Transfer credit for current Cornell students

Once you are a Cornell student, there are two ways to apply outside college credit to your Cornell record in addition to our in-person block courses:

1. Courses from Acadeum College Consortium institutions

Cornell's partnership with Acadeum College Consortium allows you to take pre-approved online courses from other accredited institutions that count as Cornell credit.

• Learn more about Acadeum Consortial Courses.
• As a Cornell student, you already have an account with the Acadeum platform.
• No need to register as a student through a different college or university to take their courses.
• You pay Cornell, not the teaching institution.

2. Courses from non-consortium institutions

Take a course through an accredited college or university that is not a part of the Acadeum College Consortium. To take these courses you must:

• Get advance approval for the course by completing a Transfer Credit Petition. This will determine whether the course will be accepted as a transfer course and how it will transfer (elective, Cornell course equivalent, etc.)
• Apply and enroll at the college or university as a non-degree seeking (or transient/guest) student.
• Set up payment directly with the college or university (not through Cornell).
• When you've complete the course, have your official academic transcript sent directly to the Cornell College Registrar.
• Remember that you must earn a C- or above for Cornell to accept any transfer credit. The grade will not show up on your transcript (only the credit) and will not affect. your Cornell GPA.

Common transfer credit questions

How do I know if a course will transfer to Cornell?

Before you register for a course at another institution, be sure to file a Transfer Credit Petition for each course you plan to transfer. Generally speaking, the college will accept liberal arts courses equivalent or similar to those offered by Cornell, provided that they are completed through accredited colleges and universities; don’t represent a repetition of coursework you’ve already received credit for; and are passed with a grade of C or higher.

Additionally, Cornell students can access a list of pre-approved transfer courses on Acadeum College Consortium. These consortial courses have been pre-approved by Cornell College for students to request registration. Please see the Acadeum Consortial Courses page for more details.

How do I determine the amount of Cornell course credit I will receive?

One Cornell credit is equivalent to four semester hours. Therefore, you should divide the number of semester hours by four, and quarter hours by six. For example, a course carrying three semester hours would transfer to Cornell as 0.75 course credits. Results not divisible by .25 are rounded down (e.g. four quarter hours = .50 Cornell credits).

What do you mean by "liberal arts" courses?

You should be looking for broad-based courses in the humanities, fine arts, natural or social sciences similar to those offered by Cornell. Overly specialized or technical courses, or those in disciplines beyond Cornell’s curriculum, should be avoided. A course in nursing or farm machinery may be valuable to you as you prepare for medical school or a career in agriculture, but it will likely not be accepted as part of your Cornell degree.

How will transfer credit affect my GPA?

Courses taken through the Acadeum Consortium are computed into your GPA.

For courses taken through colleges or universities that are not a part of Acadeum, the grade is not calculated in your Cornell GPA and is not displayed on your transcript, but you must earn a C- or higher for the course to transfer to Cornell.

What about Pass/Fail, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, or Credit/No Credit grades?

Unless the host institution specifically defines a Passing, Satisfactory, or Credit grade as C- or higher, the course will not transfer.

What if I forgot to submit the transfer credit petition before completing the course?

It is highly encouraged to submit the form before registering for a course. If you do not, we cannot guarantee that the credit will transfer.

What about a college course I took while in high school before coming to Cornell?

You should arrange to have an official copy of this transcript sent directly to the Registrar from the previous institution. We will evaluate the course and add it to your Cornell transcript if it is accepted as a transfer credit. This must be done before the end of your first year at Cornell.

Is there a limit to the total number of transfer credits I can apply to my degree?

• A maximum of 16 Cornell course credits (64 semester or 96 quarter hours) will be accepted in transfer from a junior or community college.
• If you entered the college as a transfer student and have completed fewer than 16 term credits at Cornell, you must complete your final eight credits via Cornell or Acadeum courses and may not transfer credit back to complete your degree.

Who determines if a transfer course will fulfill a requirement in my major?

Your major department will determine this. This will be specified when you complete your petition for transfer of credit. For Acadeum courses, those listed as equivalent to specific Cornell courses can be used to fulfill a requirement for a major or minor.

What about a general education requirement for the B.A., B. Mus, B.S.E., or B.S.S.?

The relevant Cornell department makes this decision. You will specify this when completing the petition for transfer of credit. Please note that in order to satisfy a general education requirement, a transfer course must carry at least three semester or four quarter hours of credit.

Can I take a course through another school during the academic year, concurrent with my courses at Cornell?

Juniors or Seniors with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 may take a maximum of two courses through another school during the academic year concurrent with your Blocks 1-8 courses at Cornell. A maximum of two online Acadeum or transfer courses taken during the academic year may count toward the total 31 credits for graduation. Students are not permitted to more than one credit of Acadeum courses in a single semester.

Can I repeat a course I’ve already completed at Cornell through another school?

If you received a grade of F or W or WH for the course at Cornell, you may repeat it for credit. Taking Acadeum Consortial Courses that are mapped as equivalent to the specific Cornell course will follow the Cornell Repeated Course policy (the original grade will no longer count in the GPA). Taking courses as transfer courses will not change your GPA or remove the original grade from your Cornell transcript. If you’ve passed the course (or an equivalent course) at Cornell, you will not receive additional credit for taking it again.

Can I complete my Cornell degree by transferring credits from another institution?

Yes, up to a maximum of two course credits, provided that your petitions are approved. Transfer students with fewer than 16 terms credits at Cornell and students with an AA or AS degree may not complete their degree in this way.