Transfer Credit Guide - How to Obtain Your College Transcripts

At Colorado Technical University, many of our students begin their education with past college, military or life experience that may be applied toward their degrees. Part of the admissions process includes requesting transcripts which define those transfer credits prior to a student’s first term of study at CTU. Use the following guide to learn more about our transfer credit policies and how we evaluate and apply previously earned credit. Take the next step in your degree now.

Transferring College Credit to CTU¹

Certain degree programs permit you to transfer external credits in — that is, credits from accredited schools other than CTU. That may include international schools as well.

1. A student must complete a minimum of 25% of the total credit hours for an undergraduate degree program at CTU (75% of credits may be transferred in).
2. A student must complete a minimum of 25% of the total credit hours for a Master’s degree program at CTU (75% of credits may be transferred in).
3. A student must complete a minimum of 25% of the total credit hours for a doctoral degree program at CTU (75% of credits may be transferred in).

The residency requirement of the university outlines that not all credits may be accepted and it dictates the amount of transfer credit that can be used toward any degree program. It’s important that credits be for classes that are equivalent to those in your degree program. To determine whether your credits can apply, you will be required to provide official transcripts to CTU.

Obtaining Your Transcripts

The university understands that it may take significant time to receive transcripts requested from other colleges and universities. Please begin the process of requesting transcripts as early as possible.

If you begin an undergraduate degree program pending the receipt of an official college or university transcript(s), you have until the end of the first quarter to provide the records which in turn could result in a grade level change.

As a master’s or doctoral degree-seeking student admitted without an official baccalaureate transcript on file, you will be admitted as a non-regular student and will be financially responsible for all associated costs of attending the university. If you do not have your official transcripts from your bachelor’s degree on file by the end of the first session, you will be administratively withdrawn. This means that you are unable to continue your studies at CTU until the required documentation is received. Please refer to the University Policies at coloradotech.edu for more information.

Once your official transcripts have been received by CTU, a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) evaluator will help guide you through the credit transfer process. Keep in mind that transcripts and records presented for evaluation become part of your permanent record. You can determine if we have received your official transcript by contacting CTU’s Registrar’s Office, or by logging in to the Virtual Campus.

International transcripts must be translated to English and may require official evaluation by an accepted agency at your expense. It is your responsibility to coordinate and pay for English translation, and any other international transcript evaluation. A PLA evaluator can provide more information on the international credential evaluation process.

Will My Credits Be Accepted?

CTU operates on a quarter schedule. Incoming credits from institutions that use semester hours are converted as follows: one semester hour (from the other school) is considered equivalent to 1.5 quarter credit hours (at CTU).

Transfer credit will be accepted upon evaluation and at the discretion of CTU. Specific requirements for the evaluation and award of transfer credit include but are not limited to:

• Only courses with a “C” grade or 2.0 or better GPA (undergraduate) or “B” grade or better GPA (graduate/doctoral) will be eligible for transfer credit.
• No transfer credit will be awarded for courses that were failed, withdrawn or have not met the transfer credit criteria.
• Only college-level, postsecondary degree-applicable courses can be eligible for transfer credit.
• Duplication of course transfer is not permitted in any degree program.
• Transfer credit may be permitted at the graduate level upon the discretion of the Academic Affairs and Prior Learning Assessment Departments. Any exceptions allowed must be justified and approved by an appropriate senior academic official.
• Transfer credit for a doctoral program may be applied to the program at the discretion of the appropriate senior academic official.

Transferring Other Types of Credit

Another way to achieve credit toward your degree (associate, bachelor’s or master’s) is to provide evidence of job experience either by exam or by providing certified results of previous testing. As with the transfer of previously earned credits, this must be evaluated by the university through official documentation and must meet the established Prior Learning Assessment criteria and guidelines for transfer credit.

With the exception of CTU Fast Track™ exams, advanced standing options must be completed no later than one session prior to the start date of the course(s) for which you wish to earn credit. Once you are in the last session of your degree program, no advanced standing credit will be awarded.

The following items are eligible for evaluation toward academic credit through CTU:

1. CTU Fast Track^TM
   CTU Fast Track™ exams give you the opportunity to earn college credit for what you already know. By passing multiple CTU Fast TrackTM exams, you can graduate up 30% faster and save up to 30% on tuition².
2. Experiential Learning
   In some cases, you may receive course credit for experiential learning gained through non-collegiate school-based learning, employment or other appropriate learning experiences. To earn this credit, you must show a direct alignment with courses in your CTU academic program and demonstrate the results of your experience that can be documented. The maximum amount of life experience credit accepted toward graduation is 16 credit hours per quarter for an associate degree, 32 credit hours per quarter for a bachelor’s degree, and eight credit hours per quarter for a master’s degree.
3. Professional Training/Certification
   You may have earned formal training from a non-accredited institution or an employer that offers professional training. Some of this type of informal education may be applied toward a CTU degree. Typically this is in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), but other documented “clock hours” may be eligible. You may be required to submit a learning narrative as part of the evaluation process.
4. Standardized Assessment
   You can demonstrate knowledge competency by taking an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, a College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam, or a DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST).

Get Started: Connect With Us

Join our expanding, professional network of alumni represented by the more than 104,000 degrees awarded since 1965. Take the next step toward accessing CTU’s innovative learning technology.

If you have questions along the way, we’re here to help. Call or visit us online to learn more.

Call: 855.230.0555

Visit: coloradotech.edu/admissions/prior-learning-assessment

¹Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

²The ability to reduce time in school and/or reduce tuition depends on the number of CTU Fast Track™ exams successfully passed. Fast Track program credits are unlikely to transfer. Not all programs are eligible for possible 30% reduction in time and money. Courses eligible are subject to change.

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