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Transfer Student Information

What is a transfer student?
A transfer student is any student who is currently or has previously been enrolled in any postsecondary institution and wishes to move to another.

Why transfer?
Reasons for transferring vary.  One reason may be that a student is unhappy at one institution and feels another would better fit his or her needs.  Another reason may be that the student has changed his or her major or career plans, and another institution offers better options.  The most common reason though is that many students want to start at a 2-year institution before attending a 4-year institution in order to possibly earn an Associate’s Degree or certificate, adjust to college life, and/or have cheaper tuition cost.  Fortunately, with the new Tennessee Promise, graduating seniors from high school can attend one of several in-state 2-year institutions for free.  The Promise provides last-dollar funds to cover any tuition and fees leftover after the Pell Grant and Hope Scholarship, and it also provides each student with a local mentor to communicate with for any questions or further assistance they may need.

Will my credits transfer?
One of the biggest concerns is whether or not credits earned at a previous institution will transfer to another.  This is an important concern because if they do not transfer, it could mean retaking courses and postponing a student’s expected graduation date.  Therefore, if transferring is anticipated at any time by a student, it is important to know what other institutions have a transfer policy agreement with the current institution in order to keep from losing earned credits, wasting time, and ultimately, wasting money.  This will include some research and communication on the student’s part with the desired institutions in order to find the best fit.

Where to find transfer information?
The process of finding out which courses to take at one institution and/or what credits will transfer to another is not always self-explanatory, especially when a student is just beginning his or her postsecondary education.  The good news is that there is plenty of help with simplifying this process.  Many Tennessee institutions have joined the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and the Tennessee Transfer Pathways, which is a collaboration between dozens of institutions to ensure that credits will easily transfer with one another with little to no hassle.  Although some institutions are not participants in the TBR, many still have individual transfer agreements with several other in-state institutions.  In addition, most institutions also provide a catalog of course requirements for a particular major, degree, or certificate.  These catalogs are used to guide course selection and to help students stay on track to earning their degree or certificate.

Links to Major Requirements (catalogs), available Equivalency Tables, and other Transfer Information for many Tennessee institutions are provided here.