Transfer credits from other institutions (or other programs within Northeastern University) will only be accepted at the discretion of the student’s destination academic unit and the associated college with the following constraints:

  • For graduate certificate programs, a maximum of 3 semester hours of credit earned at another institution may be accepted toward the credential being pursued at Northeastern, provided the credits meet the above-listed standards.
  • For master’s degree programs, a maximum of 30% of the credits required for the degree that are earned at another institution may be accepted toward the degree being pursued at Northeastern, provided the credits:
  • Consist of work taken at the graduate level for graduate credit
  • Carry grades of 3.000 or better
  • Have been earned at an accredited institution
  • Have not been used toward any baccalaureate or advanced degree or certificate at another institution
    • Advanced standing is based on criteria established by the offering school or college and implemented in coordination with the Office of the University Registrar. When applied, advanced standing reduces the total credits required to complete the primary program.
    • The combination of advanced standing and transfer credit shall not exceed 30% of the credits required for the degree. Credit for prior experiential or non-collegiate-sponsored learning is limited to 25% of the degree credits required for the degree.
    • Transfer credit may not be applied to graduate degrees that are completed as part of a PlusOne program. 
  • For doctoral programs, a maximum of 30% of the total semester hours of required coursework may be granted upon the recommendation of the admitting college’s graduate committee.
    • For students pursuing the JD degree, a maximum of 34 semester hours required for the degree that are earned at another ABA-accredited institution, and which must be substantially equivalent to the first-year curriculum, may be accepted toward the degree being pursued at Northeastern.

Transfer credits must have been earned within five academic years of the date of matriculation in the Northeastern program to which they are to be applied.

Grades earned in courses to be applied as transfer credits are not counted as part of the overall grade-point average earned at Northeastern and are posted with a grade of T to the transcript.