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What Defines a Transfer Student?

An applicant who has graduated from high school, has attended another regionally accredited post-secondary institution, and has attempted one or more courses, is a transfer student, regardless of credit earned.

Note: High-school graduates who take summer school courses in between graduation and the fall semester that immediately follows are not considered transfer students.

Grade and Course Requirements for Transfer Applicants

If fewer than 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of college-level work have been attempted, then the applicant must meet both transfer and freshman entrance requirements. Transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges and universities must have at least a cumulative 2.25 grade-point average on a 4.00 scale (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0). Several colleges and programs within the University, however, require higher grades than these minimum University entrance standards:

Biology - minimum 2.5 GPA on all college work
Business Administration - minimum 3.0 GPA on all college work and completion of one semester of calculus with a minimum grade of "C"
Cardiovascular Technology - minimum 2.25 GPA if transferring with fewer than 30 semester hours; minimum 2.50 GPA with 30-59 semester hours; 2.75 GPA with 60 semester hours or more
Chemistry - minimum 2.5 GPA on all college work
Computer Information Systems or Computer Science Majors- minimum 2.75 GPA on all college work
Engineering Majors (including Computer Engineering) - minimum 2.75 GPA on all college work plus all transferring students must have at least one semester of calculus with a minimum grade of "C"
Exercise science - minimum 2.75 GPA on all college work
Journalism - minimum 2.5 GPA on all college work
Nursing - minimum 2.75 GPA on all college work
Pharmacy - minimum 3.00 GPA on all college work
Physical education - minimum 2.25 GPA if transferring with fewer than 40 semester hours; minimum 2.50 GPA with 40 semester hours or more

Please note that undergraduate admissions policies and procedures are subject to continuous review by the admissions staff and the Faculty Admissions Committee and may be changed at any time without notice.

Although the University imposes no time limit upon the acceptance of college-level courses and SAT/ACT scores, the deans of the University's colleges and schools ultimately determine which transfer courses are credited in their programs.

Admissions Materials Required of Transfer Applicants

*Official scores must be sent directly from the testing agency

Which Courses May Transfer to the University?

For the purposes of admission, a transfer grade-point average is calculated using all credits attempted and all grades earned on college-level courses at other institutions. In addition, transfer credits to USC must be for academic courses completed with grades of "C" or better from regionally accredited institutions. The number of credits acceptable to the University and the number which may apply toward a particular degree may differ. These credits and grades will also be included in calculating honors for graduation from the University. Colleges within the University have the right to consider all attempted college-level work in determining admission to particular programs and/or advancement into upper-division or professional-level courses. Exemption credit or acceptance of transfer credit by another college has no bearing on the evaluation of transfer credit at the University.

A maximum of 76 semester hours from a regionally accredited junior or two-year college may be transferred the University for degree credit. A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit by correspondence and credit awarded for educational experiences in the military may be applied toward the baccalaureate degree and must be approved by the dean of the college from which the degree is to be awarded. A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit earned while classified as a non-degree special student in the University may be applied toward meeting the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Students transferring to the University from another college or university must, before enrolling in class at the University, have their transcripts evaluated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the dean of the college in which they will enroll.

Students transferring from nonaccredited colleges may be allowed to validate credit after admission to the University. Details of the validation procedure vary and may be obtained from the dean's office of the college in which the student is enrolled.

Credits earned while a student is on academic suspension from the University cannot be applied toward a degree or used in improving the grade-point average.

The last 30 credits (representing the senior year's work) must be earned in residence at the University and at least 12 hours of the student's major courses must be earned at the University. Some programs impose higher student residence and/or major requirements.

Readmission of Former Students

An application for readmission must be submitted by any former student who wishes to return to the University after missing a major semester (spring or fall). Readmission to the University and to the program in which the student was previously enrolled is not automatic. Students who leave the University in good standing, miss one or more major semesters, and attend another institution while away must meet the same requirements as transfer students. A student who leaves the University on suspension must apply for admission upon completion of the period of suspension and qualify for readmission to the major program requested.

Academic Forgiveness (former USC students only)

Undergraduate students who previously attended the University, earning an average GPA of less than 2.00 on their USC work (and have not been enrolled at any USC campus for at least 48 months), may apply for academic forgiveness if they meet specific conditions set forth in the University's Undergraduate Bulletin.

Questions? You're always welcome to contact us or try our virtual advisor.

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