request your transcripts early.
Step 5: Secure letters of recommendation
Most transfer applications require one to three letters of recommendation. Ask professors you’ve worked closely with, a supervisor, or a mentor who can speak to your academic ability and character.
Step 6: Write your transfer essay
The transfer essay is one of the most important parts of your application. Focus on what your current school lacks, what the new school offers, and how it connects to your goals. Spend adequate time on this since it may be the deciding factor in your acceptance.
Step 7: Visit your target campus if possible
If you can, visit the campus before you commit. Sit in on a class, grab lunch in the dining hall, and talk to current students. You want to make sure the school feels right before you go through the transfer and moving process.
Step 8: Apply and keep your grades up
Submit your applications before each school’s deadline. Then, keep doing the work at your current school. Stay focused through the end of the semester.
Step 9: Sort out your financial aid
Financial aid doesn’t automatically follow you to a new school. Contact the financial aid offices at both your current and target schools to understand what may carry over and what you’ll need to reapply for. File the FAFSA for the upcoming year if you haven’t already.
Step 10: Make your decision and notify your current school
Once you receive acceptance letters, compare your options considering program quality, cost, credit transfer outcome, and financial aid packages. Use College Raptor’s Financial Aid Offer Comparison tool to see the real cost of each offer side by side. Once you’ve decided, notify your current school and begin the enrollment process at your new one.
Transfer colleges with confidence
Ready to find the right school this time around? Use College Raptor’s College Match tool to discover schools that match your goals and budget. Compare your financial aid offers with our Financial Aid Comparison tool and search for transfer scholarships to help cover the cost of your next chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Will all your credits transfer?
Not necessarily. Credits transfer differently at every school. Some courses may not count toward your new major. Others may fulfill general education requirements but nothing else. Always confirm with an academic advisor at your target school before you commit.
Is it harder to get in as a transfer student?
It depends on the school. Some schools actively recruit transfer students and have strong transfer admission rates. Others, usually highly selective schools, may have lower transfer acceptance rates. Research each school’s transfer statistics before applying.
Can you apply to schools that rejected you before?
Yes, in most cases. A school will review a new transfer application on its own merits. If you’ve strengthened your academic record since your original application, it may be worth trying again.
Can you still graduate on time?
Possibly, but it depends on how many credits transfer and in what year you transfer. Transferring in your first or second year gives you the best chance of graduating on time. Transferring later may add a semester or two.
