Do online college transfer credits work the same way?

I'm planning to take some online courses before I transfer to my target university. How do online credit transfers work, and are they accepted in the same way as in-person college credits?

Absolutely! Online course credits can indeed be transferred, just like traditional, in-person college credits, as long as the courses are being taken from an accredited institution. However, every university and even individual departments may have different standards for accepting transfer credits.

To start, make sure the online courses you're planning to take are from an accredited college or university. Accreditation ensures that the school has met certain quality standards set by an outside reviewing organization. Most colleges and universities only accept transfer credits from other accredited schools.

Next, you should check with the registrar or admissions office of the university you're planning to transfer to. They can tell you their policies on accepting transfer credits from online classes. This information might also be available on the school's official website.

It's also important to note that while the institution may accept online credits, specific departments might not. For instance, a biology department might not accept lab-based courses that were taken online. So, I would recommend verifying whether your specific department will accept online credits.

Also, remember that just because a class is accepted for credit, doesn't mean it will fulfill an exact requirement for your major or minor. In many cases, transfer credits fulfill more general education requirements.

For instance, if you take an online calculus course at an accredited community college, your target university might accept it for transfer credit. But whether that satisfies their math requirement might depend on their specific policy.

In short, taking an online course is a great way to earn credits, but make sure you do your due diligence by checking with your target university to make sure they'll accept the credits.