Why ASU Online is one of the best transfer-friendly colleges

A journey in higher education doesn’t always start and end with the same college or university. Transferring to a new school can be your path to earning the degree that’s the right fit for your personal and professional goals.

First, let’s define the term “transfer student.” Specific qualifications vary, but generally schools set a threshold at which a student is considered a transfer. At Arizona State University, any learner who has previously attended a different college or university and completed at least 12 credits qualifies as a transfer student.

Students may choose to transfer for a variety of reasons, including:

• A certain school might offer a unique program or learning opportunities more in line with your goals.
• The educational environment at your current school may not feel like the best fit for you.
• Students who’ve earned an associate degree at a community college may want to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree.

If you’re considering or already committed to transferring to a new school to finish your degree online, there are support services you can use to help ensure a smooth transition, but they’re not the same everywhere.

The transfer process can vary significantly between schools, so it’s in your best interest to carefully review requirements and workflows. It’s important to understand how transfer credits work so you can select the best online degree for your needs and make a plan around attending a new school. Your prior learning should be recognized and rewarded, so consider the tools and services a new school may provide to simplify the transfer process.

How ASU Online makes it easy for transfer students

ASU Online offers support in a variety of ways for transfer students.

• Enrollment coach

Every transfer student’s situation is different. Between colleges previously attended, credits earned, educational and career goals and other factors, there’s plenty of variation from one learner to the next.

Enrollment coaches offer guidance about key needs such as application deadlines, transferring credits and programs that are relevant to your interests. Similarly, these professionals can share information about tuition costs, timelines and other important topics. The team at ASU Online are prepared to support you with these issues and more.

• Pathway programs

If you decide to apply to ASU Online as a community college student or graduate holding an associate degree, you can take advantage of MyPath2ASU®. This program includes guided transfer maps for a wide variety of pathways and the ASU Transfer Guide that includes a database of nearly 1 million course equivalencies from thousands of U.S. accredited institutions. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with transfer student ambassadors who offer peer-to-peer support.

These maps include personalized, term-by-term navigation that helps you understand how courses apply to your degree. If you’re planning ahead on transferring from another school to ASU Online, a common path for community college students, you can learn which courses will satisfy our requirements. That can ultimately save you time and money.

By successfully completing your MyPath2ASU™ and all admission requirements for your indicated major, you’ll be prepared to receive admission into ASU Online and your major of choice.

• A broad range of degrees

Above anything else, you want to earn a degree that aligns with your objectives as a student and goals as a professional.

ASU Online offers more than 180 bachelor's degree programs, meaning you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re interested in the humanities, STEM, business or a number of other topics, you may find a degree that fits into your plans for the future.

Keep your online degree on track: The value of transfer credits

As a transfer student, you have a valuable resource on your side: the college credit you’ve already earned.

Each course you previously completed has the potential to be recognized by the institution you transfer to. Why is that important?

• You can follow a clearer path toward a college degree, focusing on classes that introduce new concepts and knowledge.
• You won’t need to retake a course and study familiar material when you have already demonstrated competency related to it.
• You can reduce the total number of credit hours you need to earn, cutting down on both the time needed to earn a degree and the related costs, such as tuition and textbooks.

Flexibility is another key benefit to earning an online degree. You can learn from wherever you’re currently located instead of having to live close to or at a college or university. Flexibility also means pacing your courses around your schedule so you can better balance your obligations as a student with your job and the rest of your life. When you start a program offered by ASU Online, you can count on getting the same curriculum and receiving instruction from the same faculty as on-campus programs.

Does ASU Online accept transfer credits from any college?

ASU Online accepts relevant college credits from other regionally accredited community colleges and four-year universities. That includes courses completed in an online program.

While transferring credits isn't automatic and not every credit is guaranteed to carry over, ASU Online makes the process clear and supportive. After admission, you may speak with an advisor to determine how your credits will transfer directly into your intended major. You can learn more about how it works on the transfer requirements page. If you want to check course requirements for different majors, visit ASU’s transfer guide to navigate your options.

The most transfer-friendly ASU Online programs

• The Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies and Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies accept up to 90 transfer credits, higher than the standard 64, providing a potentially quicker path to graduation.
• The Bachelor of Arts in general studies maximizes your prior credits and offers customizable tracks. This program empowers you to complete your education while building career-ready skills.
• The Bachelor of Arts in mass communication and media studies allows you to explore a wide variety of topics within the field including, but not limited to, pop culture, political communication, social media, podcasting and project management. Due in part to having only one required course and a large number of electives to choose from, the program is very transfer-friendly. You can potentially transfer a large number of credits into the program then tailor your studies to your interests.
• If you’re looking for a bachelor’s program after earning your Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, check out our Bachelor of Applied Science degrees. BAS programs are specifically designed for transfer students who've already earned an AAS. BAS programs allow you to transfer your full 60 credits to ASU and begin your major courses right away. Speak with your enrollment coach for details.
  • For example, the BAS in graphic information technology may be a better option for a transfer student with an AAS degree than the BS in graphic information technology.
• ASU Online launched a new, flexible business program in fall 2023 that may help transfer students graduate quicker. The Bachelor of Arts in applied business and technology solutions is an interdisciplinary in nature and allows you to combine your interests; such as combining logistics with human resources. Additionally, internships can count for up to 12 credit hours of electives.

Does ASU Online have a minimum GPA requirement for transfer students?

ASU Online emphasizes access as a core principle, because inclusion and the success of all students are a part of the university’s foundation. We also recognize the important role of graduates in supporting their communities.

While we maintain competitive admission standards and offer rigorous programs, we’ve also developed systems that allow many types of potential students to demonstrate their capabilities and become eligible for admission, including transfer students.

Most transfer applicants need at least a 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA, though the exact transfer requirements depend on your situation:

• 12–23 transferable credit hours earned after high school: a minimum 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA, plus meeting first-year admission requirements.
• 24 or more transferable credit hours after high school: a minimum 2.50 cumulative transfer GPA.
• An associate degree from a regionally accredited institution: a 2.00 cumulative GPA for Arizona residents, or 2.50 for nonresidents.

Some programs set higher admission requirements, so it's worth confirming the specifics with an enrollment coach.

If you don't meet these requirements, you still have a path forward. ASU Online is accredited and offers a pathway to admission through Earned Admission. Students who don't initially qualify can take ASU Universal Learner Courses to demonstrate their ability to succeed, completing coursework with a 2.75 GPA or higher, and boost their standing.

Can you transfer into ASU Online after an application deadline?

Good news: ASU Online uses a rolling admission process, so there's no firm deadline for transfer applications. If you miss your desired start date, your application is automatically considered for the next available term. That said, if you have an ideal start date in mind, it's recommended to apply at least a few months ahead to allow time for transcripts to arrive and your admission decision to be processed.

Rolling admission pairs well with another benefit of learning at ASU Online: the multiple start dates offered throughout the year. For example, if you miss the August start, you don't have to wait until spring — you can still begin in the fall by enrolling in the fall B session, which starts in October. The spring session offers two start dates as well, so if you can't begin in January, the spring B session starts in March.

Learn more about ASU Online's multiple start dates and how they empower you to learn on a schedule that works for you.

Start your transfer admission process with ASU Online

ASU Online is proud to support all types of learners, including those holding an associate degree, students resuming studies after a pause and individuals who decide their current school isn't the best fit for their academic needs and career aspirations.

Nearly three-quarters of all ASU Online undergraduate students have transferred from another college or university. That’s not surprising, considering the wide range of degrees and online classes we offer. Online learners enjoy the modality that comes with this type of program while earning a degree that is identical to those offered on campus. Our admission teams are experienced in working through the process of evaluating transfer credits and supporting learners who come from other schools.

Additionally, ASU offers financial aid and scholarship opportunities that can help you reduce up-front costs for your education.

Ready to start the transfer admission process, or have more specific questions about it? Find out more by visiting ASU Online’s transfer admission page.