Who is a Transfer Applicant?

An ESU Transfer applicant is a person who has successfully completed 12 or more college credits following high school graduation. Individuals who have successfully completed fewer than 12 credits following graduation from high school are considered as freshman in the application process. ESU welcomes more the 900 transfer students from two- and four-year institutions each year.  

When to Apply

Prospective transfers can apply starting July 2014 to be reviewed for the spring or fall 2015 semesters. Applications are only available online at www.esu.edu/apply.

Deadline for Applying

Application and Review Process

For an admission decision to be made the following must be submitted:

• A complete online application
• Application fee ($25) paid online
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, listing those courses in progress as well
• Official high school transcripts (required for all transfer students entering ESU without an associate or bachelor’s degree)

Please note the following: Students will receive a conditional decision until a final transcript is received to ensure the student meets all program and admission criteria. Fall applicants must submit final spring grades and spring applicants must submit final fall grades.

Notification of Admission

• Applicants will receive communication via the email address provided on the application throughout the admission process.
• Applicants should be sure to keep their address updated with ESU and check their inbox and spam folders often.
• Applicants can also check their status online at www.esu.edu/appstatus for real-time updates.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in September. A letter and email will be sent for any decision made.
• Applicants applying to our more competitive programs however, may not be notified until late November for spring and late April for fall. This process allows additional review time to determine the appropriate candidates for the limited seats in these programs.

Transfer Admission Criteria

A minimum of 12 college credits with a 2.0 or higher GPA is required for admission consideration.  

Applicants with fewer than 12 college credits are considered freshmen in the application process, and will be evaluated using a combination of official college GPA, high school record, and SAT/ACT scores for admission consideration.

Although a 2.0 GPA is required for general admission consideration, the following “Special Admission Programs” have higher admission criteria:

• Computer Science/Computer Security
• Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management
• Nursing
• Recreation Services Management
• Rehabilitative Services
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Sport Management
• Teacher Education Programs

More information can be found at www.esu/transfer under “Admission to Special Programs.”

A combined GPA is calculated for applicants who have attempted credits at multiple institutions. Applicants must maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of a 2.00 on the final official college transcript. Applicants not offered admission to a “Special Admission Program” will have an opportunity to choose another major.

Pennsylvania Transfer Articulation Center

The Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center (PA TRAC) was established to comply with Article XX-C of the Public Institution Code of 1949. As a public university, ESU participates in PA TRAC which allows for a seamless statewide transfer and articulation system between Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges, four state-related universities, and the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Transfer of courses and academic program articulation occurs in the following three ways:

• 30-Credit Transfer Framework is a complement of a minimum of 30 credits of foundation courses that can be easily transferred to any of the participating institutions. The Framework includes courses in English, Public Speaking, Mathematics, Natural Science, Humanities and the Behavioral and Social Sciences.
• Articulation Agreements from Community Colleges.  Please view our ESU website in order to see all agreements that are created.    
• Statewide Program-to-Program Articulation became effective for the fall 2012 semester and allows students who graduate with specified associate degrees to transfer as juniors into bachelor degree programs in similar fields of students at a participating four-year institution. At ESU, the following degree programs are part of the Statewide Program-to-Program agreements:
         
  • Biology
  • Business Management
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Early Childhood (PreK-4)
  • English
  • Environmental Science
  • Fine Arts: Art Emphasis
  • Geography
  • History
  • Mathematics
  • Physics  
  • Political Science 
  • Psychology      
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Theatre

For additional information on the PA TRAC, please visit www.esu.edu/transfer.

Academic Passport

Applicants holding the Academic Passport from Pennsylvania community colleges, Lackawanna College, or a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) university will transfer credit according to the Board of Governors Policy titled “The Academic Passport and Student Transfer Policy.” Further information may be obtained from the Office of Admission, or by visiting www.passhe.edu.

Transfer of Credit Without Academic Passport

Only credits for courses with grades “C” or better will be considered for transfer credit.

Students may transfer credit from institutions that have been accredited by:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Inc.
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
• Accrediting Commission of Senior Colleges and Universities
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation

ESU does not accept or deny credits exclusively based on the sending institution’s accreditation. Credits from institutions not accredited by the above agencies or non-accredited institutions will be reviewed by the Transfer Center staff, in the Student Enrollment Center and/or relevant ESU academic department for transfer credit. Students may be required to submit additional course information to assist in determining equivalencies.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

Accepted applicants will receive a Final Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) from the Transfer Center, in the Student Enrollment Center. The “TCE” will indicate coursework that is transferable to ESU and will also indicate the transfer equivalent at ESU. The Transfer Center, in the Student Enrollment Center will update the student's record and notify the applicant via the U.S. Postal Service. Transferable credits are officially added to a student’s ESU account upon receipt of the official final college transcript.

Please see the Graduation Residency Requirement in the Academic Regulations section of the catalog for information that may affect the maximum transferrable credits and completion of your ESU degree program.

How to Read the Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE)

1. Sending institution course(s) transfer as follows:
   1. If there is an exact matching ESU course, the title will reflect the ESU equivalent course.
   2. If there is no exact match, but the course transfers as an elective, the original course title will be retained.
   3. Course Code 199: General Education elective (no exact match), suitable for General Education requirement in specified ESU academic department.
   4. Course Code 299 and 399: Departmental elective (no exact match), ESU academic department decides how the course applies toward the major.
   5. Course Code ELEC 299: Course that does not fit either General Education or major requirements, credit will transfer as an elective.

Transfer Credit Appeal Process

Applicants may appeal transfer credit evaluations by contacting the Transfer Center staff in The Student Enrollment Center (SEC) in person or by email at cestransfer@esu.edu. The appeal process will encompass a re-evaluation of coursework by the SEC. Applicants who appeal an equivalency are asked to submit a course syllabus, which provides more detailed information than a catalog listing. Students not satisfied with the final transfer credit evaluation may appeal the decision to the chairperson of the academic department relevant to the course(s) in question. Full and final discretion rests with the academic departments.

Final Transfer of Credits

Transferable credits are officially added to a student’s East Stroudsburg University record upon receipt of the official final college transcript.