10 Online Colleges That Accept Freshman Transfer Students

Students do not always need to wait until junior year to transfer colleges. Many online colleges that accept transfer credits allow learners to transfer after completing a small number of college credits, helping them change schools, degree paths, or learning formats earlier in their academic journey.

Freshman transfer students may include recent high school graduates who started at another college, dual enrollment students with prior coursework, or learners looking for more flexible online degree options. Many transfer-friendly universities offer credit evaluations, online learning pathways, and generous transfer policies designed to help students continue their education without losing completed coursework.

Can You Transfer Colleges as a Freshman?

Yes, students can often transfer colleges during or after their freshman year. Transfer eligibility usually depends on the number of completed college credits, academic standing, and the admissions policies of the new institution.

Some colleges evaluate freshman transfer students using both high school and college transcripts, especially when students have completed fewer college credits. Transfer-friendly universities may also provide unofficial transfer evaluations and degree planning tools to help students understand how previously earned credits apply toward a new degree program.

10 Colleges That Accept Freshman Transfer Students

Many colleges and universities offer flexible transfer policies for students seeking to transfer early in their college experience. The schools below are known for generous transfer credit evaluations, online degree options, and support services for freshman transfer students.

1. Southern New Hampshire University 

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers online and campus-based degree programs in business, psychology, healthcare, information technology, and liberal arts fields. The university serves a large population of transfer students and adult learners through flexible scheduling and online learning options.

SNHU accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward many bachelor's degree programs and offers free transfer credit evaluations before students apply. Low residency requirements may help freshman transfer students continue progressing toward graduation without repeating coursework.

2. Western Governors University 

Western Governors University (WGU) is a competency-based online institution offering degree programs in business, information technology, healthcare, and education. The university is designed for students seeking flexible and accelerated degree completion pathways.

WGU allows students to transfer up to 75% of many degree programs and may also let students move more quickly through courses covering familiar material. This model can benefit freshman transfer students who already completed general education or introductory coursework elsewhere.

3. Arizona State University Online

Arizona State University (ASU) Online offers more than 300 online degree programs across fields such as engineering, business, psychology, and communication. The university provides extensive support services for transfer students and online learners.

ASU Online accepts between 64 and 90 transfer credits depending on the program and offers the MyPath2ASU planning tool to help students understand how their current coursework applies toward degree requirements. Freshman transfer students can use this resource to map out efficient transfer pathways early in their academic career.

4. University of Maryland Global Campus 

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) specializes in online degree programs for transfer students, military learners, and working adults. Popular areas of study include cybersecurity, business, criminal justice, and healthcare management.

UMGC accepts up to 90 transfer credits in many bachelor's programs and evaluates a wide range of prior learning experiences, including military and vocational coursework. Flexible online scheduling and transfer-friendly policies may appeal to freshman transfer students seeking career-focused degree pathways.

5. Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University (CSU) Global offers online bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, project management, and organizational leadership. The university focuses heavily on flexible education options for transfer students and adult learners.

Students may transfer up to 90 credits toward eligible degree programs. CSU Global also offers a Tuition Guarantee program that locks in tuition rates after transfer enrollment, helping students plan long-term educational costs more predictably.

6. Thomas Edison State University 

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is one of the most transfer-friendly institutions in the country and is designed specifically for adult learners and students with prior college experience. The university offers online degree programs in business, liberal studies, healthcare, technology, and criminal justice.

TESU accepts up to 117 transfer credits toward many bachelor's degree programs, making it especially appealing for students with coursework from multiple institutions. Freshman transfer students may also apply credits earned through CLEP exams, military training, and alternative learning programs.

7. Excelsior University

Excelsior University offers online bachelor's degree programs in business, liberal arts, nursing, public service, and technology. The university is known for flexible transfer evaluations and degree completion pathways designed for nontraditional students.

Students may transfer up to 113 credits into eligible bachelor's programs. Excelsior also allows freshman transfer students to combine traditional coursework with exam-based credits such as CLEP and DSST to maximize previously earned learning.

8. Franklin University

Franklin University is a transfer-focused institution serving adult learners and online students through flexible bachelor's degree programs. Popular academic areas include business, accounting, healthcare management, and information technology.

The university accepts up to 94 transfer credits and provides unofficial transfer evaluations within 24 hours for many students. Freshman transfer students can quickly see how previously earned coursework may apply toward a future degree plan.

9. Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College is a public online institution focused heavily on transfer students and degree completion pathways. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees in business, cybersecurity, healthcare administration, and liberal studies.

The college accepts up to 114 transfer credits and requires only a small number of residency credits for graduation. Flexible transfer policies and acceptance of alternative credit sources may help freshman transfer students avoid losing completed coursework.

10. Old Dominion University Global

Old Dominion University (ODU) Global offers online degree programs in business, communication, technology, and interdisciplinary studies. The university serves transfer students through flexible online learning formats and transfer planning support.

ODU accepts up to 90 transfer credits in many bachelor's degree programs and maintains articulated transfer agreements with numerous institutions. These partnerships may help freshman transfer students transfer credits more smoothly into a four-year degree pathway.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university.

For this ranking, we focused on colleges that provide flexible transfer opportunities for freshman students. We also considered transfer credit limits, online learning availability, degree completion flexibility, and student support services designed for transfer learners.

• Transfer credit policies: Schools were evaluated based on transfer credit acceptance, residency requirements, and support for freshman transfer students.
• Accreditation: We prioritize institutions holding accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to help support academic quality and financial aid eligibility.
• Online availability: We considered whether schools offer flexible online degree programs suitable for transfer students and working learners.
• Transfer support services: Degree planning tools, unofficial transfer evaluations, and articulated transfer agreements were reviewed to identify schools that simplify the transfer process.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

What Do Colleges Look for in Freshman Transfer Students?

Colleges evaluating freshman transfer students often review both college and high school academic records, especially if students have completed fewer college credits. Admissions teams may also consider GPA requirements, completed coursework, standardized test scores, and reasons for transferring.

Some colleges place greater emphasis on college-level performance once students complete additional coursework. Transfer-friendly schools may also provide academic advising and unofficial transfer evaluations to help students understand admissions requirements before applying.

How To Transfer Colleges as a Freshman

Students considering transferring during their freshman year can improve the process by planning early and understanding transfer requirements before applying. Reviewing transfer policies carefully may help students avoid losing credits and stay on track for graduation.

Request a Transfer Credit Evaluation

Many colleges offer unofficial or preliminary transfer evaluations before students apply. These evaluations can help freshman transfer students understand how completed coursework may apply toward a new degree program.

Keep Copies of Course Syllabi

Some colleges request course descriptions or syllabi when evaluating transfer credit eligibility. Saving these materials may help students receive credit for previously completed classes more easily.

Focus on Academic Performance

Freshman transfer applicants are often evaluated using both high school and college records. Strong performance during the first year of college may help improve transfer opportunities and admissions decisions.

Research Residency Requirements

Transfer-friendly colleges may still require students to complete a minimum number of credits directly through the institution before graduating. Understanding residency requirements can help students estimate how long degree completion may take after transferring.

FAQs About Colleges That Accept Freshman Transfer Students

Students transferring early in their college career often have questions about transfer eligibility, credit evaluations, and admissions requirements. The FAQs below address common concerns for freshman transfer students researching new colleges.

Can You Transfer Colleges After One Semester?

Yes, some colleges allow students to transfer after completing only one semester of college coursework. Schools may review both high school and college transcripts when evaluating applicants with limited college credit. Transfer eligibility requirements vary by institution.

Do Freshman Transfer Students Need High School Transcripts?

Many colleges require freshman transfer applicants to submit high school transcripts if they have completed fewer college credits. Some schools may also request standardized test scores depending on admissions policies. Requirements often become more flexible after students complete additional college coursework.

Will All Transfer Credits Count Toward a Degree?

Not always. Colleges evaluate transfer credits individually to determine whether courses match degree requirements and academic standards. General education courses are often more transferable than highly specialized coursework.

Are Online Colleges More Flexible for Transfer Students?

Many online colleges specialize in serving transfer students and adult learners, making them more flexible with transfer credit evaluations. Online universities may also offer lower residency requirements and accelerated degree completion options.

Can You Transfer From a Community College as a Freshman?

Yes, students attending community college during their freshman year may transfer into four-year universities after completing transferable coursework. Some colleges maintain articulation agreements that help students transfer credits more efficiently.

What GPA Do You Need to Transfer Colleges?

Transfer GPA requirements vary by institution and academic program. Some colleges accept transfer students with relatively low GPAs, while competitive universities may require stronger academic performance. Freshman transfer students may also be evaluated based on high school academic records and standardized test scores.

Explore Colleges That Accept Freshman Transfer Students

Freshman transfer students can find flexible degree pathways at colleges offering generous transfer credit policies, online learning options, and transfer-focused student support services. Explore degree programs on Learn.org to compare transfer-friendly colleges, review admissions requirements, and learn more about online and campus-based transfer pathways. You can also contact schools directly to request transfer evaluations and discuss transfer credit policies, residency requirements, and degree completion timelines.