Most Americans Want Easier College Transfers. What Could That Look Like?
Credit: ljubaphoto / E+ / Getty Images- A survey from Public Agenda shows that large majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents support policies that make transferring college credits easier.
- Of respondents that have tried to transfer credits, 58% reported some degree of credit loss, and 20% reported having to repeat a class because credits didn’t transfer.
- Universities in Illinois, North Carolina, California, and more all have guaranteed transfer policies for students.
A report released this month from the nonprofit Public Agenda shows that, regardless of respondents’ political identity, there is broad support for policies that ease the credit transfer process for students.
The survey of over 3,000 American adults conducted in May 2024 found a troublesome credit transfer process for many:
- Almost 4 in 10 respondents have tried to transfer credits.
- Of those who have tried to transfer credits, 58% reported some degree of credit loss.
- 20% of respondents who tried to transfer reported having to repeat a class because the credits didn’t transfer.
- 42% of respondents said the institutions sending and receiving credits should be primarily responsible for improving credit transfers. Just 9% said that burden should be on students.
The report also showed that large majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents support policy interventions. Support is particularly strong for increasing transparency in the transfer process and requiring free access to students’ transcripts, credentials, and degrees.
“We found that trying to transfer credits is a typical experience for Americans — as is the frustration of not having it go well,” Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, said in a press release.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents agree universities and colleges care more about making money than about educating students.
“Negative experiences with credit transfer reinforce the perception that big institutions don’t care about regular people, a key element of the challenge facing our democracy,” Seligsohn said. “By shining a light on both the people and the process, we can better understand what works — as well as what doesn’t — so we can improve the system for everybody.”
What an Easier Transfer Process Could Look Like
Many states have implemented guaranteed transfer policies for students with state residency. These pathways make it easier for students to transfer within a state, from a community college to four-year institution, or within a state school system.
In October 2024, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced $3 million worth of grants to 14 Michigan schools to improve transfer processes. Michigan State University received the largest grant of $996,000 to improve transfers from community colleges. Michigan high school students are already able to attend community colleges within the state for free.
Earlier this year, Illinois introduced a policy to guarantee admission for Illinois high school graduates to transfer to University of Illinois System schools if they originally attended college out of state.
The transfer guarantee policy for the University of California (UC) system means students applying to transfer into top UC schools may have a better chance of acceptance if they’re coming from a state community college.
Despite some top private universities offering guaranteed transfer admissions, some of the most elite universities in the country accept just under 5% of transfer applicants.
This month, the University of North Carolina (UNC) System announced a new regulation to shorten the time it takes for transfer students to have their transcripts reviewed.
Starting in spring 2026, transfer students who submit three or fewer transcripts can expect their credit transfer evaluation in 15 business days. Transfer students with four or more transcripts can expect their credit transfer evaluation in 30 business days.
“Transfer students bring extraordinary talent to our universities and to our state,” UNC System President Peter Hans said in the press release about the new policy. “We should never allow bureaucratic hurdles to stand between ambitious students and the opportunities they’ve earned.”
According to the press release, 17,349 students transferred into UNC System institutions in fall 2024. Over 57% of these students transferred from North Carolina community colleges.