Colleges that accept 120 transfer credits are ideal for students who are close to completing a degree but want to finish their education at a new school.
Not all programs are willing to accept such a high number of credits, so it’s essential to look closely at the transfer limit for a prospective school.
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If you can’t find a program that will accept all of your credits, you may still be able to shorten your degree program by at least 2 years.
Colleges That Accept 120 Transfer Credits
Transferring more than 100 credits can substantially shorten the amount of time that it takes to complete your degree. Some students have a lot of college credits with no degree. So, it’s no surprise that students want to maximize the number of credits they take with them when switching schools.
Most colleges have a transfer credit limit, but some are much higher than others. While one college may only allow you to transfer 36 credits, another might accept 60. Online colleges with transferable credits are often more flexible and may accept up to 90 credits. Although it’s rare, online colleges that accept the most transfer credits may allow you to carry over all of your credit hours.
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A few programs will accept up to 120 transfer credits, which is equivalent to the number of credits a student must complete to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
If you’re planning to transfer to a new school, you might consider these potential challenges that you may encounter:
- Grade requirements. Most schools will only accept transfer credits if you passed the class with a C or higher.
- Course eligibility. Some classes are not transferable because they don’t align with the new college’s academic standards or curriculum.
- Accreditation. If your classes were completed at a school with regional accreditation, the credits are more likely to transfer to a new institution.
- Minimum credits. To apply as a transfer student rather than a new student, you may be required to have completed at least 30 transferable credits.
- Course relevance. If the classes you completed aren’t related to your new program, they may not be beneficial in shortening your graduation timeframe, even if they are technically transferable.
The transfer process may be easier if your previous school has an articulation agreement with other colleges or universities. These agreements are generally between community colleges and four-year institutions. An admissions counselor from the school you plan to attend can offer insight into how many of your past courses may transfer.
Types of Transfer Credits
If you’re an adult going back to college or looking for online college degrees for seniors, it’s common to have accumulated credits. Depending on your academic and professional background, you may have earned more transfer credits than you realize, including:
- College credits. If you have already taken classes at the college level, you may be able to transfer them to a new institution.
- Military training credits. Members of the military often earn college credits based on their service and training.
- Professional training credits. A prospective college may award credits based on your work experience, training, and certifications.
- Vocational credits. You may be eligible for credits based on courses that you completed at a vocational or technical school.
- Testing and portfolio credits. Some schools allow you to earn credits by taking a proficiency exam or presenting a portfolio reflecting your skills in a particular subject.
Online colleges that transfer credits have separate standards for determining which credits they’ll accept.
Do College Credits Expire?
Although college credits don’t have a specific expiration date, it’s possible that they may become less transferable over time.
In most cases, core general education courses, such as English or history, will still transfer regardless of when you completed them. Because of the rapid changes and advancements in science, technology, engineering, and math, courses in these areas may not transfer if it has been ten years or more since you took them.
Graduate courses also have shorter transfer timelines. A graduate-level class is less likely to transfer if you completed it more than seven years ago.
Is It Hard to Transfer Colleges?
The paperwork and technicalities involved in transferring to a new college can feel overwhelming. The process may go more smoothly if you have a clear understanding of the college’s transfer policy and requirements, such as the minimum GPA.
It’s also helpful to check the school’s transfer equivalencies and determine how many of your credits they will accept. If you’re currently taking classes, it’s beneficial to put your best effort into your work, as many colleges look closely at a transfer applicant’s most recent grades.
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Finally, it’s strategic to research potential schools carefully. Most transfer friendly colleges offer scholarships and other opportunities for transfer students. Some programs cater to a specific group like financial aid for single moms and grants to go back to school for the unemployed.
Colleges Offering Generous Amounts of Transfer Credits
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer generous amounts of transfer credits.
| Colleges | Maximum Number of Transfer Credits Accepted |
| Excelsior University | Up to 90 credits |
| Franklin University | Up to 94 credits |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Up to 90 credits |
| Thomas Edison State University | Up to 90 credits |
| University of Washington | Up to 90 credits |
Transferring Colleges
Transferring previously earned credits can save significant time and money. Rather than retaking classes that you’ve already passed, you may be able to receive credit for what you’ve learned and move on to new courses.
Some online programs are more welcoming to transfer students and offer several opportunities to earn transfer credits. In addition to receiving credit for classes, you may also get credit for your professional training and experience, military service, test scores, or vocational classes.
If you have a large number of completed college courses, you can take the next step toward finishing your degree by researching accredited online colleges that accept all transfer credits.
