Do college transfer credits expire after a certain period?

I'm looking into transferring colleges, but I'm worried about whether my old credits will still count. Do college transfer credits ever expire, or can I use them indefinitely? Any personal experiences would be super helpful!

Hello! While it can vary by institution, most colleges and universities don't technically "expire" transfer credits. However, some may have certain stipulations surrounding the relevancy and applicability of older credits. For example, in rapidly evolving fields like technology or science, you might find that older courses are not deemed relevant by the new institution due to changes in the field.

Some colleges might also have policies where they only accept transfer credits earned within a certain time period (like five or seven years), especially for certain degree programs. If the credit was earned particularly long ago, it may not be considered equivalent to a more recent version of the course.

Your best bet would be to directly contact the admissions office or registrar at the school to which you plan on transferring. They can provide you with detailed information tailored to your specific situation and your intended program of study. As a start, you can ask them for their transfer credit policy, what factors they consider when evaluating transfer credits, and whether they have experiential learning credits or a Prior Learning Assessment process. If you have course syllabi from your previous school, that can also be helpful in getting your credits evaluated.

Lastly, keep in mind that gaining credit for a transferred course doesn't necessarily mean it will fit the specific requirements of your new degree program. You may receive elective or general education credit for a transferred course, but that doesn't guarantee it can be used as a substitute for a required course in your new major program. So it's always good practice to have a conversation with an academic adviser at your proposed new college to help map out how your credits will apply towards your intended degree. Good luck with your transfer journey!