What are common college transfer deadlines?

I'm looking into transferring colleges, but I'm not sure when most deadlines are. Are there set times in the year to submit applications for transfers, or does it change by college? Any insights would be appreciated!

Transfer application deadlines vary by college, but there are generally two main periods in the academic year when colleges accept transfer applications: in the fall (for spring semester admission) and in the spring (for fall semester admission).

For transferring in the spring semester, application deadlines are typically around October to November of the previous year. If you wish to transfer in the fall semester, the deadlines commonly fall between February to March, but this is by no means absolute and some schools accept applications as late as June.

Here's a quick example: For a school like the University of California, Berkeley, the application deadline for fall transfers is traditionally at the end of November of the preceding year. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan typically has a deadline in February for fall transfers.

Keep in mind each college has its own policy on transfers and corresponding deadlines. Always check the specific admissions page of the college you're interested in to make sure you're aware of their unique deadlines.

Lastly, just as with regular applications, there are advantages to applying earlier. Some colleges have rolling admissions for transfer students, which means they review applicants as they receive them. If you submit your application earlier, you're competing with fewer applicants and increasing your chances. So, start your application process as early as possible!