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Interstate Passport Briefing Transfer News

Transfer Facts from ACE and AACRAO

Below are selected findings from a recent study by ACE and AACRAO, A National Snapshot: How Students Experience and Perceive Transferring Earned Credit on students’ perceptions about how transfer credit was applied and the potential accumulation of excess credits at graduation. The national study included 1,003 survey completers, with 65 percent of respondents currently enrolled at a public institution and 35 percent at a private institution; 78 percent transferred from a public institution and 22 percent from a private institution. Students were enrolled at institutions in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Ninety percent were enrolled full time, 95 percent were between 18 and 24 years old, and three percent had military experience. Seventy percent graduated from high school as opposed to others who earned a GED® or were homeschooled. Most respondents earned college credit from two academic institutions, 16 percent earned credit from three, and 14 percent earned credit from more than three academic institutions. More than two-thirds completed at least one advanced placement course exam, and more than half completed a dual enrollment course while in high school.

Under half (47 percent) of students in the study who lost credit in the transfer process knew why credit had been lost. Reasons for losing credit in transfer can be rooted in institutional policy and practice or student choices or student academic outcomes.  

Known Reasons for Losing Credit in Transfer Reported by students who lost credit in transfer

Reasons for Losing Credit in Transfer%
Reasons for Losing Credit in Transfer%
No course equivalency at current institution47%
Earned dual enrollment credit that did not apply to major28%
Changed majors26%
Grade earned would not transfer23%
Major exploration courses19%
Repeated at least one course to earn a better or passing grade15%
Felt misadvised15%
Courses were not offered when needed, took other courses to remain financial aid eligible11%
Earned more credits than will transfer10%
Other8%
Pursued a certificate that was not required8%
Self-advised8%
College preparatory credit for reading, math, or writing7%
Degree checklist was hard to understand6%
Changed my academic catalog of record6%
Pursued at least one minor that wasn’t required5%
Repeated at least one course for personal interest5%
Pursued more than one major4%
Did not send transcript4%
Military credit did not apply to major2%
Military credit not accepted2%
ESL credit1%

Source: A National Snapshot: How Students Experience and Perceive Transferring Earned Credit
American Council on Education National task Force on Transfer of Credit, in collaboration with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 2020, p. 15. (https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/National-Snapshot-Transferring-Earned-Credit.pdf)

Resources that Could Have Helped Reduce Lost Credit By Level of Displeasure with Lost Credit
Students unable to transfer all their earned credit, n =167

ResourceSomewhat displeasedExtremely displeased
Better advising at the institution(s) where I completed courses prior to transferring39%57%
Better advising at the institution where I transferred courses to (my current institution)40%55%
Better course scheduling (more times and/or days or ways to earn credit)13%41%
Better advising in high school about dual enrollment courses or AP courses26%31%
Better degree checklist24%27%
More engagement with faculty19%20%
More flexible financial aid18%16%
Better tutoring7%10%
None of the above: losing credits during transfer was unavoidable (exclusive choice)25%10%
Other2%6%

Source: A National Snapshot: How Students Experience and Perceive Transferring Earned Credit
American Council on Education National task Force on Transfer of Credit, in collaboration with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 2020, p. 17.

Resources Identified as Most Useful in the Transfer Credit Process
By students who transferred all of their credit

Resource%
Academic advising at my current institution41%
Academic advising in high school28%
Academic advising at the institution(s) from which I transferred27%
My current institution’s website26%
At least one faculty member at my current institution23%
A family member20%
Member of the current institution’s recruitment/admissions staff20%
At least one faculty member at the institution(s) from which I transferred16%
My previous institution’s website14%
Another student10%
None of the above5%
A co-worker1%
Other1%
Veteran’s educational benefits representative0%
Source: A National Snapshot: How Students Experience and Perceive Transferring Earned Credit
American Council on Education National task Force on Transfer of Credit, in collaboration with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 2020, p. 18

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