Do College Credits Expire?

How long do college credits last?

College credits don’t expire – whether your older college credits are accepted really depends on the policies of the school you’re transferring to. Some institutions have very transfer-friendly policies and are more generous in the credits they accept. Others are more strict about what credits they’ll accept.

At George Fox University, we accept nearly all college credits toward bachelor’s degrees in our accelerated online degrees program.

If the college or university that you attended closed, there should be a designated custodial school that preserves its student academic records now. You can find a list of custodial schools in your state through a simple internet search (see what this page looks like for Oregon, our state). Keep in mind, if the college lost its accreditation before closing, that could affect your ability to transfer the credits you earned.

Some programs of study may have more selective time limits on prerequisite course credits. For instance, a nursing program may require that transferred prerequisites be completed within the past few years to ensure that students have up-to-date foundational knowledge and skills.

Do college credits expire if you don’t graduate?

It depends on the program. In most cases, the credits won’t expire, but they might not count toward major requirements in the same way they did when you attended the institution.

For example, if you completed half the requirements for a psychology major years ago, you may find that they won’t satisfy the same requirements later, as requirements for majors can change over the years and between institutions. In this case, these credits will usually transfer as elective credits.

How long do colleges keep transcripts?

Colleges keep transcripts for all time, as long as they are still in operation. If a college does close, the transcripts go to a custodial school.

Be sure to keep track of name changes and note any other names you may have had while attending college. You may be asked for proof of identity to receive credit for credits earned under a different name.

Can you transfer credits out of state?

Most schools will accept out-of-state credits, as long as they are from a regionally accredited institution, but it depends on the school.

Credits from international colleges are subject to external service reviews, which are conducted by a third-party organization. Through the evaluation process, credits are usually converted to U.S. semester credits. Generally, it is up to the student to cover the cost of the external service review, which can cost up to $500.

Can you transfer credits from a completed degree?

Yes, if you’ve completed a qualifying associate’s degree, those credits will generally transfer directly toward your bachelor’s degree.

Related: How to Go from an Associate's Degree to a Bachelor's Degree

Likewise, credits from a bachelor’s degree completed at a regionally accredited university usually count toward the general education and elective credit requirements for a second bachelor’s degree.

For example, if you are earning a postbaccalaureate bachelor’s degree, in many cases your first bachelor’s degree will meet the general education requirements and you’ll only need to complete the courses that are specific to your major.