Considerations before you transfer
Your best transfer path will depend on where you studied, what you’ve completed, your life experience, and which IU campus and academic program you plan to pursue. You may transfer individual courses or qualify for a more structured route.
Ways students transfer to IU
As you choose from one of IU’s nine campuses statewide and hundreds of degree programs, our admissions offices can help you navigate the process. Many campuses have scholarships available, especially for transfer students.
Explore the different ways students transfer into IU degree programs to find the option that best fits your situation:
Indiana College Core (ICC) is a state-defined block of general education coursework that forms a “core” of 30 credit hours. If you completed ICC at an eligible Indiana public institution, IU may apply those credits toward your degree based on university and campus policies.
If you’ve earned your ICC from any Indiana public two- or four-year institution, you are eligible to transfer a minimum of 30 credit hours toward your degree.
You may transfer after completing an associate degree or following a defined academic pathway that aligns with a related bachelor’s degree program at IU.
Availability depends on the institution you attended, the IU campus you choose, and your intended degree program.
You may also transfer successfully by having your previous coursework reviewed one course at a time.
In a course-by-course transfer review, IU looks at your completed coursework and determines whether credit can be awarded and how that credit may apply to your degree. Some courses may transfer directly into IU equivalents, while others may apply as electives or undistributed credit.
Course-by-course transfer may be the best fit if you:
- Attended more than one institution
- Changed majors
- Completed coursework outside a formal transfer pathway
- Are transferring from a four-year institution
- Are returning to college after time away
Start your degree at a partnering Ivy Tech campus and guarantee your admission into IU. Explore the requirements of our Guaranteed Admission Agreement, or GAA.
In Spring 2020, Indiana University partnered with Ivy Tech Community College to draft and sign a Guaranteed Admissions Agreement (GAA). Effective June 1, 2020, Ivy Tech Community College students who complete a specified associate degree, the Statewide Transfer General Education Core, and other stated eligibility requirements will be guaranteed admission into their baccalaureate program at IU in their area of study.
Under the GAA, students have the opportunity to:
- Reach general education and associate degree milestones prior to transferring to IU
- Satisfy academic requirements and initiate educational planning through the IU bachelor’s degree map
IU campuses with signed GAAs include:
Not all Ivy Tech associate degrees or IU degree pathways are available under the GAA. Additionally, as this agreement covers progress toward single bachelor's degree pathways at IU, students selecting to double major at IU should seek guidance from an IU advisor in their majors of interest as soon as possible to discuss program requirements. Select your IU campus below for more information on the guaranteed admission agreement provisions and current programs with guaranteed admission enrollment.
Some Ivy Tech students have access to structured transfer opportunities that support a smoother transition to IU.
Transfer Single Articulation Pathways (TSAP) allow you to transfer certain associate degrees as the first two years of instruction toward a companion bachelor’s degree.
Depending on the campus and program, these opportunities may include:
- Pathway-based transfer planning
- Associate degree alignment with bachelor’s study
- Selected guaranteed-admission arrangements for students who meet all requirements
Not all TSAPs may be offered at each campus. There are specializations within each of these TSAP programs that also vary depending on which campus you are attending.
If you have completed a TSAP associate degree from an Indiana two-year college (Ivy Tech or Vincennes), you are eligible to continue in the companion TSAP bachelor's degree program. While you are not required to do so, the TSAP program guarantees that you can finish your degree ON TIME within two years of full-time study.
We invite you to explore these pathways, view the recommended course sequences, and work closely with your advisor to plan your educational future.
Some of IU's campuses and programs have direct articulation agreements with other institutions—and not just within Indiana!
Temporary intercampus transfer is when you are enrolled in an IU degree program and transfer to another IU campus for one semester as a visiting student, before returning to your home campus. Students should work closely with their assigned IU advisor at their home campus to determine which coursework will be degree applicable to their home campus degree. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Complete your temporary intercampus transfer application
Permanent intercampus transfer is when you are enrolled in an IU degree program and transfer to a different IU campus to finish your degree. If you are looking to complete a permanent intercampus transfer, contact the campus you wish to transfer to for more information on transfer requirements, deadlines, and any other special procedures. All intercampus transfer students should apply early.
Application information by campus:
Each IU campus has an International Office that can provide you with support in transferring to your campus of interest.
In addition to support during the admissions process, your IU campus International Office can help you with housing, student visas, and employment.
Whether you are looking to increase your earning potential or gain the sense of accomplishment a degree can provide, IU admissions officers can help support you through the process of returning to college.
Explore options to return to school at IU by following the link for your campus of choice:
Transfer opportunities by campus
See campus-specific transfer routes, guaranteed admission agreements, and partner programs.