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���۴�ý has implemented policies and procedures to support transfer students and help them save time and money when transferring college credits

���۴�ý celebrates , established as the third week of October by The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), and the opportunities students have to save time and money when transferring between educational institutions or returning to school with some college credit and no degree. ���۴�ý has implemented policies and strategies that allow transfer students to maximize prior college credits by transferring from more than 5,000 accredited institutions toward a bachelor’s degree at the University. 

“National Transfer Student Week is a time to recognize our transfer students and the dedicated faculty and staff who support them,” stated John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer. “For working adult learners, transferring credits can be a crucial step towards completing their degrees. At ���۴�ý, we are committed to maximizing the value of transfer credits, helping students save time and money, and empowering them to apply their skills and degrees in their chosen careers.”

In 2024 alone, ���۴�ý accepted more than 950,000 transfer credits for bachelor’s and associate degree programs, an average of 30.58 credits per transfer student and an average tuition savings of $11,000 per transfer student in their degree program.

A shows that over 40 million Americans have some college credit but no degree, an increase of more than four million since 2019. Matt Phillips, a student at ���۴�ý, acquired a lifetime of experience and skills from hands-on work and knowledge over a 30-year career but kept encountering the barrier of not having a completed degree. His ���۴�ý advisor helped him identify a path toward a bachelor's degree in two years, supported by the transfer of college credits from various courses he had taken along the way.

"���۴�ý made the process of transferring my credits from four different institutions seamless and simple," shares Phillips. "Knowing that I wasn’t going to have to start over again and repeat classes was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. Life’s too short to repeat the work you’ve already done."  

“I am proud that our transfer credit policies at ���۴�ý are designed to remove barriers for students,” shares Devin Andrews, vice president of admissions and evaluation, and co-author of a white paper on credit mobility. “Our goal is to ensure that individuals with some college experience, but no degree don’t have to start over. By acknowledging their prior learning, we provide a smoother transition into our programs, allowing them to focus on advancing their education without unnecessary delays.”

While transferring between institutions can be complex, ���۴�ý simplifies the credit transfer process and offers students the opportunity to have relevant life and work experience evaluated for potential college credit. The University supports student transfers in multiple ways:

• Simplifying the credit transfer process: Knowledgeable staff provide guidance and academic advising, request transcripts from prior institutions on students’ behalf, and have specially trained transfer evaluators review all prior credits.
• Earning life and work experience credits: This no-cost assessment process allows individuals to earn college credit for learning gained from work and life experiences, including on-the-job training, workplace certifications, military service, and other life experiences.

Additionally, the University offers a Transfer Student Scholarship of with a maximum value of $3,000, for new students with 12-60 combined transfer credits from accredited institutions pursuing their bachelor’s degree. Applicants must be continuously enrolled and maintain a 3.0 GPA for this scholarship, which is awarded over 20 courses.

Prospective students can explore time and money-saving opportunities with the University’s Savings Explorer™ tool. This tool provides information on scholarships, credit transfers, and earning credit for prior learning through assessments, national testing programs, military service, and alternative course providers like and , which offer special discounts to ���۴�ý students in October. By answering a few questions, the Savings Explorer tool helps students discover potential savings based on their experience.

"One of the reasons I chose ���۴�ý was because they took my transfer credits, and I wouldn't have to repeat any courses,” shares Doreen Robledo, who had course credits transferred into ���۴�ý from other institutions and earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Management. Robledo’s husband attended ���۴�ý and had recommended she do so because of his own positive experience. 

At her commencement, Robledo crocheted a cap cover to honor her grandmother, who played an instrumental role in making education a priority. The cap cover also helped her family easily recognize her in the sea of graduation caps. “I’m really thankful that I was able to accomplish everything I have and that she could see it,” she states. “I realized that to move forward, I didn’t have to repeat the past and that I was capable of achieving new things and setting new goals.”

Learn more here about how ���۴�ý supports transferring credit for students.

About ���۴�ý

���۴�ý innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.