Admission of Transfer Students | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

If you have attended another college, university, or postsecondary institution you are required to submit an official transcript from each institution attended. All transcripts become the official property of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and will not be returned nor issued to another institution. Transcripts must be issued by the previously attended institution within the last thirty days. Transcripts are required from the following institutions:

1. An institution which is accredited or in candidacy status by one of the regional accrediting associations; or,
2. An institution which is not accredited by or in candidacy status with one of the regional accrediting associations but the credit from the institution is accepted by the reporting institution in that state; or,
3. An institution which is not accredited by or in candidacy status with one of the regional accrediting associations but is one recognized by ACCSCT, ACICS, ATMAE, AMA, ABET, or similar accrediting bodies recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation or the United States Office of Education. The student must have completed a two-year non-baccalaureate degree or equivalent terminal program with a C average before admission to SIU will be granted. Students admitted from such institutions should not expect to receive credit at Southern Illinois University Carbondale except in programs which accept occupational credit. No credit toward University Core Curriculum will be awarded from non-regionally accredited institutions.

Requirements for Admission of Transfer Students

1. Graduation from a recognized high school or satisfactory completion of the General Educational Development Test (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion; and,
2. An overall C average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) from all post-secondary institutions. If necessary, grade point average will be converted to a 4.0 scale and/or semester hours. Remedial (non-credit) course work is not used in calculating the admission grade point average. The grade point average as awarded by the prior institution will be accepted for Admission purposes. Where multiple institutions are involved, the transfer grade point average will be average and added to the system along with the awarded hours; or, 
3. Completion of an associate degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program of Arts or Science (A.A. or A.S.) from an accredited Illinois public two-year institution; completion of the CORE 42 or General Education Complete from an accredited Missouri public two-year institution participating in the CORE 42; completion of an A.A. or A.S. from a Kentucky Community and Technical College System institution or completion of an A.A. or A.S. from the Nashville State Community College. The student will: (a) be admitted to the University with junior standing if enrollment occurs after earning the associate degree and prior to coursework being attempted at another institution and (b) be considered to have completed the University Core Curriculum requirements for general graduation purposes; and,
4. Eligible to continue enrollment at the last post-secondary institution attended. Students who have been placed on scholastic probation or suspension from another college or university will be considered for admission by Undergraduate Admissions only if there is tangible evidence that additional education can be completed successfully. Tangible evidence might include: (1) an interruption of schooling for one or more years, (2) military experience, (3) work experience, and (4) previous academic performance.

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities must clear students suspended for any reason other than academic failure, before the Director of Admissions will grant admission. Transfer students with fewer than twelve transferable credit hours and at least 2.0/4.0 transfer GPA must submit the necessary credentials for freshman admission and will be reviewed holistically to determine potential admission.

Transfer students who have completed a minimum of one year of college level work can be considered for admission in advance of their matriculation. Students who are enrolled in a collegiate program for the first time and wish to transfer upon completion of the first term or first year, may do so if the student meets the University’s admission requirements for beginning freshmen. Admission granted to a student on partial or incomplete records is granted with the condition that the student will have an overall C average and be eligible to continue at the last school attended at the time of matriculation. Students whose final transcripts indicate a grade point average or scholastic standing less than that required for unconditional admission may have their admission and registration withdrawn or their scholastic standing changed. Transfer students admitted on the basis of incomplete transcripts must submit complete transcripts prior to being allowed to register for a second term at SIU.

Transfer students will be admitted directly to the academic unit in which their major field of study is offered if they qualify for that program. Students who are undecided about their major field of study will be admitted and advised by Exploratory Student Advisement or the selected unit with an undecided major.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit for students admitted to the University is evaluated for acceptance toward University Core Curriculum requirements by Articulation and Evaluation (a division of the Registrar’s Office). Credit from a regionally accredited institution, and those in candidacy status, or from an institution that has its credit accepted by the reporting institution in the state is evaluated at the time of admission. Courses, which are remedial, developmental or pre-college, will not be accepted for transfer. Articulation and Evaluation will determine the acceptance of credit and its applicability toward University Core Curriculum requirements. All credit accepted for transfer, which is not applied to University Core Curriculum requirements or to a specific degree program, will be considered general transfer credit (elective credit). Transfer courses to be considered toward specific program requirements will be authorized by the school directing the program. Information on articulation of individual schools is available at: articulation.siu.edu.

Credit for Military Experience

Students who have served one or more years of active duty and received an honorable or general discharge may receive two credit hours of health education credit which satisfies the UCC Human Health requirement. To receive credit, students must submit a copy of the DD 214 (copy 4) document to Articulation and Evaluation.

Credit will be accepted for DANTES subject standardized courses within the limits enforced for proficiency credit. No credit is allowed for college-level GED tests. In evaluating credit possibilities based on formal service-school training programs, the recommendations of the American Council on Education, as set forth in the US Government bulletin Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces are followed. To receive credit for military service, veterans must present a copy of DD214, a Joint Services (JST) Transcript, an AARTS transcript, a SMART transcript or transcript from the Community College of the Air Force to Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Articulation and Evaluation, Student Services Building, Mail Code 4725, 1263 Lincoln Drive, Room 0382, Carbondale, IL 62901. For information go to: articulation.siu.edu.

Submission of Transcripts

Transfer students who have taken college-level work at other institutions must have an official transcript of all work, from each college or university attended, forwarded to Articulation and Evaluation. All transcripts must be issued by the sending institution within the last thirty days. Failure to comply with this ruling, failure to indicate all institutions attended on the Application for Undergraduate Admission, or incorrect information regarding the status at other institutions can result in withdrawal of admission, dismissal, or denial of credit. Transfer students admitted on the basis of incomplete transcripts must submit complete transcripts prior to being allowed to register for a second term at SIU. A registration hold is used to manage policy compliance.

Completion of an associate in arts or associate in arts or associate in science degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program (A.A. or A.S.) in an accredited Illinois two-year public institution; completion of an A.A. from an accredited Missouri public two-year institution participating in the CORE 42 or General Education Complete; completion of an A.A. or A.S. from a Kentucky Community and Technical College System institution; or completion of an A.A. or A.S. from the Nashville State Community College provides that the student will: (a) be accepted with junior standing if enrollment occurs after earning the associate degree prior to coursework being attempted at another institution and (b) be considered to have completed the University Core Curriculum requirements for general graduation purposes. These benefits do not automatically apply to other associate degrees (e.g., A.A.S., A.E.S., A.G.S., A.F.A.). Associate degrees earned at out-of-state two-year institutions will be reviewed by Articulation and Evaluation. If the degree is determined to be baccalaureate-oriented and to have comparable content and credit hour criteria, the same benefits will be extended to those graduates. Transfer students may also satisfy the requirements of the University Core Curriculum by successful completion of the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). Credit from an accredited two-year institution is limited only by the provision that students must earn at least 42 credit hours of senior level (300-400) work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale or at any other approved four-year institution and must complete the residency requirements for a degree from the University.

Further information on the application of transfer work toward satisfying University Core Curriculum requirements may be found in the University Core Curriculum section.