Key Takeaways
- Know your school’s transfer policies — requirements, grade minimums, and credit limits vary by college.
- Only accredited or ACE-recommended courses (like those from Study.com, Sophia, or StraighterLine) are widely accepted.
- Send official transcripts correctly through ACE/Credly or your course provider to avoid delays.
- Stay proactive — double-check requirements and submission steps to ensure every eligible credit transfers smoothly.
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Got previous college credits sitting unused? Don't let them go to waste. Here are six hacks to help you transfer every relevant credit you’ve earned to your new degree. This way, you can move closer to graduation without wasting time or money.
Hack 1: Know How Transfer Credits Work
Transfer credit policies vary by school, so it’s important to understand how your new college evaluates credits before sending transcripts. For example, Western Governors University accepts up to 90 transfer credits, while Texas A&M allows up to 75% of your degree from outside coursework.
Remember, most schools only accept courses with a grade of C or higher, and the credits must align with your degree program. A general education course like English Composition, College Algebra, or US History usually transfers easily. However, a niche elective like Survey of Popular/Jazz Music Lit, or Medical Coding may not.
Hack 2: Check Accreditation and Course Equivalency
Accreditation is non-negotiable. Colleges typically only accept transfer credits from accredited institutions or ACE-recommended sources.
Alternative providers like Study.com, are approved by the American Council on Education (ACE), which reviews and validates their courses for college-level credit. When a course is ACE-recommended, it signals that it meets academic standards for degree credit.
Note: Remedial or vocational courses often don't qualify, and some programs, especially in STEM or healthcare, may reject older coursework.
Hack 3: Understand How Long Transfer Processing Takes
The process usually takes 2–5 weeks from submission to credit approval. It's not instant, but it's much faster than retaking a course or starting over.
You can request your transcript once you've finished a course and received your final grade. Most platforms let you send it electronically, though some schools prefer physical mail.
Hack 4: Learn How Transcripts Are Reported
Each platform formats transcripts differently, which can affect how your school evaluates them:
- Study.com offers letter grades, percentages, or pass/fail options.
- Sophia Learning uses a pass/fail system with percentage details.
- StraighterLine typically reports letter grades or numeric scores.
Some universities have a course transcript preference, such as requiring letter grades. So, check if your new school has one before sending your transcript.
Important: If you have canceled your account with any of these platforms, you can still log in to request transcripts. Your course completions never expire.
Hack 5: Request Transcripts from the Right Source
Here’s how to request your transcripts from different sources:
- Alternative Credit Platforms: Log into your account (Study.com), go to your dashboard, and request your official transcript. You can choose whether it's sent by email or by mail.
- Community Colleges or Universities: Request through the registrar's office. There may be a small processing fee, so check ahead.
- ACE/Credly: If your courses are ACE-recommended, request an official ACE transcript through the Credly platform. It verifies your completed courses and sends the transcript directly to your target school.
Note: Some colleges may have a unique process for transferring credits. For example, Excelsior University requires students to submit their transcript through the school’s “OneTranscript” service. So, double-check your school’s process to avoid delays.
Hack 6: Stay Proactive to Avoid Delays
Credit transfer is a one-time process that can make or break your degree timeline. To keep things moving:
- Verify your school's transfer credit policy early
- Double-check that your courses align with your degree requirements
- Follow each transcript provider's submission process carefully
A small mistake, such as missing a required form or sending the wrong transcript type, can add weeks to the process.
Watch the Complete Guide
Jobi from Degree Hacked explains exactly how to transfer your college credits the right way!
Ready to Graduate Sooner? Start Transferring Smarter
Transferring college credits is one of the smartest ways to finish your degree faster and for less money. Understanding your school's policies, using accredited sources, and following each step carefully will turn your past efforts into real progress more efficiently.
Make your credits count and explore our other Degree Hacked guides to learn how to test out of classes, use prior learning for credit, and find the fastest degree completion paths.
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