The Importance of Transfer Credits in an Education Plan

Going back to school or starting a new degree program can seem daunting, and there are a lot of important factors to consider as you decide which program and university are right for you. One great way to get organized is to create a personalized education plan, which can help you identify your individual needs, expectations, and goals so you can make these crucial decisions about your future.

Walden’s education planning tool is a great place to start. Complete a three-minute quiz to get a downloadable plan that includes program information, tuition, and completion timelines for the programs most likely to align with your professional and educational goals.

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Once you have your plan downloaded, you can compare online degree programs offered by Walden. Tuition rates and program completion times will be included in your plan, and seeing those numbers can be surprising. However, before you start to worry about costs and time, you should consider one great way to reduce both, and you may have already done all the work: transfer credit.

What is transfer of credit?

Transfer credits are credentials you previously earned that can be applied to your future degree program. There are a few advantages to applying transfer credits to your new program:

Reduced requirements: Transfer credit can be applied toward required courses.
Reduced tuition: Fewer courses to take means fewer credits to pay for. 
Reduced timeline: Graduate sooner with fewer courses to complete.

Depending on how many credits you are eligible to transfer, you may be able to significantly reduce the time and cost of your program.

What kind of transfer credit does Walden accept?

Walden is dedicated to helping working adults complete their education goals. To that end, Walden programs have a generous transfer of credit policy. The number of credits that can be applied to your program will depend on which program you choose, but all Walden online degree programs accept transfer credit for a range of academic, professional, and personal experiences.

Any credits you earned from an accredited college or university may be able to be applied toward your Walden online degree program. These can be credits from a full-time program or a community college course. You will need to submit official transcripts from all academic institutions you previously attended.

Walden awards credit for non-academic experiences as well. For example, if you have served in the armed forces, you may be able to apply your service toward certain program requirements. You may also be able to apply professional certifications toward your program credits.

Undergraduate and graduate programs have different criteria for transfer of credit, so be sure to discuss your situation with an Enrollment Specialist.

What is the process for transfer of credit at Walden?

Walden’s process is simple:

1. Complete the online application and indicate that you would like to transfer credits.
2. Submit official transcripts from any academic institution you previously attended.
3. Get a transfer-of-credit evaluation, which you’ll receive when you are accepted to your program.
4. Review your transfer-of-credit offer with a Walden Enrollment Specialist. 

Once you know how many transfer credits will be accepted, you can determine your revised tuition cost and time to completion. 

Get started at Walden

Transfer credit is just one of many factors that may influence your decision to complete a degree program, and Walden wants to help you find the program that will empower you to pursue your professional goals. The Walden education planning tool is designed to help you take your search for the perfect online degree program into your own hands, arming you with the information and resources you need to make the choice that aligns with your plans.
Access your Walden personalized education plan today. Visit WaldenU.edu to get started.

Walden University is an HLC-accredited institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.