Transfer students
Bring your credits to MVU.
You’ve already put in the work. Find out how your college credits count toward a Missouri Valley University degree, what to send, and how to get started.
Transfer at a glance
The short version.
- Automatic admission with 27 transferable hours and a 2.3 cumulative GPA.
- Gen ed done with an Associate of Arts degree or Missouri’s CORE 42.
- Grades of D or higher from institutionally accredited schools can transfer.
- Finish at MVU. Your last 30 credit hours are taken here.
Admission
Will I be admitted?
Admission depends on how many transferable hours you have and your GPA across all the colleges you’ve attended.
27 or more transferable hours
You’re admitted automatically with a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher. With more than 27 transferable hours, you don’t need a high school transcript or ACT/SAT scores.
Fewer than 27 transferable hours
Send your high school transcript (or HSE/GED results) along with your college transcripts. Admissions reviews your full record and will tell you if test scores are needed.
Below a 2.3 GPA?
You may still be admitted. Admissions reviews every record individually and may admit you with conditions, such as a lighter course load or academic support.
Transfer credit
How your credits count.
Here are the highlights of MVU’s transfer credit policy. The catalog has the official details.
What transfers
- Bachelor’s-level courses from institutionally accredited colleges and universities, with a grade of D or higher.
- College courses you took for dual credit in high school, with a D or higher.
- Credit from other accredited schools, reviewed case by case with faculty and deans.
- Up to 12 credit hours of physical education activity courses.
Your general education core
- An Associate of Arts degree from an institutionally accredited school completes MVU’s general education core.
- Completing Missouri’s CORE 42 also completes the core.
- Already have a bachelor’s degree? Your core is considered complete.
Finishing your degree
- A bachelor’s degree takes 120 credit hours. Your last 30 are completed at MVU.
- At least 12 hours of your major are taken at MVU.
- Major courses need a C or higher, even if a D transferred as credit.
- Transfer grades don’t count in your MVU GPA.
Credit for what you already know
Beyond college transcripts, you may earn credit through AP, CLEP, DSST, or IB exams; ACE-recommended military training; approved certifications; and challenge exams or portfolios. Up to 30 credit hours of prior learning can count toward a bachelor’s degree. You request it after you’re admitted and enrolled.
Read the prior learning policy → · Military and VA benefits →
How to transfer
Four steps to MVU.
Questions along the way? Admissions is here to help at 660-831-4114.
02
Send your transcripts
Have official transcripts sent from every college you’ve attended. A copy of your previous school’s catalog helps us evaluate your credits. Fewer than 27 hours? Send your high school transcript too.
03
Plan how you’ll pay
File the FAFSA and explore scholarships, including awards for transfer students.
04
Register for classes
Once you’re admitted, work with your academic advisor to choose courses for your first term.
Paying for school
Make your transfer affordable.
Financial aid follows you to MVU. Here’s where to start.
Transfer scholarships
See which MVU scholarships are open to you as a transfer student. The Office of Financial Aid can help you find the right fit.
Apply for aid
File the FAFSA and list MVU. If you borrow federal loans, you’ll complete entrance counseling as a new MVU student, even if you did it elsewhere.
Know your costs
See tuition, fees, and housing so you can plan your budget with confidence.
More transfer paths
Find the path that fits you.
Requirements differ a little depending on where you’re coming from and what you want to study.
International transfer
Transferring from a school outside the U.S., or on an F-1 visa? You’ll also need English proficiency and an I-20 transfer.
Graduate transfer credit
Master’s students can transfer up to 6 graduate credit hours with a grade of B or higher.
Finish your degree online
Working adult? Complete your degree online with 7.5-week courses and multiple start dates.
Returning to MVU
Took time away from MVU? Returning students follow a separate re-admission process.
Visiting students
Enrolled somewhere else and just need a course or two? Take classes at MVU as a visiting student.
Questions
Common transfer questions.
Quick answers to what transfer students ask most.
Will a D grade transfer?
Yes. Courses with a grade of D or higher from institutionally accredited schools can transfer. Keep in mind that courses in your major need a C or higher.
Do my transfer grades affect my MVU GPA?
No. Only courses you take at MVU count in your MVU GPA, unless you repeat a course you previously took at MVU.
I have an Associate of Arts degree. What does that mean for me?
An AA from an institutionally accredited school completes MVU’s general education core, so you can focus on your major. Completing Missouri’s CORE 42 does the same.
My school isn’t on MVU’s list of accreditors. Can my credits still transfer?
Possibly. Credit from other accredited schools is reviewed case by case, and faculty and school deans make the final decision.
How many credits can I transfer?
A bachelor’s degree takes 120 credit hours, and your last 30 are completed at MVU. That means up to 90 hours can come from transfer and other credit, as long as you meet all core, major, and degree requirements.
Can I take a summer class somewhere else after I enroll?
Yes. Current MVU students can transfer in courses from other colleges with a grade of D or higher. Check with your advisor first to make sure the course fits your plan.
I already have a bachelor’s degree. Can I earn another at MVU?
Yes. Your general education core is considered complete. You’ll take at least 12 upper-division hours in your new major at MVU and meet the 30-hour residency requirement.
Ready to keep going?
Apply today, or talk with Admissions about how your credits fit.