What online classes will transfer to colleges?

I'm planning to take some online classes and want to make sure they can transfer to the college I eventually attend. How do I check if these courses will be accepted for credit transfer at various universities?

Determine whether an online class will transfer to a specific college or university can somewhat depend on the exact institution you're considering, but here are some general steps that you can take to find out more:

1. Accreditation: — Ensure the institution offering the course is regionally accredited. Accreditation is an endorsement that colleges and universities use to vouch for each other's standards, and one of the first things admissions offices will look at when considering transfer credits.

2. College Catalogs or Course Syllabus: — Compare the course description and syllabus of the online course to similar courses at the universities where you are interested in transferring the credit. Look for alignment in topics, lessons, and learning outcomes.

3. Articulation Agreement: — Look for articulation agreements between the online provider and your target college(s). An articulation agreement is a formal partnership between two or more colleges and universities documenting the transfer policies for a specific academic program or degree.

4. Transfer Evaluation: — While it often isn't possible to get an exact yes/no answer until an official review of your transcripts is done which typically happens after being admitted, some universities have transfer evaluation systems (TES) or course articulation databases accessible through their websites. This allows you to look up specific courses from different institutions to see how they have transferred in the past.

5. Reach Out to Admissions: — Finally, when it doubt, your best bet is to reach out to the admissions office or the office of the registrar at the university you're interested in. They may be able to give you guidance on whether your current online class will meet their criteria for transfer credit.

For example, planning to transfer an online calculus course to a university, looking up the mathematics department's course offerings and descriptions at that university will give a good idea of what topics and skills are covered in their equivalent class. If they match up well with your online calculus course, then that's a good sign it might transfer! But again, reaching out to admissions or the registrar's office can provide a more definitive answer.

Remember that even if the course does transfer, the credit might not be useful depending on your intended major. Always check the major's requirements to ensure that you're not taking unnecessary courses. All of this information is typically available on the university's website. If not, emailing an academic advisor could be helpful. Nevertheless, keep in mind that schools usually have a limit on the number of credits you can transfer, and that policies can change over time. It's always a good idea to double-check closer to your application date.