Transferring to GCU

Credits You’ve Already Earned Can Stay With You

Welcome to the College Transfer Center, a hub for students transferring to GCU. Whether you attended a community college or a university, we are here to assist you in evaluating and anticipating your transfer opportunities and needs.

Get a Personalized Transfer Plan in 3 Steps

We understand that transferring colleges can be a tricky process. To help you get started, follow the three steps below for your own personalized transfer plan to GCU. Visit our Admission Requirements page for further information and resources on admission into GCU.

First, it is important to determine how many credits will join you on your new educational journey. We’ve made this process easy through our Lopes Unofficial Credit Evaluation tool. Just plug in your previous college courses and the tool displays how many units qualify as transfer credits toward your chosen degree program at GCU. This no-cost service is a convenient way to evaluate your progress toward the 120 semester credits required for a bachelor’s degree.

Start Lopes Evaluation

Submitting your transcripts is the next step in the application process. Our Transfer Course Search tool allows you to enter your college transcripts and find out how many credits will count toward your degree at GCU.

All credits evaluated must meet the requirements of the degree and satisfy specific course requirements in order to be transferred toward the degree program.

As you make your transition to GCU, our transfer specialists will review all your information, provide answers to your questions and walk you through every stage of the application process.

Get More Information

Why Transfer to GCU

GCU is a transfer-friendly university with ten colleges and over 335 academic program offerings as of September 2023. As a private university, GCU's in-state and out-of-state tuition are the same per our commitment to delivering an affordable and transformative higher education to all students.

As a transfer student, we invite you to explore our scholarship and military programs that may provide additional assistance as you pursue your academic goals at GCU.

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Exclusive Transfer Scholarships

GCU offers generous scholarship opportunities for transfer students, including grants for priority registration and honors students. Find out which scholarships you may qualify for.

Military Credit Transfer Opportunities

GCU is proud to offer servicemen, servicewomen and veterans the option to transfer up to 30 college credits from military training and experience. Learn more about how you can pursue your degree from a military-friendly university.

Discover GCU

As a transfer student, we invite you to Discover GCU, where you can visit our campus and learn everything about GCU firsthand. Experience our supportive community, vibrant student life and quality academics.

Other Resources From GCU To Make Transferring Easier

We encourage you to use our complimentary transfer credit services and visit our beautiful campus in Phoenix so you can make the best decision for the next step in your education.

Transfer Course Search Tool

Input classes you’ve already taken to see if credits earned from previous schools and courses might transfer to GCU.

Community College Degree Transfer

Get an estimated degree plan that shows how your two-year community college degree would apply toward a bachelor’s degree at GCU.

Transferring College Credits

Learn more about GCU's transfer credit policies and how we provide personalized support as you explore your degree offerings.

Transfer by College

GCU has Articulation Agreements with a wide variety of academic institutions to make sure you get the most from your college transfer.

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GCU’s Progressive Transfer Policy

The university employs a bulk transfer process for the transfer of doctoral credits from the same type of degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, etc.) and the same type of content (e.g., Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, etc.). Learn more about how your credits may transfer with GCU’s progressive transfer policy.

View Policy Handbook

FAQs for Transfer Students

Still on the fence? Get answers to commonly asked questions by many transfer students. For further questions, complete the form on this page to connect with a transfer specialist.

students in classroom

Technically, no. Although transfer credits never expire, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind that may affect which units will transfer and which won’t. As always, contact a GCU transfer specialist for further clarity on this subject.

  1. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses usually have a 10-year shelf-life. Advances in these fields tend to alter the methodologies and practices used within them.
  2. Graduate courses have a seven-year shelf-life.
  3. Previous life experience might be relevant. If you’ve worked in the field or industry of your degree path, you could possibly earn credit for that experience. GCU’s Lifelong Learning Assessment (LLA) allows qualified students to earn credits based on past work and life experiences. 
  4. Transfer credits must be from accredited universities. GCU generally accepts courses from accredited, GCU-approved colleges, universities or programs, provided the work is not of a highly specialized nature and a grade of “C” or better is earned.

Ultimately, the Office of Academic Records uses an official transfer credit evaluation to analyze all prior college or university coursework and determine how each course completed at each previous school will transfer into the university in the program of study. Based on that evaluation, some credits not applicable to the program may not transfer.

Transferring colleges doesn’t have to be stressful. Our Lopes Unofficial Credit Evaluation tool and Transfer Course Search tool make transferring hassle free. GCU’s team of transfer specialists are also here to support you during your transition.

A student must earn 120 semester credits to be awarded a bachelor’s degree from GCU. Of the 120 credits, 36 must come from upper-division coursework. Additionally, students must meet the program graduation requirements of their degree, including the coursework and any capstone projects.

Contact your previous university or community college’s registrar office to request official and unofficial transcripts. Typically, institutions also provide tools to order transcripts online.

Students can transfer in with any number of credits, not exceeding 90. Take advantage of GCU’s complimentary transfer credit tools and speak with a transfer specialist to determine the maximum number of eligible transfer credits for your degree program.

GCU offers the option to transfer in for the fall or spring semester. Complete the form on this page to get started!

As a military member, you may be able to transfer up to 60 credits from military training — up to 30 military credits (applies to certain programs), plus 30 alternative transfer credits — in addition to approved certificates and national exams. Contact a military university counselor who can help you determine how to transfer military training to college credits.

1 Niche.com. (2023, September). Grand Canyon University Rankings. Retrieved on April 6, 2024.

2 NWS Forecast Office Phoenix, AZ. (n.d.). 2023 Year In Review. National Weather Service. Retrieved on Jan. 4, 2024.