Transfers
Academic transfer in Washington State
Colleges in Washington State have degrees and agreements to make transfer easier for students. Schools offer a variety of pathways for students who wish to transfer from one school to another. Students can transfer from a:
- Community or technical college to a four-year college or university.
- Four-year college or university to a community or technical college.
- Four-year college or university to another four-year college or university.
- Community or technical college to another community or technical college.
In addition to state-level agreements, schools may have more requirements. Students who want to transfer from one school to another should:
- Talk to academic advisors at both schools.
- Make sure they understand their rights and responsibilities.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is the state’s transfer liaison. The agency is a single statewide point of contact for transfer issues. WSAC also stores and maintains transfer agreements. Any changes to these agreements must go through this process.
Transfer policy
Transfer Rules and Partnerships:
State statutes direct transfer opportunities and requirements. Schools follow an umbrella policy adopted in 1986 and the policies and practices outlined in the Intercollege Relations Commission handbook. The following organizations work together to maintain and carry out transfer policy:
- Council of Presidents (COP)
- State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)
- Independent Colleges of Washington
- Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)
Reporting
In January of each odd-numbered year, WSAC updates the Washington State Legislature on transfer. The update is a report on transfer associate degrees. WSAC sent the most recent report in 2023. Visit the reports page for older reports.
Transfer student concerns
Transfer rights and responsibilities:
Students and schools have transfer rights and responsibilities. Washington State’s public and private colleges and universities recognize these rights and responsibilities.
Schools have processes to resolve issues with academic transfer. Students with transfer issues should work with their schools first. If the issue persists, students can send a complaint form to the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
Transfer and financial aid
Transfer and financial aid
Transfer students can apply for a variety of financial aid programs. These include grants, scholarships, loans, and work study. Students should apply for financial aid as early as possible.
Limits on length of study
Many types of financial aid limit the length of time students can receive aid. Federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs have different limits. Students usually can only receive financial aid for 125 or 150 percent of the program length. Federal loans also have a max loan limit per person.
Satisfactory academic progress
Students must also maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility. SAP is a measurement of academic performance that uses GPA and completed credits. Specific standards may vary by institution. All prior college coursework, including transfer coursework, will be evaluated for SAP.
Next steps
Requirements vary by school, so students should contact the school they want to transfer to. The school can answer questions about how credits will transfer and affect financial aid.
Learn more about Washington's state financial aid programs.
Transfer associate degrees
Public community and technical colleges offer transfer associate degrees that make it easier for students to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. These are the kinds of transfer associate degrees:
- Direct Transfer Agreement Associate Degree
- Associate in Science – Transfer Degree
- Major Related Programs
These degrees allow students to meet all or most lower division general education requirements before they transfer. Depending on the degree, they may also meet some lower division requirements for their major.
Once admitted to a bachelor’s degree program, students who complete these transfer degrees can generally expect:
- 90 transferrable quarter credits.
- Junior class standing.
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has more information about the kinds of degrees and certificates offered at Washington’s public community and technical colleges.
Direct Transfer Agreement Associate Degree
Direct Transfer Agreement Associate Degree
Transfer option to four-year institutions:
The DTA degree transfers to all public four-year schools and to many independent colleges in Washington. It includes lower division general education courses required by most schools.
In addition to the state-level agreements, schools may have more requirements. Students who want to transfer should talk to academic advisors at both schools.
- Guidelines
- Individual campus requirements are found in the Intercollege Relations Commission handbook.
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges website. Northwest Indian College also offers the DTA.
Associate in Science - Transfer Degree
Associate in Science - Transfer Degree
A science or engineering transfer degree:
The AS-T is for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science. Before students transfer, they take lower division major classes and some general education classes. After they transfer, students finish the rest of their general education requirements and upper division major classes. All public four-year schools and many independent colleges accept the AS-T.
There are two AS-T options:
- Track 1 agreement for biological sciences, environmental/resource sciences, chemistry, geology, and earth science.
- Track 2 agreement for engineering, computer science, physics, and atmospheric sciences.
In addition to the state-level agreements, schools may have more requirements. Students who want to transfer should talk to academic advisors at both schools.
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website. Northwest Indian College also offers the AS-T Track 1.
Major Related Programs (MRPs)
MRPs prepare students for bachelor's degrees in specific majors. Each MRP is a course plan based on the DTA or AS-T degree, and each has a different set of participating schools. Four-year schools that sign an MRP are agreeing that the MRP prepares students for that major at their school. Schools that don't sign the MRP agreement will treat an MRP as a basic DTA or AS-T degree.
In addition to the state-level agreements, schools may have more requirements. Students who want to transfer should talk to academic advisors at both schools.
Biology (DTA/MRP)
Biology Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Business (DTA/MRP)
Business Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Computer science (DTA/MRP)
Computer Science Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Construction management (DTA/MRP)
Construction Management Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Engineering (AS-T 2/MRP)
Engineering Direct Transfer
Bioengineering and chemical engineering
Computer and electrical engineering
Civic and mechanical engineering
Materials science and manufacturing engineering
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Math education (DTA/MRP)
Math Education Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Music (DTA/MRP)
Music Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Nursing (DTA/MRP)
Nursing - RN-BSN Pathway
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Practical Nursing/ADN
Practical Nursing Program to Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
Practical Nursing/BSN
Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN)
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
Pre-Nursing (DTA/MRP)
Pre-Nursing Direct Transfer
- Agreement
- List of schools accepting this degree
- Find the list of schools offering this degree on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' website.
Other transfer options
The best way to transfer between colleges is with a transfer associate degree. Schools have processes to support students with these degrees. But there are other ways for students to transfer in Washington State.
Technical or applied science degree
Technical or applied science degree
There are two kinds of technical or applied science degrees:
Depending on the degree, students can transfer some or all credits to a four-year school. Students who want to transfer should talk to academic advisors at both schools.
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
The AAS is for students who want to start a career right after graduation. These degrees include accounting, culinary arts, or automotive technology. Some credits may transfer to a four-year school depending on the type of credits earned. Depending on the school and degree, some four-year schools may accept the entire AAS.
Associate in Applied Science – Transfer Degree (AAS-T)
The AAS-T is also for students who want to start a career right after graduation. But this degree can also transfer to some pre-approved bachelor’s degree programs. It includes at least 20 general education credits that can transfer. Find more information about AAS-T degrees on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ website.
Transferring without a degree
Transferring without a degree
Many students transfer to another college before they finish their associate degree. In these cases, schools transfer credits on a course-by-course basis. There are two ways schools can support students who transfer without a degree.
Reverse transfer
Reverse transfer degrees let students transfer credits from a four-year school toward an associate degree at a community or technical college. Students should talk to advisors at both schools to find out if they qualify. All four-year schools, Western Governors University - Washington, and Washington's community and technical colleges participate in reverse transfer. Find more information on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges website.
Washington 45
Washington 45 is a list of general education courses. Both community and technical colleges as well as public four-year schools offer these courses. And most four-year schools accept that these courses meet a year's worth of general education requirements. The largest number of credits that can transfer is 45.