Frequently Asked Questions About Transfer

I'm attending a community college, but I don't know where I want to transfer or what my major will be. What should I do?

First, talk with your advisor or transfer contact. Tell them you plan to transfer and need to find out what courses to take that will transfer to your chosen university and/or program. Most public Kentucky colleges participate in an online transfer advising system, ky.transfer.org/cas. If you don't know where you want to transfer, take classes that meet your school's general education requirements. If you take the right classes, they should transfer to a four-year school. The courses to take to meet general education requirements will be listed in your school's catalog.

Take courses that transfer widely to keep your options open. Keep a copy of your college catalog and course syllabi. Ask about advisor appointments, career planning seminars or aptitude testing, which may help you decide where to go next.

Can I transfer to any Kentucky college?

All colleges in Kentucky accept transfer students. Keep in mind that admission may be competitive for some programs and that Kentucky's transfer policies only apply to public colleges. You may meet all of the minimum admission requirements for a particular program but not be accepted because your grades aren't as high as those of other applicants. See the section on admission as a transfer student.

Can I transfer courses from more than one Kentucky college?

Yes, but you must submit official transcripts from each college you attended. Some courses may transfer but may not meet program requirements for graduation. Make sure your transcripts have been assessed for transfer credit before they are sent. The receiving college must take into account any transfer certifications noted on your official transcripts.

Is there a minimum grade for course transfer?

Once admitted, you'll receive credit for each transferable course you completed with a passing grade. If you're enrolling in a specific program of study, you may need higher grades. The admissions decision is based on your overall GPA.

Can I transfer between universities in Kentucky?

Yes. Each year many students transfer successfully from one Kentucky university to another. If you're thinking about transferring between universities, you should contact the receiving university for details on the transfer process. Transfer tools like the General Education Transfer Policy apply to university-to-university transfer, so you should make sure to use them to access your best transfer options. You may be required to provide additional course information to have your courses evaluated. Always plan for transfer with your advisor. Depending on the schools involved, you may be able to log on to KY CAS to get more detailed information about how your coursework will transfer.

If all my courses are listed on KY CAS, are there any reasons I might NOT receive transfer credit?

Yes. Failing the course, taking the course too long ago, taking duplicate courses or failing to get a "Letter of Good Standing" are all reasons why you might not get transfer credit. In addition, because of residency and upper division requirements, taking too much credit before you transfer can be counterproductive.

What qualifies me for admission as a transfer student to a Kentucky university?

You don't usually need to have a specific number of transfer credits to transfer to a degree program. But admission to any college is not guaranteed and entry to specific programs is often competitive.

With whom should I talk if I have questions about transferring?

The advisor at your current school should be able to answer questions about your courses and how they'll fit into your goals. If your questions are about applying to a specific program, contact that school's Admissions Office or the Institutional Transfer Contact. The school catalog is also a good resource. It will outline program requirements, graduation requirements and the rules students should know. You may also be able to use KY CAS, depending on the schools involved.

What's the difference between an advisor, a counselor, and a financial aid officer?

An advisor helps you with your academic planning, a counselor helps you with your career planning and personal goals, and a financial aid officer helps you find ways to pay for college. At smaller schools, one person may fill more than one of these roles.

Can I transfer to and from schools outside Kentucky?

If the courses were similar to the courses in the program you are transferring to, then you will usually receive credit. However, you may have to provide course syllabi and the evaluation process may take a while. Check with advisors to see how coursework is accepted between the schools. While independent and out-of-state colleges do not participate in Kentucky's transfer policies, other transfer agreements may be in place between the schools.

What happens to my credits if I change my major or program?

If you decide to change your major or program, check the catalog for the new requirements. You'll still get the transfer credit you're entitled to, but you may not be able to apply it to your new program. You'll probably have to take more courses than originally planned to meet the requirements of your new program.

I took some college courses years ago. Will they still transfer?

If you decide to change your major or program, check the catalog for the new requirements. You'll still get the transfer credit you're entitled to, but you may not be able to apply it to your new program. You'll probably have to take more courses than originally planned to meet the requirements of your new program.

What does general education block transfer mean?

It means that if you plan your general education classes and work with your advisor, you'll be able to transfer all those credits as a block. Your transcripts must be certified for this to happen.