Transferring Credits

Undergraduate students must be accepted into a specific degree and concentration for transfer credit to be evaluated. The following general criteria will guide the evaluation process.

General Criteria for Course Credits

• Course credits must be earned at a regionally or nationally accredited degree-granting institution of higher learning.
• For courses not included as part of an earned associate degree, only grades of C (2.0) or better are considered, and such courses must meet program distribution requirements.
• Professional development courses (PD) and continuing education units (CEU) are not eligible for transfer.
• Associate degrees from regionally or nationally accredited institutions are accepted at 60-69 semester hours, including only the courses required for the degree.
• A maximum of 90 semester hours from a regionally or nationally accredited degree-granting institution of higher learning may be accepted, provided the coursework meets Cambridge College degree/program distribution requirements.
• Students must complete at least one-fourth of their undergraduate credits (30 semester hours), including substantial advanced work in the major or concentration, at Cambridge College.

Standardized Examination Credits 

• Credits earned through standardized examinations (DANTES, DSST, CLEP and AP) may be accepted and will be recorded as transfer credits.
• Credits earned through school-specific testing are not eligible for transfer.
• Credits earned through standardized exams may replace major requirements only at the discretion of the program chair or academic dean.
• Students already matriculated into a Cambridge College program must consult their academic advisor for written approval before taking standardized exams. Without prior approval, acceptance of credits is not guaranteed.

ACE Evaluated Transcript Credits

Credits recognized through the American Council on Education (ACE) evaluated transcripts will be accepted at their full credit value as follows:

• Up to 60 lower-level credits may be accepted, provided the coursework meets Cambridge College's general education or elective distribution requirements.
• An additional 30 upper-level credits may be accepted, provided the coursework meets Cambridge College degree/program distribution requirements.
• No “V” or vocational credits will be accepted for college transfer credits.

Additional Guidelines 

• Prior written approval by the school's academic dean is required before taking courses at other institutions.
• ACE evaluated and standardized exam credits may not duplicate a course at Cambridge College or another institution.
• Electronic transcripts will be accepted from military branches that only provide electronic transcripts.

Graduate students must be accepted into a specific degree and concentration for transfer credit to be accepted.

General Criteria for Course Credits

All courses must meet the following criteria:

• Only graduate courses designed for graduate degree credit may be accepted.
• Courses completed at regionally accredited institutions authorized to grant graduate/post-graduate degrees may be accepted.
• Only grades of B (3.0) or better are considered.
• Other grades must be confirmed as equivalent to B or better.
• Courses must be degree credit-bearing graduate courses that are not professional development or continuing education unit courses.
• Courses must meet current program requirements.

School of Education & Counseling: CAGS and EdD

CAGS and EdD transfer courses must be at the advanced graduate level; courses open to undergraduate students are not accepted.

Courses NOT Acceptable for Credit

Courses not acceptable for master’s, CAGS or doctoral transfer credit:

• Coursework taken at other institutions after enrollment in a Cambridge College graduate degree program or during an absence from that program
• Field experiences, practica and internships
• Independent learning, research and applied action projects (final projects cannot be replaced by transfer credit)
• Professional development courses, including school collaborative courses and other courses taken for continuing education units
• Courses/credits included in another degree (anticipated or completed)

Licensure Course Transfer

To safeguard your licensure application, a course is accepted for transfer into a licensure program only if:

• The content matches a corresponding Cambridge College required course, meeting the high standards of our programs and
• It is judged to match the requirements and expectations of the licensing authorities.

Counseling Licensure Courses: Final approval of other institutions’ coursework for your licensure application is solely within the discretion of the licensing authorities; please seek their advice.

Educator Licensure Programs: All credit transfer into educator licensure programs is defined by the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) as a “waiver.” Records of all waivers are kept in student files, and are subject to audit at any time by the ESE. These records will be required when you apply for licensure.

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Nine credits may be accepted from an approved master of education program and 12 credits from an approved CAGS program, a total of 21 credits.

Graduate Transfer Credit Limits