Do GPAs transfer when moving between colleges?

I'm thinking about transferring colleges and I'm curious how my GPA will be affected. Do your grades transfer over, or do you essentially start with a new GPA at your new college?

When transferring colleges, your GPA generally does not directly transfer with you. Typically, your new institution will start you with a blank slate, and your GPA at your new school will be determined solely based on the coursework you complete there.

However, the grades you've earned in the past will certainly be considered during the transfer admissions process. For example, admissions officers will review your transcript to see how you performed in your courses at your previous institution. They will take into account the level of difficulty of your studies and the rigor of the institution you are transferring from when evaluating your academic potential.

Also, while your specific GPA may not transfer, the credits from the courses you've completed often will, as long as they're from an accredited institution and match up with courses offered at your new school. Different schools have different policies on what, exactly, they'll accept in terms of credits, so be sure to check with the registrar's office at the school you're considering to know what to expect.

One important note: even though your GPA might start over after you transfer, your old GPA can still come into play when you're considering things like graduate school applications down the line. These programs will see all of your transcripts when you apply, so all the hard work you've done at both institutions will be taken into account in that sense.