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 Evaluations

Multiple evaluations may display within the Transfer Credit Tool for the same course with different effective dates.

For courses taken within 20 years of when they are added to a student's Penn State record, the student will receive the evaluation that corresponds with the effective dates in which they took the course.

Penn State defines term effective dates as follows:

Spring term = January 1-April 30
Summer term = May 1-July 31
Fall term = August 1-December 31
Winter term (if offered) = December 1-31.

Credit will be awarded based on the term in which the course was taken.

For courses taken more than 20 years prior to when they are added to a student's Penn State record, the student will be awarded general credit in the relevant academic discipline, regardless of displayed effective dates.

Consult with an academic advisor regarding how transferable courses can potentially fulfill degree requirements. Degree Program Requirements can be reviewed in the Penn State Undergraduate Bulletin.

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

Courses with Multiple Attributes, Including Inter-Domain

Courses with multiple attributes and Inter-Domain courses may fulfill more than one general education requirement.

Review course designations

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.