Knowledgebase: Transfer credits

UW–Madison does grant advanced credit for the successful completion of some AP, IB, A-Level, and CLEP exams. Please note that AP and IB must be completed while in high school. CLEP exams must be completed before completing 16 semester hours of college credit. Learn more about how a score will be awarded credit at UW–Madison.

Yes. It is very important to work closely with your advisor(s) to make sure the courses you are taking at other schools will transfer to UW–Madison and fulfill the requirements you want to complete. You can also check Transferology to see how courses transfer.

If you are currently a UW–Madison Online student receiving financial aid and would like to take some courses at another school, you may be eligible to use a consortium agreement.

A consortium agreement is an agreement between two schools where your home school – UW–Madison – will provide financial aid while you temporarily take classes at another institution (host school).

Transfer credits can apply to your degree requirements depending on which major and/or degree you intend to complete. To learn more about degree and major requirements, consult the Guide or the appropriate undergraduate major. You will also work closely with your academic and career advisor to go over your program plan.

Congrats on finishing your associate degree! Which and how many of your credits transfer depends on a few factors.

If you have an associate degree from one of the colleges with whom we have a transfer agreement, your credits will transfer to your degree requirements as noted in the transfer agreement. Transferology is also a helpful resource to check how your courses transfer to UW–Madison.

This is great to hear! Take a look at our College Transfer Pathways page for more information about the current transfer agreement with your school. If you haven’t already, you may be asked to sign a Declaration of Intent to Transfer.

By signing this declaration, you confirm your plan to transfer to UW–Madison Online, per the terms and requirements in the transfer agreement. After you sign the Declaration of Intent, you will be connected with an advisor who will keep in touch while you finish your associate degree, letting you know when it’s time to apply to UW–Madison Online and guiding your application process.

The maximum number of transferable semester credits from a two-year college is approximately 72. There is no credit limit on transferable credits from a four-year university.

Any student who has completed at least 12 transferable college credits is considered a transfer student.

A transfer agreement is a contract between two universities/colleges that guarantees admission into a select program at the receiving university (i.e., university to which you plan to transfer), as long as students meet all requirements. Transferring through a transfer agreement can also maximize the number of credits you transfer into UW-Madison Online.

Upon admission to UW–Madison, courses you have taken at other colleges/universities for credit will be officially evaluated for transfer by our Credit Evaluation Services team. Learn more about the evaluation of transfer credits.