Understanding Your Transfer Credit

Credits from another institution can transfer into Penn State in a variety of ways. Your adviser in your academic college will determine how your transferred credits may be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Penn State Credit Equivalencies

Course Number:

An incoming course is a direct equivalent to a Penn State course (ex. ENGL 015).

General Education:

An incoming course that fulfills a general education requirement.

XFRGA - Arts Courses
XFRGH - Humanities Courses
XFRGHW - Health and Wellness Courses
XFRGN - Natural Sciences Courses
XFRGS - Social and Behavioral Sciences Courses
XFRGQ - General Quantification Courses
XFRGWS - General Writing/Speaking Courses
XFRIL - International Cultures Courses
XFRUS - United States Cultures Courses

Note: Inter-domain courses fulfill more than one general education requirement. Additional details can be found on the Penn State Undergraduate Bulletin

General Education with Level Equivalent:

An incoming course that fulfills a general education requirement and meets an academic level (XFRGA0, XFRGH1, XFRGN2, XFRGS3, XFRGA4, etc).

Level Course Equivalent:

An incoming course that is not a direct equivalent that has been assigned a level designation (XFR000, XFR100, XFR200, XFR300, and XFR400).

General Course:

An incoming course that is not a direct equivalent or has not been assigned a level or general education designation (ex. XFRGEN, XFRCNV). Please work with your academic department to determine usability of credits within your degree program.

Non-Transferable:

An incoming course that cannot be used in any area and does not meet the standard of a Penn State transfer course.

Pending Review:

An incoming course that upon receipt of the course syllabus will be submitted for departmental review and equivalency determination (XFRPEN).

Note: Syllabi are not required if you've attended Military Service Schools (Joint Services Transcript). Undergraduate Admissions will submit syllabi on your behalf.

Tuition Advisory

Please be advised that a student’s tuition will increase when the Penn State transcript reflects 59.1 total credits. Credits earned from sources such as Military Credit and tests, like AP or IB exams, are considered transfer credits and are included in the cumulative credit total. If the credits you are transferring or have transferred to Penn State place you above 59.1 total credits after the start of the semester, your tuition will increase immediately. You will receive a bill for the additional tuition on the first day of the following month. For more information, visit the Office of the Bursar's website.