Transferring from a 4-Year College or University

What we're looking for

To be eligible to apply for transfer admission, a student must have completed or be in the process of completing at least 24 credit hours post high-school graduation. Priority consideration is given to associate degree completers or those with at least 48 college credits earned. JMU offers admission to a very small number of students who only have one year of college coursework at their previous institution.

JMU considers transfer applicants' college courses, college grade-point average, high-school program, and high-school grades. The more credit hours you have earned in college, the less emphasis is placed on your high-school record.

Competitive transfer applicants should have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and successfully complete college course work in all core subject areas: English, mathematics, social science and lab science. Math is extremely important in the transfer admission process. Math courses that would likely transfer to JMU must include a level that is considered beyond college algebra and have one or more elements of geometry, computing, number theory, logic, probability, statistics, or calculus.

Transfer applicants are admitted for spring, summer and fall semesters.

Spring semester is the most competitive and limited to approximately 100 students. We know changing from one college to another is a big deal and our Orientation Program has special transfer student programming in place to ease the transition.

Obtaining Transfer Credit

The Office of the Registrar will complete an evaluation of credit after an offer of admission has been made. Each course taken at another institution will be evaluated individually, and credit will be allowed only for equivalent college courses offered at JMU in which a grade of "C" or better has been earned. A "C-" will not transfer. You should also review the courses that will usually count toward JMU's General Education requirements.

Graduation Requirements

JMU requires a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. If you are offered admission to JMU, you must complete all prerequisite, major, program and degree requirements to graduate and you must meet the following requirements:

• Have earned a minimum of 25% of credit hours (30 credits for degrees programs of 120 credits) at JMU
• Have earned at least 50% of credit hours (60 credits for degrees programs of 120 credits) accepted by JMU from accredited senior (four-year) institutions of higher education, including JMU
• Meet course prerequisites for the major regardless of where general education requirements were completed
• Must be attending JMU during the semester in which degree requirements are completed

There is no limit to the number of hours that may transfer to JMU.

More Topics

• How to apply - transfer application process
• Financial aid and scholarships for transfer students
• Special admissions requirements for art, music, theatre, dance, and nursing majors
• Transfer Advising - helpful tips on planning coursework at your current institution, a list of resources for transfer students and more