Pursuing higher education can offer countless professional and personal benefits. With more careers requiring a college degree, higher education can be crucial to professional success. If you’ve already begun your higher education journey, you undoubtedly understand college requires investing time and resources into your future.
However, you might wonder what happens if you decide to transfer to another school. Students transfer for various reasons, but does that mean you have to start from scratch? For example, if you earn credits from University of Phoenix, will they transfer to a different university?
As a general rule, most students can transfer credits from University of Phoenix to other regionally accredited institutions. Earned credits represent successful course completion. Being able to transfer those credits to another school will keep you on the right track to completing your degree.
Deciding to transfer from University of Phoenix to another university or college is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. Learn how credit transfers work as well as how you can make the transition as seamless as possible.
Do Colleges Accept University of Phoenix Credits?
Usually, yes. You can generally transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution to another regionally accredited institution.
Let’s look at how regional accreditation works and the steps students can take to find out if their credits transfer to another university.
What Is a Regionally Accredited Institution?
University of Phoenix has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor since 1978. For more information about University of Phoenix accreditations and licenses, please visit: www.phoenix.edu/about_us/accreditation.html.
Regional accreditors are independent auditors who regularly evaluate a college or university’s overall academic quality. Unlike programmatic accreditation, which is for individual academic programs within an institution, regional accreditation applies to the entire school. University of Phoenix maintains both regional and programmatic accreditations.
An accredited school, like University of Phoenix, meets high standards to ensure students receive an excellent education.
Since 1978, University of Phoenix has held consistent institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The HLC is an independent body and one of only six regional accreditation agencies in the United States. To become accredited by the HLC, an educational institution must meet several rigorous standards. These stringent accreditation standards examine several aspects of the school including its ethical conduct, academic rigor, institutional effectiveness and financial health.
In terms of transfer credits, universities and colleges will generally accept transfer credits from similarly accredited schools in their region. Two universities being accredited by the same independent body, such as the HLC, demonstrates the institutions have comparable curricula and a dedication to quality. This doesn’t guarantee the credits will transfer, but shared regional accreditation certainly makes it more likely that a university will accept your University of Phoenix transfer credits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Transferring Credits
Which University of Phoenix Credits Can I Transfer?
Credit transfers are highly dependent on a student’s unique situation. Aside from regional accreditation, several factors will determine which credits are transferable to your new school:
Course content: The course must be similar in content and depth for the receiving institution to consider transfer credit.
Course age and relevance: Most college core classes are standard, which means the content doesn’t change much over time. However, since some fields are rapidly evolving (such as technology, science or engineering), the receiving institution may implement a specific expiration date for course credits.
Final grade: Most colleges and universities will award transfer credit if students received a passing grade of a C or higher.
How Do You Transfer College Credits?
Transferring your college credits can be complex and tedious, but University of Phoenix can simplify the process. Follow these steps to transfer University of Phoenix credits to another university:
Meet with your advisor: Your University of Phoenix advisor can offer guidance during the transfer process. They understand industry requirements and can answer any questions you have about transferring credits to another university.
Research degree programs: Make sure the universities you’re considering offer a degree that aligns with your college credits in addition to your overall educational goals. Look into the transfer policies at these universities to determine how they evaluate coursework.
Apply to the new university: While an admissions counselor can guide you, the new university will not officially evaluate your transfer credit until you’ve applied for admission.
Request an official transcript: Immediately after applying to the other university, ask University of Phoenix to send an official transcript to the new university for evaluation. This process can take a few weeks, so it’s best to start the transcript request as soon as possible.
Wait for acceptance, then review your credit transfer information: When the new university makes a decision about your application, it will usually notify you via email or in writing. You’ll also receive a detailed evaluation regarding which University of Phoenix credits will transfer.
What Is an Articulation Agreement?
Transfer credit acceptance ultimately depends on the university you’re transferring to. However, if you want to simplify the credit transfer process, University of Phoenix has articulation agreements with several universities.
An articulation agreement is an official agreement between colleges and universities outlining how credits will apply to degree program requirements. While this does not mean you can only transfer credits between partnered schools, an articulation agreement can give you clearer direction on which universities may accept your credits.
How Many Credits Can I Transfer?
Generally, students can transfer up to 60 credits from a two-year or community college. Students can typically transfer anywhere from 60 to 90 credits from a four-year institution.
Students must also typically complete their final 30 to 60 credits at their new university to earn a degree from that institution. However, because there’s no set standard, each school is free to evaluate these credits differently.
Will Transferred Credits Affect My GPA?
No, transferred credits will not factor into your grade point average (GPA) at your new university. Your previous grades might matter for admissions decisions, but the transfer credits themselves do not typically carry grade designations.
Enhance Your Career With University of Phoenix
While transferring credits may seem daunting at first, understanding the process can help students make the most of their education. Colleges generally accept transfer credits from other legitimate, regionally accredited institutions like University of Phoenix. Learn more about University of Phoenix’s credit transfers to take the next step in your path to higher education.