In order to transfer credits from another institution to Penn State, students must arrange for an
official transcript to be sent from the institution at which the course or courses were taken to the
Undergraduate Admissions Office, 201 Shields Building,
University Park, PA 16802. The Undergraduate Admissions Office evaluates the credits and adds those that are
transferable to the student's Penn State transcript.
The grades earned for courses taken at any other institution do not appear on a Penn State
transcript. Only the credits for transferable courses in which a minimum grade of "C" was earned will transfer
to Penn State. Transfer credits, therefore, are not used in the determination of a student's grade point average.
Transfer credits appear on a Penn State transcript either as general (GEN) credits or as a
Penn State course name and number. The manner in which transfer credits for a course appear depends on the
similarity of the course to a Penn State course. It may be necessary to submit a petition requesting to
use general transfer credits (GEN) to meet degree requirements.
Students planning to take courses at institutions other than Penn State should determine
if and how the credits for the course or courses will transfer. Students may submit a Transfer Evaluation Form
(available at all locations and in the Engineering Advising Center at University Park) to the Undergraduate
Admissions Office at University Park or to their local admissions office indicating the institution and
course(s) they wish to take. The Undergraduate Admissions Office will respond with a determination of how
the course(s) will transfer to Penn State.
For transfer credits to be used to meet graduation requirements, the transcript must reach
Penn State in time for the credits to be entered on the student's Penn State transcript by the deadline for
graduation. The issuance of a diploma will be delayed by a semester if the transfer of credits is not complete
prior to the deadline for final certification for graduation. Students are held responsible for ensuring
that transfer credits reach Penn State in time if they are to be used to meet graduation requirements.
Only official transcripts from other institutions are acceptable for verification of courses taken and
grades earned there.