University of Illinois System Interim Policy on Acceptance of Transfer Credit for Undergraduate Admission 

Effective Date: 07/01/2020

 

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish standards governing the evaluation of transfer work* for admission and the awarding of credit. 
* "Transfer work" and "transfer courses" are used interchangeably in this policy. Regardless of the term, this policy applies to transfer not in the form of courses, such as credit for military service and credit earned through testing and experiential learning. Transfer work not in the form of courses is evaluated for transfer per the terms of this policy.

 

Scope

This policy applies to all University of Illinois System universities.

 

Statement of Policy

Transfer work is evaluated for admission purposes and considered for credit. The University may consider transfer work for evaluation completed at institutions accredited by an institutional accrediting agency (formerly known as “regional accreditor”) recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or an accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), including institutions under candidacy status. Foreign institutions must be recognized by the ministry of education in the home country or an equivalent government authority. To be eligible for admission and credit, transfer work must be similar in nature, level, and content to courses in the undergraduate curriculum and/or applicable to an undergraduate academic program. Other transfer work that is deemed nontransferable (such as continuing education courses, graduate-level courses, and courses that are remedial, technical, vocational, or doctrinal in nature as determined by the campus) are not used in admission decisions regardless of the institution's accreditation.

 

Procedures

Credit for transfer courses is either applied as direct equivalents with University courses or applied to a degree in a manner determined by the department and college. Determining how transfer credit is applied varies by campus depending on the process established to implement University policy.
The precise amount of transfer credit awarded and that is applicable toward a particular degree is determined by or in consultation with the University college and department concerned.

 

Forms, Tools and Additional Resources

U.S. Department of Education list of approved Institutional Accrediting Agencies

Council for Higher Education Accreditation website

Website last updated: 01/22/2026