College Credit | Admissions & Aid

Have college credit to transfer?

Way to go! You have a jump start on your college education with credits to transfer to UNI. In order for this credit to count, any official test scores or transcripts need to be sent to the Office of Admissions.

UNI accepts the following types of course credit:

Advanced Placement (AP)
International Baccalaureate Credit
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Dual Enrollment
Iowa Seal of Biliteracy

See how community college credits transfer

General Education Requirements

Credit Types

Dual Enrollment (taking college courses while in high school)

If you are planning to transfer college credit earned while in high school to UNI, we recommend you focus on courses that meet UNI's General Education (UNIFI: University of Northern Iowa Foundational Inquiry) categories rather than major-related courses.

Below are some commonly-taken courses and the general education category they will satisfy at UNI. There is a minimum of 37 total general credit hours required for students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. If you've taken courses that aren't listed here, we recommend using our transfer equivalencies tool to see the breakdown of what UNI course your community college course will satisfy.

Courses	General Education Category Satisfied
Composition I & II	Written Communication (WC)
Public Speaking or Oral Communication	Oral Communication (OC)
Intro to Psychology or Intro to Sociology	Human Condition – Domestic (HD)
World History courses (Specific course names vary among community colleges)	Human Condition – Global (HG)
Introduction to Literature	Human Expression (HE)
Art Appreciation or Music Appreciation	Human Expression (HE)
Introduction to Philosophy or Ethics	Responsibility (RE)

Advanced Placement (AP)

UNI credit is typically granted for students who earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam. More detailed information is available below on how courses transfer into UNI and the General Education (UNIFI: University of Northern Iowa Foundational Inquiry) category they satisfy: Written Communication (WC), Oral Communication (OC), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Human Condition-Domestic (HD), Human Condition-Global (HG), Scientific Reasoning (SR), Human Expression (HE), Responsibility (RE), and Connect Elective (CE).

AP Capstone Diploma Program

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)
AP Research	3	3 hours	ENGLISH1000Z	-
4, 5	6 hours	ENGLISH1005 COMM1000	WC, OC
AP Seminar	3, 4, 5	3 hours	ENGLISH1000Z	-

Dept./Subject Area Exam

Score

Credit Hours

UNI Course Equivalent

General Education (UNIFI)

Notes

AP Research

3 hours

ENGLISH1000Z

4, 5

6 hours

ENGLISH1005

COMM1000

WC, OC

AP Seminar

3, 4, 5

3 hours

ENGLISH1000Z

Art

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Studio Art: Drawing	3, 4, 5	6 hours combined maximum	ART1000Z	-	Upon Review of portfolio, amount of credit to be determined
Studio Art: 2D Design	3, 4, 5	6 hours combined maximum	ART1000Z	-	Upon Review of portfolio, amount of credit to be determined
Studio Art: 3D Design	3. 4. 5	6 hours combined maximum	ART1000Z	-	Upon Review of portfolio, amount of credit to be determined
Art History	3 4, 5	3 hours 6 hours	ARTHIST1004 ARTHIST1111, ARTHIST1222	HE HG

Biology

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Biology	3	No credit	---
	4	4 hours	BIOL2051	SR	Meets lab requirement
	5	8 hours	BIOL2051, 2052	SR	Meets lab requirement

Chemistry

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Chemistry	3	No credit	---
	4	4 hours	CHEM1110	SR	Meets lab requirement
	5	8 Hours	CHEM1110, 1120	SR	Meets lab requirement

Computer Science

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)
AP Computer Science Principals	3, 4, 5	3 hours	CS1000Z	-
Computer Science	3	No Credit	---
Computer Science A	4, 5	3 hours	CS1160	-

Economics

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Macroeconomics	3, 4, 5	3 hours	ECON1041	QR
Microeconomics	3, 4, 5	3 hours	ECON1051	QR

English

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)
English Literature & Composition	3	3 hours	ENGLISH1120	HE
English Literature & Composition	4, 5	6 hours	ENGLISH 1005, 1120	WC, HE
English Language & Composition	3, 4, 5	3 Hours	ENGLISH 1005	WC

Environmental Science

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Environmental Science	3, 4, 5	4 hours	EARTHSCI1000SR	SR	Meets lab requirement

Human Geography

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Human Geography	3, 4, 5	3 hours	GEOG1120	HG

History

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)
United States History	3	3 hours	HIST1000HD	HD
United States History	4, 5	6 hours	HISUS 1110, 1120	HD
European History	3, 4, 5	3 hours	HIST1000HG	HG
World History	3, 4, 5	3 hours	HIST1000HG	HG

Languages

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)
Chinese Language & Culture	3	5 hours	CHIN1001	-
	4	10 hours	CHIN1001, 1002	-
	5	15 hours	CHIN1001, 1002, 1000Z	-
French Language	3	5 hours	FREN1001, 1011	-
	4	10 hours	FREN1001, 1002, 1101, 1012	-
	5	15 hours	FREN1001, 1002, 1011, 1012, 2001, 2011	-
German Language	3	5 hours	GER1001, 1011	-
	4	10 hours	GER1001, 1001, 1011, 1012	-
	5	15 hours	GER1001, 1002, 1011, 1012, 2001, 2011	-
Japanese Language & Culture	3	5 hours	LANG1000Z	-
	4	10 hours	LANG1000Z	-
	5	15 hours	LANG1000Z	-
Latin: Vergil	3	5 hours	LANG1000Z	-
	4	10 hours	LANG1000Z	-
	5	15 hours	LANG1000Z	-
Spanish Language	3	5 hours	SPAN1001	-
	4	10 hours	SPAN1001, 1002	-
	5	15 hours	SPAN1001, 1002, 2001	-
Spanish Literature	3, 4, 5	3 hours	SPAN1000HG	HG

Mathematics

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)
Calculus AB	3, 4, 5	4 hours	MATH1420	QR
Calculus BC	3	4 hours	MATH1420	QR
Calculus BC	4, 5	8 hours	MATH1420, 1421	QR

Music

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Theory	3, 4, 5	1-3 hours	Equivalency to be determined by Music Department

Physics

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Physics B	3, 4, 5	8 hours	PHYSICS1511, 1512	SR	Meets lab requirement
Physics C Mechanics	3, 4, 5	4 hours	PHYSICS1701	SR	Meets lab requirement
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism	3, 4, 5	4 hours	PHYSICS1702	-
Physics I	3, 4, 5	4 hours	PHYSIC1511	SR	Meets lab requirement
Physics II	3, 4, 5	4 hours	PHYSICS1512	-

Political Science

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Government & Politics: United States	3, 4, 5	3 hours	POLAMER1014	HD
Government & Politics: Comparative	3, 4, 5	3 hours	POLCOMP1040	HG

Psychology

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Psychology	3, 4, 5	3 hours	PSYCH1001	HD

Statistics

Dept./Subject Area Exam	Score	Credit Hours	UNI Course Equivalent	General Education (UNIFI)	Notes
Statistics	3, 4, 5	3 hours	STAT1772	QR

Please note: This information is the best estimate value of how specific test scores will transfer to UNI. However, this document should not be considered a guarantee of transfer credit awarded. A formal course evaluation will be initiated once an official application for admission has been received and official test scores have been submitted. All test scores are subject to departmental approval and may change without notice.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

You may complete CLEP tests prior to enrollment to UNI. UNI credit is based upon scores earned by subject matter. See how CLEP scores transfer to UNI. You can learn more about CLEP by visiting Exam Services.

International Baccalaureate Credit (IB)

UNI provides advanced standing credit to students who earn a score of 4 or above on Higher Level (HL) subjects and 5 or above for Standard Level (SL) subjects. More detailed information is available below on how courses transfer into UNI and the General Education (UNIFI: University of Northern Iowa Foundational Inquiry) category they satisfy: Written Communication (WC), Oral Communication (OC), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Human Condition-Domestic (HD), Human Condition-Global (HG), Scientific Reasoning (SR), Human Expression (HE), Responsibility (RE), and Connect Elective (CE).

IB Course	Minimum Score Required	UNI Course Equivalent	UNI Credit Hours	General Education (UNIFI)
Biology HL	4	BIOL:2051 & BIOL:1000Z	8	SR
Biology SL	5	BIOL:1000SR	4	SR
Business Management HL	4	MGMT:1000Z & MGMT:1000Z	6	-
Business Management SL	5	MGMT:1000Z	3	-
Chemistry HL	4	CHEM:1110 & CHEM:1000Z	8	SR
Chemistry SL	5	CHEM:1010	4	SR
Chinese B SL	5	CHIN:1000Z	5	-
Dance HL	4	PEMES:2034 & PEMES:1000Z	6	-
Dance SL	5	PEMES:2034	3	-
Economics HL	4	ECON:1041 & ECON:1051	6	QR
Economics SL	5	ECON:1000QR	3	QR
Environment & Society SL	5	SCI ED:1000RE	3	RE
French B SL	5	FREN:1000Z	5	-
Geography HL	4	GEOG:1000HG & GEOG:1000Z	6	HG
Geography SL	5	GEOG:1000HG	3	HG
German B SL	5	GERM:1000Z	5	-
Global Politics HL	4	POL INTL:1024 & POL INTL:1000Z	6	HG
Global Politics SL	5	POL INTL:1024	3	HG
History HL: History Africa and Middle East	4	HIST:1000HG	6	HG
History HL: History Asia and Oceania	4	HIST:1000HG	6	HG
History HL: History of Europe	4	HIST:1000HG	6	HG
History HL: History of the Americas	4	HIST:1000HG	6	HG
History SL	5	HIST:1000HG	3	HG
Information Technology in a Global Society HL	4	UNIV:1000Z	6	-
Information Technology in a Global Society SL	5	UNIV:1000Z	3	-
Japanese B SL	5	LANG:1000Z	5	-
Language A: Language and Literature HL	4	ENGL:1000HE	6	HE
Language A: Language and Literature SL	5	ENGL:1000HE	3	HE
Language A: Literature HL	4	ENGL:1120 & ENGL:1000Z	6	HE
Language A: Literature SL	5	ENGL:1120	3	HE
Math: Analysis & Approaches HL	4	MATH:1420 & STAT:1772	7	QR
Math: Analysis & Approaches SL	5	MATH:1000QR	3	QR
Math: App & Interp HL	4	MATH:1100 & STAT:1772	6	QR
Math: Apps and Interp SL	5	MATH:1000QR	3	QR
Philosophy HL	4	PHIL:1020 & PHIL1000Z	6	RE
Philosophy SL	5	PHIL:1020	3	RE
Physics HL	4	PHYS:1511 & PHYS:1512	8	QR
Physics SL	5	PHYS:1000SR	4	QR
Psychology HL	4	PSYC:1001 & PSYC:1000Z	6	HD
Psychology SL	5	PSYC:1001	3	HD
Spanish B SL	5	SPAN:1000Z	5	-
Sports, exercise science, and health sciences HL	4	KAHHS:1000Z	6	-
Sports, exercise science, and health sciences SL	5	KAHHS:1000Z	3	-
Swahili B SL	5	LANG:1000Z	5	-
Theatre HL	4	THEA: 1000HE & THEA: 1000HE	6	HE
Theatre SL	5	THEA: 1000HE	3	HE
Visual Arts HL	4	ART:1000HE	6	HE
Visual Arts SL	5	ART:1000HE	3	HE

Note: You must arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to the UNI Admissions Office. You can earn up to 32 credit hours toward an undergraduate degree through credit by examination.

Iowa Seal of Biliteracy

Students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy will satisfy UNI's world language requirement.

Up to 18 credits may be available for students who are eligible and complete SPAN 3006 (Spanish for Heritage Speakers). See more here.

Credit may be applied toward the major, minor, or certificate in Chinese, French, or Spanish. Learn more about UNI's programs here.

Please note that duplicate credit will not be awarded if the student has already received credit via AP, IB, CLEP or dual enrollment. To qualify, students should send a final transcript with the Seal of Biliteracy to the Office of Admissions.

How to request official transcripts and test scores

YOUR CREDITS WILL GO TO WORK FOR YOU

1 in 12 UNI students graduate within three years.

Many students who bring in credit to UNI are finding they can graduate early. This is due to UNI’s flexible general education program and great advising on campus. Students are adding minors and second majors – or changing their major altogether – and still staying on track for graduation in four or less years.

Get your transfer credit evaluated.