Transfer Credit Evaluations: How They are Produced, Why It Matters, and How to Serve Students Better

Research has found that approximately one-third of undergraduates transfer from one college to another and that transferring is becoming increasingly common. In this study, the authors focus on the transfer credit process, researching how academic credit is evaluated and when in the enrollment process students receive a degree-specific transfer credit evaluation. The authors undertake a comparative case study of six private, non-profit, four-year colleges in New York State--three that provide "early" transfer credit evaluations (those given prior to the student' required enrollment deposit) and three that provide "late" transfer credit evaluations (those given only after the required enrollment deposit). The authors encourage institutions to provide all admitted transfer students a degree-specific transfer credit evaluation prior to requiring their enrollment deposit; such information is essential for transfer students to make an informed enrollment decision.