Hello, transfer students.

Finish your degree at UNI!

At UNI, we do two things to make your life easier and make sure you can finish your degree quickly. First, we work to make transferring your credits easy. And second, no matter how much college you’ve already attended, we work with you to graduate from UNI as fast as possible.

Let’s get the first question out of the way. Am I a transfer student? If you’ve attended another college or university or enrolled in college level courses since graduating from high school, you are a transfer student. We love our transfer students. In fact, more than a third of new students are transfers, so you’re in good company alongside other students making a change!

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Admission Requirements

Transfer students applying to the University of Northern Iowa are evaluated primarily on their cumulative grade point average (GPA) from their previous institution(s). The minimum cumulative GPA required for admission to UNI varies with the number of credits acceptable for transfer. Transfer students must have (or exceed) the following combination of GPA and total graded semester hours.

Transferable Credit Hours	Grade Point Average*
1-24	2.25 + High School Requirements*
24-59	2.25
60+	2.00

*Applicants transferring with 24 or fewer transferrable credits must also meet the admissions requirements for students entering directly from high school.

Some majors have additional requirements to get into upper-level courses – Education, Business, Music, Communication Disorders and Social Work are a few.

Additionally, if you are majoring in Nursing, Music, Art & Design, Interior Design or Computer Science, it is best to transfer to UNI after one year of coursework. Please contact transfer@uni.edu for additional information.

3 Easy Steps to Applying for Admission

1

Complete your application.

You will need to create a university account, known as a CatID, or login using your existing one to get started. Be sure to keep track of your CatID and password which allows you to track the status of your application.

‌2

Share your unofficial transcripts.

You can choose to upload your unofficial transcript directly within the application or by emailing it to us at transfer@uni.edu.

Note: You will need to request your official versions be sent to us from your institution(s) before you begin classes.

3

Pay your $40 application fee.

There is an application fee waiver available for those who qualify.

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JOIN THE

Transfer Connection Program.

Be a part of a program that’s designed to make your transition from a community college to UNI an easy one. You’ll receive advising from UNI and get connected with resources and people here on campus (all while still attending your current college).

Transfer Connection Program

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MEET VIRTUALLY WITH

Your Transfer Admissions Counselor.

Your Transfer Admissions Counselor is your go-to contact for all things related to transferring to UNI. Set up an appointment to review your transcript, walk through your next steps and get all of your questions answered.

Transfer Counselor Virtual Appointments

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USE THESE HELPFUL RESOURCES

To see how your credits will transfer.

Here’s a variety of tools and programs to help you evaluate how your coursework will transfer to UNI.

transfer credit resources

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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN STUDYING ONLINE,

UNI offers eight programs.

Complete your bachelor's degree entirely online. Check out the offered programs, along with their respective requirements.

online programs

Join our mailing list!

Contact Information

Olivia, transfer admissions counselor, talking to student

Hear from a UNI transfer admissions counselor

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes up my grade point average (GPA) when applying as a transfer student?

Your GPA is comprised from all transfer credit from your studies at all institutions you attended. This would include institutions you attended in the past and the courses you took, which includes any failed ones. Career technical credits are not factored into your GPA. Your GPA doesn’t start over at UNI, it continues on from all previous transfer credit.

When should I apply?

If you are transferring from a four-year institution, apply, as much as possible, in advance of the semester you'd like to start. If you're transferring from a community college, we recommend applying one year from your desired start at UNI.

Will my credit transfer?

Credit earned at regionally-accredited colleges and universities is generally acceptable for transfer to UNI. Credit in courses determined by UNI to be of remedial, career and technical nature, or credit in courses or programs in which the institution granting the credit is not directly involved, may not be accepted, or accepted to a limited extent. For schools not regionally-accredited, the current issue of Transfer Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions, published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AARAO), is an example of reference used to determine transfer credit.

How does career technical credits transfer?

A maximum of 16 hours of credit is accepted for non-technology majors. A maximum of 48 semester hours are accepted for articulated technology majors. Career technical credits transfers to UNI as ungraded credit, it does not count toward the 24 transferable semester hours needed for admission to UNI. Career technical credit does not apply toward your grade point average (GPA) at UNI.

How does military credit transfer?

Credit for military courses will be granted according to the guidelines in the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Guide to Credit for Educational Experiences in the Armed Services when that recommendation is for vocational certificate and lower and/or upper division baccalaureate degrees. A maximum of 16 credits will be awarded for vocational-technical training and can be used in accordance with the Career – Technical Credit policy stated above. Credit for Military Occupational Specialist (Military Experience) will be evaluated on a case-by case-basis using ACE recommendations.

What is the maximum number of credit I can transfer that will be accepted for graduation?

65 credits from a community college.
No limit from a four-year institution, however, 32 hours must be earned at UNI for graduation.

How will my Associate of Arts (AA) and/or Associate of Science (AS) degree(s) transfer?

AA or AS degrees from any regionally-accredited institution will satisfy UNI’s general education requirements (UNIFI).

How will my Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree transfer?

UNI has various articulation agreements for students with AAS degrees. Reach out to transfer@uni.edu to learn how your AAS will transfer to UNI.

How do I transfer AP exam, CLEP and IB credit?

See here for more information on transferring in credit from AP, CLEP and IB.

Do all of my official college transcript(s) need to be sent to UNI?

Yes, official transcripts from all institutions previously attended must be sent to UNI's Office of Admissions directly from the institutions, prior to enrolling at UNI. See here for more information about requesting official transcripts. When applying for admission, you can submit unofficial transcript(s).

Will I need to provide a high school transcript to UNI for my application as a transfer student?

A high school transcript is not required for admission unless you have below 24 credits completed post-high school. However, we do require that a high school transcript be sent if you are receiving federal financial aid or need to validate your completion of the UNI world language requirement.

How do I have a transcript sent from previous institutions?

Information about sending your transcript can be found here.

How can I best prepare to transfer while I’m still at the community college?

Check out UNI’s transfer plans of study to help plan your community college courses. We also encourage students to sign up for UNI’s Transfer Connection program.

What is the Transfer Connection Program and how do I join?

The Transfer Connection program is a coordinated plan between UNI and Iowa community colleges. It helps students like you seamlessly transition from community college to UNI. You can easily sign up here.

What is a Reverse Credit Transfer?

Reverse credit transfer is a partnership developed by the Board of Regents and Iowa's public universities and Iowa's community colleges to facilitate the transfer of credits back to one of Iowa's community colleges for the purpose of allowing students to attain a degree, diploma or certification. See more information here.

What is the Iowa Regents Articulation Agreement?

Students who have satisfied the general education requirements for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University or the University of Iowa's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will have the UNI general education requirements (UNIFI) satisfied. Reach out to transfer@uni.edu for more information on the steps.

Transfer Student Stories

Additional Resources

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