Transfer of Credit

JIU accepts the transfer of college credits. The following kinds of credits may qualify for transfer:

Credits earned at institutions accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Military and corporate training approved by the American Council on Education (ACE).
Credits earned through specific national exams such as CLEP, DSST, and ACE/PEP.
International credentials evaluated by any NACES approved provider.
Credits from institutions that have specific articulation agreements with JIU.
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program also accepts Advanced Placement (AP) courses or exams, and SATII language exams. See the BBA handbook for details.

All transfer credits are granted only if they are applicable to the student's selected degree program. Transfer credits are not available for JIU certificate programs or for student teaching, internship or capstone courses. A student who transfers credit to the Specialist or Doctoral program is required to audit the respective course. Students should work with their Academic Service Counselor in determining how transfer credit may apply to their academic degree plan. The final decision to accept credits belongs to the Registrar. Students who have earned credit at other institutions are responsible for ensuring that the courses they register for at JIU do not duplicate any previously earned credit.

Grade Requirements/Grade Transfer

Master and undergraduate credit transfers require a course grade of C or higher. Doctorate and Specialist credit transfers require a course grade of B or higher.

Courses transferred to JIU will not be used in calculating a student's JIU GPA, but will be used in calculating a financial aid student's 150% or 200% (depending on degree program) maximum timeframe (See Satisfactory Academic Progress).

Semester vs. Quarter vs. Unit Hours

Students are awarded the same number of hours for which they received credit at the school of origin. If the school operates on semester hours these transfer to JIU as semester hours. If the school operates on quarter hours, transferable hours will be multiplied by two-thirds to convert them to semester hours. Credits from schools that operate on unit systems or other types of credit systems will also be converted to semester hours.

Transfer Limits

There is no time limit on the coursework accepted for credit transfer in JIU undergraduate and Masters programs. For Specialist and Doctoral programs, coursework earned at other colleges and universities may be transferred if earned within the past 15 years.

Students in the Doctorate of Education and the Doctorate of Business Administration may transfer up to 36 credit hours. Students in the Education Specialist degree may transfer up to 18 credit hours. This maximum is cumulative for credit transfer and credit for prior learning.

Students in masters programs may transfer up to nine (9) masters credits. This maximum is cumulative for credit transfer and credit for prior learning.

Bachelor programs require a combined total of 120 credit hours from all sources, including transfer credit, credit for prior learning, and JIU course completions. Students must take a minimum of 30 credit hours at JIU in order to earn a bachelor's degree. A maximum of 90 credit hours may be earned toward a bachelor's degree through any combination of transfer credit, credit by examination, or credit for prior learning; credit for prior learning is limited to 15 credits. Where an associate degree has been earned, JIU will award 60 semester hours toward the lower division requirements of any bachelor program.

When a course has been repeated at another institution, only the most recent course and grade will be transferred and posted to the student's academic record, unless the course is designated in the institution's catalog as "may be repeated for credit". JIU is unable to accept transfer credit hours from remedial or developmental courses, vocational or technical courses, or courses or degrees obtained from non-qualified institutions.

Official Transcript Requirement

Official transcripts from the institution where educational credit was granted are used for all transfer of credits. Transcripts must be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of the Registrar at JIU for review. JIU is prepared to assist students in this effort. International transcripts must be translated to English and officially evaluated by an external agency (see Program Handbook).

Transfer credit evaluations completed before the review of final, official transcripts are tentative and are for advising purposes only.

Credit by Examination

Specific CLEP, DSST or ACT/PEP/Excelsior College exams can be transferred into JIU undergraduate programs. Test scores must be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar.

Students earning satisfactory scores on CLEP, DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests), SAT II or AP examinations will be granted credits toward a degree program at JIU. Each examination has been assigned a quantity and level of credits.

Military Transfer of Credit

Each of the military services has developed methods for documenting military training that the American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluated for college credit. For college level credits earned at regionally accredited institutions, separate official transcripts must be sent from the respective institution even if they are recorded on the military transcript.

Army

The Army uses the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript Service (AARTS) for documenting military training. Students interested in obtaining an institutional copy of their AARTS transcript for admission to JIU must complete a DA Form 5454-R, Request for Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript. Once completed, the form should be faxed to 913.684-9499 or DSN 552-9499, or mailed to AARTS Operation Center, 298 Grant Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS, 66027-1254, or email at aarts@leavenworth.army.mil.

Navy/Marines

The Navy uses the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) for documenting military training for all active duty Sailors/Marines and for those who have separated or retired after October 1, 1999. Students who are not eligible for a SMART must submit a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release, or Discharge from Active Duty, or a DD Form 295, Application for Evaluation of Learning Experiences during Military Service, to obtain credit for military training.

Students may request an institutional copy of their SMART for admission to JIU through the installation Navy College Office or Marine Corps Education Center at SMART Operations Center, 6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL 32509-5204, fax to 850-452-1281, or email at ncc@cnet.navy.mil.

Air Force

The Air Force uses the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript for documenting all college credit-worthy training received. Air Force enlisted personnel should complete an AF Form 2099, Request for Community College of the Air Force Transcript, at the base education office and have the transcript sent directly to their Military Enrollment Advisor (transcripts sent directly to students are unofficial copies and will be stamped, Issued to Student). Students who are not located near an Air Force Base can send a written transcript request including their full name, Social Security Account Number, current address including ZIP Code and their Military Enrollment Advisor's address. The letter must include the student's original signature because that is the legal authorization for CCAF to release a transcript. Since the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) regionally accredit CCAF, the Office of Admissions will evaluate the transcript just like any other transfer credits would be evaluated.
Coast Guard

The Coast Guard uses the Coast Guard Transcript for documenting all college credit-worthy training received. Before students can request a Coast Guard Transcript, they must first have completed a Coast Guard Institute (CGI) Form 1560/04e, Educational Assessment Worksheet at SMART Operations Center, 6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL 32509-5204, or email at ncc@cnet.navy.mil.

Service members are eligible to take CLEP or DSST examinations at no charge through an approved military installation.

For more information on JIU Policies and Procedures, click here for the Student Handbook.