Transfer Credit - The Basics
A transfer credit evaluation is completed as part of the application process. Credit is granted by the academic departments for coursework that is related to your intended program, if it is taken at a regionally accredited college or university. Usually a grade of "C" or better is required for transfer credit to be awarded.
There is no limit on the number of credit hours that can be awarded, however, a recipient of a two-year associates’s degree from another accredited university cannot receive more than 90 credits for that degree. A minimum of 45 quarter credit hours needs to be completed at RIT in the college granting the degree for Associate and Baccalaureate degree candidates. A matriculated undergraduate student’s year level is determined by the number of credit hours the student has earned
according to the scale below. (This does not include course work in progress.)
Year Level |
1-4 Year Programs |
5 Year Programs |
1 |
0- 39 |
0- 39 |
2 |
40 - 83 |
40 - 83 |
3 |
84 - 127 |
84 - 113 |
4 |
128 - above |
114 - 143 |
5 |
. . . |
144 - above |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our staff members are interested in helping you pursue your education at RIT. Here are some questions we frequently receive from students and their families:
My previous university gave Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit grades. Will RIT accept courses with these grades?
If the other university’s academic policy specifies that Pass or Credit is equivalent to the letter grade of C or above, we will review the course for possible transfer credit.
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I received a C- in some courses at my other school. Will I be able to transfer these courses?Grades of C- may be considered for undergraduate transfer credit. It will be evaluated by your academic department at the time of application.
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Will the GPA from my previous university appear on my RIT transcript?
No. We do not record GPA information from other universities.
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At my previous university, I received credit for a course through “Credit by Examination”. Can I get transfer credit for this course at RIT?
It depends. If credit was received through standardized exams, such as AP, CLEP, etc. you will need to send us an official score report and credit will be re-evaluated by RIT. Often these exams will generate a similar credit award to what your previous university awarded.
Courses which appear as Credit by Exam on your transcript that are for non-standardized exams (e.g., exams created by your university) are not eligible for credit. The reason for this is that every school has different academic standards. We have no way of knowing what material your former school used to award credit.
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My previous university ran on a semester calendar and RIT runs on a quarter calendar. How are semester hours converted to quarter hours when awarding transfer credit?
The conversion of semester to quarter hours is based on a two to three ratio. Students enrolled at a semester calendar school attend two 15 week semesters during a typical 30 week academic calendar. At a quarter calendar school, students attend the same number of weeks over three 10 week quarters during that same 30 weeks. Therefore, two semester hour classes are equivalent to three quarter hour classes at RIT.
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I took a four credit course at my previous university, but the equivalent RIT course is also four credits. Do I “lose” those other two credits?
We make every effort to apply that credit differential to other required courses. For example, two four-credit courses at your previous university may give you credit for three four-credit courses at RIT.
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I have completed my associate’s degree, will my credits transfer?
While completion of an AS degree does not guarantee full transfer credit, we work hard to maximize credit awarded. Completion of a comparable degree program will often allow for third year standing. Transfer credit is awarded on a course by course basis based on its relevance to the program for which you have applied. A transfer credit evaluation is completed as part of the application process.
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My GPA increased to a 3.3 after the spring semester (for fall entry-deadline 4/1) can I now be considered for the trustee scholarship?
The evaluation for scholarships is based on coursework completed before the scholarship deadline.
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Is housing guaranteed for transfer students?
No, it is assigned based on the date of your admission deposit. We recommend applying early and sending in your deposit early to ensure that housing will be available. However our Housing Operations Office does an excellent job assisting student with housing accommodations on and off campus.
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How long will it take to hear of my admission decision?
After we receive your completed application, the process typically takes 4-6 weeks (an admission evaluation is completed as well as a transfer credit evaluation). The College of Liberal Arts and the academic department you applied to will review and award transfer credit.
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Do I need to submit a portfolio with my application?
A portfolio is required for majors in the following departments: Art, Design, American Crafts. Guidelines can be found at:
Digital Portfolio Guidelines - Windows OS
Digital Portfolio Guidelines - Macintosh OS
Portfolio Guidelines Using Slides
If you are looking to transfer photography credits from another school, submission of a portfolio is required. A portfolio is not required if you do not wish to transfer photography credits.
Photography Portfolio Guidelines
Send your slide or digital portfolio and completed application to: Office of Admissions, Rochester Institute of Technology, 60 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623-5604
Can I apply as an undecided student?
If you have over a year (30 semester hours) of coursework completed you need to select a major on your application for admission. The RIT Exploration program (undecided) is a program designed to allow students to complete required courses in Liberal Arts, mathematics, and science, while pursuing career exploration. Students may stay in the program for up to four academic quarters. Therefore students coming in with a year or more of coursework have exhausted their course options for this program.
If you are having difficultly selecting a major because you are interested in more than one area, you may want to look at our Center for Multidisciplinary Studies which allows you to personalize a degree program.
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Regional Accrediting Agencies
There are various agencies and associations that deal with vocational, technical and professional schools. However, RIT only awards credit from schools that are regionally accredited. The list of regional accrediting agencies appears below.
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
Southern Association on Colleges and Schools
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau |
