10 Online Colleges That Accept Transfer Credits in Illinois

Online programs can be a great way to make higher education accessible to busy adult learners. Many students start learning on campus but switch to an online college that accepts transfer credits later for various reasons.

Illinois residents can choose from many colleges without going out of state. Keep reading to discover online colleges in Illinois and their processes for accepting transfer credits.

10 Best Online Colleges That Accept Transfer Credits in Illinois

Several colleges and universities in Illinois offer online degree programs and accept transfer credits. In some instances, students may be able to transfer credits from a previous degree earned at another college.

We've featured ten of these institutions below. All colleges and universities featured hold regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Aurora University

Aurora University is a private university in Aurora, Illinois. It offers in-person and online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

To be considered a transfer student at Aurora University, you'll need at least 15 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution and a college GPA of at least 2.0. Students can use the university's transfer evaluation system to see how their college credits will transfer.

Concordia University Chicago

Concordia University Chicago is a private university in River Forest. It's part of the national Concordia University system and offers flexible online degrees, including bachelor's degree completion programs specifically designed for transfer students.

Students who do not have at least 15 credit hours must submit their high school transcripts; those who have earned these credits will only need to submit their official transcripts from previous schools. Students also need a GPA of at least 2.0 at their prior institution.

DePaul University

DePaul University is a private Catholic research university in Chicago. It offers various online degree programs; several are bachelor's degree completion programs.

Students can see which prior coursework is pre-approved with the university's Transfer Course Lists. They can also submit their official transcripts for a more comprehensive transfer assessment. DePaul also offers credit for life experience for some programs.

Dominican University

Dominican University is a private Roman Catholic university in River Forest. Many of its online bachelor's programs are completion programs aimed at returning and transfer students.

Students can transfer up to 68 semester hours from a two-year institution and up to 90 semester hours from a four-year school. In addition to previously earned college credit, students can also earn credit for other types of prior learning.

Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University is a public university in Charleston. It offers over 40 flexible online programs, including bachelor's degree completion programs perfect for transfer students.

The university participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), and students can see transfer guides and course equivalencies at iTransfer.org. Additionally, EIU's Panther Pledge program offers community college students guaranteed admission to complete their bachelor's degree.

McKendree University

McKendree University is a private university in Lebanon, Illinois. It offers on-campus and online undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees.

The university has articulation agreements with several local community colleges. Students who have obtained an associate degree are considered to have met all general education requirements, allowing them to focus on the remaining degree requirements for their major.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois. It's the flagship university of the Southern Illinois University system offering online bachelor's degree programs and graduate programs.

SIU Carbondale has several programs set up specifically for transfer students. This includes the Saluki Transfer Commitment, a financial aid program that covers four semesters of unpaid tuition for qualifying transfer students.

University of Illinois Springfield

The University of Illinois Springfield is a public university in Springfield. It's part of the University of Illinois system and offers numerous online education programs.

Two-thirds of the student body at UIS are transfer students and 86% of transfer credits are accepted. Transfer students at UIS are automatically considered for transfer-specific scholarships.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in the Urbana-Champaign area of Illinois. It's the flagship university of the University of Illinois system and the largest by enrollment. Students can choose from online undergraduate and graduate degrees.

UIUC offers a transfer guide to help students through the transfer process. Students can use Transferology to get an idea of transfer credit eligibility.

Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University is a public university in Macomb, Illinois. It offers online degrees and courses for students.

WIU follows the Illinois Articulation Initiative and students with an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited institution are guaranteed admission. Students can use Transferology to view course equivalencies.

Using Transfer Credits

Transferring credits usually isn't too complicated, but because each college has its own credit policy, it can feel overwhelming. Below we've broken down some key topics about using transfer credits.

Should I Transfer Schools?

Only you can decide if transferring schools is the right move. There are many reasons students choose to transfer schools.

Students may transfer to change their major or to change to an online program. Many students also transfer because they completed their associate degree at a community college and want to continue to a bachelor's degree program at a four-year institution.

Some students transfer simply because they're unhappy at their college or university. Whatever your reason, if you think you may want to transfer, it's worth looking into.

How Do I Use Transfer Credits?

Transfer credits are credits that you earned in one institution that you are bringing with you to the same type of degree program at another institution. This allows you to receive credit for courses you've completed, even though those courses were through a different university.

Once you submit your application and transcripts, your new school's admissions department will handle the transfer of credits and determine what courses you still need to graduate.

What Can Be Used as Transfer Credits?

College credits are the most common form of transfer credits, but many institutions offer credit for other things as well. This may include:

• advanced placement (AP) testing
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing
• industry credentials or certifications
• life experience
• military experience

If you have prior learning experiences that may count towards your college credits, contact your academic advisor.

Learn more: 10 Ways To Get College Credit for Life and Work Experience

Will My Credits Transfer?

Generally, credits earned from regionally accredited colleges will transfer. However, it depends on your school and your major.

For example, if you started as a computer science major but are transferring to become a social work major, some of your major courses and electives may not transfer into your new program. If you switch to a similar field, like healthcare to public health, you may have more luck transferring all your credits.

How Many Credits Can I Transfer?

The number of credits you can transfer depends on the institution you're transferring to. Generally, you can not transfer more than 90 semester credits into a bachelor's degree program.