Transfer Credit Evaluations

ACC only accepts transfer credit from institutions that possess accreditation from one of the following accrediting bodies:

• Higher Learning Commission
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education / Mid-Atlantic Region Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission

ACC uses the following guidelines when evaluating transcripts:  

• Transcripts will be evaluated within 30 days after student is admitted and ACC receives the official transcript. ACC evaluates transcripts on a rolling basis upon receipt of official transcripts.
• Course by course evaluation and comparison based on the requirements for the student’s declared degree or certificate at ACC, determined by the declared degree or certificate at time of transcript receipt.
• Evaluation of the title, description, content, and age of the course being considered for transfer, compared to the course required in the degree or certificate at ACC.
• Credits accepted in transfer from institutions operating on a quarter hour system, will have their credits converted into semester hours. The formula to convert quarter hours to semester hours is: (credit hours x two) / three. For example, a three quarter credit hour course will convert to a two semester credit hour course (3 x 2 = 6; 6 / 3 = 2).
• The credit value of the required course at ACC must be covered in full by equivalent transfer course credit value. If appropriate based on a review of the title, description and content of the transfer courses, multiple transfer courses may be combined to be considered equivalent to the ACC course. *
• A student must complete a minimum of 25% of the credit requirements for a degree or certificate in residence at ACC.*
• A grade of “C-” or better is required for a course to be considered for transfer. *
• Remedial / college prep courses will not be accepted
• Courses will not be accepted that are offered from an academic area not taught at ACC
• Transferred credits are not counted in ACC term or cumulative GPA but may meet degree requirements.

You will receive confirmation of your transfer credit evaluation after your transcript(s) is received by ACC. You can check what courses were transferred in and how they apply to your declared degree or certificate program by accessing DegreeCheck in myACC. Once applied, transfer credits are considered part of the your academic record and are not removed from your student record. Decisions regarding which courses may / may not transfer are determined by Records and Enrollment Office in accordance with ACC transfer credit evaluation guidelines, transcript receipt date, declared degree / certificate program, and program requirements.

International transcripts are not evaluated at ACC. International transcripts must go through professional evaluation services from a NACES-approved organization, with the official transcript evaluation sent directly to ACC.  

Coursework older than 10 years will not automatically transfer into ACC. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the course is not obsolete and that the course content is equivalent to current offerings. In addition, some degree or certificate programs may have more restrictive transfer credit evaluation requirements based on program requirements, curriculum changes, and/or accreditation.

If you would like a transcript re-evaluation based on a major change, email Records & Enrollment Services at records [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (records[at]arapahoe[dot]edu) with the request.

Questions regarding a transfer credit evaluation should first be directed to the staff that evaluated the official transcript or the Records & Enrollment Services Office at records [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (records[at]arapahoe[dot]edu). You may appeal any transfer credit decision by complete the Transfer Credit Appeal.