Clarifying How Long College Credits Last

If I take some classes at a community college, how long do those credits typically last if I want to transfer them to a university later? Just trying to plan out my academic strategy a bit better.

Generally, college credits don't "expire" in the way you might be thinking. Once you've earned them, they're yours forever. However, whether or not those credits will be accepted by another school later down the line is another matter. It typically depends on:

1. Relevance of the Course: If the coursework is still relevant to the program you're transferring into, it's more likely to be accepted. For example, a Calculus course taken years ago would likely still be applicable, whereas a technology course could be deemed outdated depending on how long ago you took it.

2. Accreditation: The school you initially attended must be accredited. It's always worth double-checking this because most schools will not accept credits from non-accredited institutions.

3. Grade Received: Schools often require that you received a C grade or higher for the credit to be transferable.

4. School's Credit Transfer Policies: Every school has its own set of policies regarding transferring credits. Some universities might have a limit on how old the credits can be. It's crucial to reach out to prospective institutions' admissions or registrar offices to get the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Remember, too, that even if your credits are accepted, they might not count towards specific requirements at your new school. They might only count as elective credits, depending on your major and the transfer policies of the institution.

To help ensure that your hard-earned credits are recognized, it could be helpful to follow an articulated transfer agreement between the community college and prospective universities (if available), which outlines what will transfer as equivalent coursework.