Do College Credits Expire? 5, 10, and 20 Years Later

If you've spent some time at a community college or four-year school but haven't graduated, you may be wondering about the college credits you acquired. Can you apply them toward your new bachelor's degree? Or do they expire after some time?

College credits don't expire, and you can often transfer them to a new school as long as they come from a regionally accredited institution. However, not all coursework will transfer in every situation, so it's important to check with your school directly to find out how many of your previous credits they will accept.

Keep reading as we dive into this topic.

How Long Do College Credits Last?

The short answer is that college credits have a long shelf life; they generally last indefinitely and don't have an expiration date. That said, you may or may not be able to transfer previous coursework to a new institution. Each school has its transfer credit policies which may prevent them from accepting credits due to various factors.

Though college credits don't expire, the amount of time that has passed since you obtained them can affect whether a new school accepts them. Credits you earned five years ago are more likely to be accepted than those obtained 10 or 20 years ago, for example.

If you are an undergrad, your old credits will most likely last longer than if you're hoping to enroll in a new graduate program. Students pursuing a master's degree or higher may find that their credits are no longer acceptable after seven years.

What's more, some college-level courses may no longer be accepted after some time (usually 10 years) because the course material has become obsolete. For example, because of changing technology, old STEM credits may not be accepted because the methods they taught have become outdated.

So, even though credits don't expire, the recency in which you obtained them at your old college can affect whether they are still applicable after the fact.

Can You Transfer Credits to a New College?

The type of old credits you have may affect whether they are accepted. College courses typically fall into one of three categories:

• general education courses
• core curriculum
• electives

General education courses typically consist of:

• English
• history
• algebra
• various other courses

You are more likely to be able to transfer college credits from these types of classes. Electives may also be accepted as long as they come from an accredited institution and help fulfill your new degree requirements.

Core course credits may or may not be accepted depending on whether they have become obsolete and whether they apply to your new degree program. College students pursuing higher education at a new institution will need to provide their official transcripts to the admissions office for evaluation. Ultimately, each school will make its determination about which of your previous credits it can accept.