Transferring Credits to an Online College

01What is the American Degree Transfer Program?

The American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP), sometimes called an American university transfer program or 2+2 program, is a pathway that lets international students complete the first part of a US-style bachelor's degree in their home country and then transfer to a university in the United States to finish. The name does not refer to one official government program. It is a general model that many colleges and partner institutions abroad use, each with its own rules.

Here is how the American Degree Transfer Program typically works:

1. Study locally first. A student enrolls at a college outside the US that teaches a curriculum modeled on American general education and introductory major courses, usually in English and using US-style semester credits.
2. Earn transferable credits. Over roughly one to two years, the student completes credits intended to match the first half of a typical 120-credit bachelor's degree.
3. Apply to US universities. The student applies as a transfer student, often to universities that have agreements with the home institution or that review its coursework.
4. Finish in the US. After a credit evaluation, the student completes the remaining years at the US university and graduates with that university's degree.

The appeal is cost: the early years abroad usually cost less than the same years in the US, and students get time to adjust academically before moving. The risks are the same as any transfer: credits are never guaranteed, and each US university decides what it accepts. Students considering one of these programs should ask which US universities have accepted its graduates, request written course-equivalency information, and check student visa requirements and English proficiency requirements with the destination school. Note that international students on student visas generally face limits on fully online study in the US, so 2+2 pathways usually end in on-campus enrollment.

02Can you transfer online college credits?

Yes. Credits earned online at an accredited college are generally treated the same as on-campus credits, and most transcripts do not label courses as online. What matters is where the credit came from and how it matches the new program, not the format.

Receiving schools typically look at:

• Accreditation: credits from institutionally accredited schools (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA) transfer most easily. Since July 1, 2020, the Department no longer distinguishes between "regional" and "national" accreditors, but individual schools still set their own acceptance policies, so ask.
• Grade: many schools require a C or better; some accept D grades in general education.
• Course content: does the course match one of the school's courses, or can it count as an elective?
• Level: lower-division courses rarely satisfy upper-division requirements.
• Age of credits: general education usually has no expiration, but some programs limit older credits in fast-changing subjects like technology.

03How transfer credit evaluation works

The process is similar at most online colleges:

1. Request official transcripts from every college you attended, plus exam score reports and military transcripts.
2. Get an unofficial evaluation if the school offers one before you apply. This shows how many credits are likely to count.
3. Receive the official evaluation after admission, listing each course as a direct equivalent, an elective or not accepted.
4. Map it to a degree plan. Ask your advisor to show which requirements remain.
5. Appeal when warranted. If a course was denied but you believe it matches, submit the syllabus and ask for a review.

Watch for the difference between credits that transfer and credits that apply. A school might accept all 60 of your credits but apply only 45 toward your specific business degree, with the rest sitting as unused electives.

04Residency requirements and how many credits you still need

Almost every college has a residency requirement: a minimum number or share of credits you must earn at that school to receive its degree. Online schools call it residency even though you never visit campus. The requirement often applies specifically to upper-division or major courses, so check both the total and any rules about where your business core must be taken.

A residency requirement sets a ceiling on how much transfer credit can help: no matter how much you bring, you must still complete the school's minimum. For more on how the 120 breaks down, see how many credits for a bachelor's degree.

05Articulation agreements and transfer pathways

An articulation agreement is a formal deal between schools that spells out which courses transfer and how. They are the most reliable route for domestic students. Common types include:

• Statewide agreements: many states guarantee that a completed transfer associate degree from a public community college satisfies lower-division general education at public universities.
• Program-to-program agreements: for example, a community college business associate that maps directly into a specific university's business bachelor's.
• Online degree-completion partnerships: online universities often sign agreements with community colleges so graduates can finish a bachelor's online.

If you have not started yet, choosing the right associate degree type matters; our comparison of Associate of Arts vs Associate of Science explains which transfers best into business programs.

06Online college courses for transfer credit: exams, military and prior learning

College courses are not the only source of transferable credit:

• CLEP and DSST exams: standardized exams in subjects like principles of management, principles of marketing, financial accounting, macroeconomics and business law. Each school sets which exams it accepts and the passing score.
• Military credit: training and occupations listed on the Joint Services Transcript are often evaluated for credit. Schools that serve military students tend to have clear policies, so compare them if this applies to you.
• Prior learning assessment (PLA): you document work experience in a portfolio that an instructor evaluates against a course's outcomes.
• Professional certifications and workplace training: some schools award credit for specific industry certifications or corporate training that has been evaluated in advance.
• Self-paced online courses: low-cost, self-paced courses from accredited providers can fill general education gaps. See self-paced online college for how these work.

Always confirm acceptance with your target school before paying for an exam or course meant to transfer.

07MBA programs that accept transfer credits

Graduate programs are much stricter about transfer credit than undergraduate programs. Many MBA programs accept only a small number of graduate credits from another accredited institution, often with a minimum grade of B and a time limit on how old the courses can be. Some accept credit earned in their own graduate certificates, which is a common way to start an MBA in stages.

If you are considering an MBA, ask each program how many credits it accepts, whether waivers for foundation courses are available based on your undergraduate business degree, and whether its graduate certificates stack into the degree. Our online MBA programs guide covers what else to compare.

08Tips to protect your transfer credits

• Keep every syllabus. It is your evidence if you need to appeal a decision.
• Choose institutionally accredited schools for every course you take; verify them in the Department of Education's DAPIP database.
• Get any promise of credit in writing before you enroll.
• Take courses that appear in a published transfer guide or articulation agreement whenever possible.
• Finish a full associate degree before transferring if your state guarantees transfer of completed degrees.
• Ask whether transferring changes your financial aid; Pell eligibility is tied to undergraduate status and lifetime limits. See financial aid for online college.