Transfer Students

Transferring Your Previously Earned Credit

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Your Creative Journey Carries Value Here

Bringing your hard-earned college, military, or exam credits to ArtU is a seamless process designed to honor your dedication and keep your momentum moving forward.

We will gladly evaluate unofficial transcripts and any other credit information you have available early in the admissions process, so you can project what credits we will accept.

This allows you to enter with a firm grasp on what is required to get your degree and start your career.

Maximize Your Achievements

Degree Completion: Up to 50% of your total required undergraduate units can be satisfied through a combination of traditional transfer credits, standardized test scores, and credit for prior learning.

Transfer Criteria: Coursework from accredited institutions is highly transferable if it aligns with our course content and is completed with a letter grade of “C” or higher.

  • A Fresh GPA Slate: Transferred credits apply directly toward your degree requirements but are not factored into your cumulative ArtU G.P.A.

Apply Now

Meeting Undergraduate Liberal Arts Requirements

Liberal Arts Program Requirements can be met in the following ways:

  • Waive requirements, determine course placement, or earn direct credit through external exams, internal testing (like Math and English), and specialized training.
  • Transfer in a comparable course from a previous post-secondary institution (grade of C or higher).
  • Take the Academy of Art University course and earn a passing grade.

Explore the options below to check your eligibility for test credit, course placement exams, credit for prior learning, military training, and block transfers.

*Note: All exam scores must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar for review.
*Note: Applicable to students with a Fall 2026 start date or later.

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  • Find out how to get transfer credit for AP, CLEP, IB, and British A-Level exams. View the minimum scores and grades required to earn your degree faster.

    View Test Credit Guide

  • Learn how your SAT or ACT scores determine your course placement for Mathematics and Written Communication at Academy of Art University.

    View Placement by Test

  • See how your score on the Quantitative Literacy Placement Exam maps to your math requirements for Architecture, Game Dev, Landscape, and Fashion majors.

    View Math Placement Exam

  • Academy of Art University offers dedicated visa and English language services, including specialized English as a Second Language instruction, to support prospective international students in achieving their academic goals.

    View English Placement Testing

  • Earn undergraduate credit for relevant military training, courses, and educational experiences evaluated using official registries and American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations.

    View Military Credits

  • Accelerate your bachelor’s degree with a 48-unit block transfer for completed associates degrees, plus options to transfer up to 12 additional units through portfolio and transcript reviews.

    View Block Transfer Guide

  • Prior learning credit recognizes what you’ve already mastered: skills earned through work, training, or professional practice outside the classroom.

    View Credit for Prior Learning

  • Review Academy of Art University’s Transfer Policies, including: Transfer Submission Deadline, Placement & Portfolio Reviews, Undergraduate Residency Requirement, Acceptance of Test for Credit, and Placement by Test.

    View Transfer Policies

Graduate Degrees

A maximum of 9 transfer units from another graduate program may be transferred towards degree requirements.

California Community College Transfer Guides

Discover how to prepare for transferring to Academy of Art University with our comprehensive Transfer Guides. Get ready for your future as a student at our renowned institution.

View Transfer Guides

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