Transfer with CUNY
No matter where you are along your journey, we’ll help you plan your next big step.
Transfer in Three Easy Steps
For more info on the steps to transfer, click here.
Step 1: Explore your Options
Change can be a good thing. If you’re thinking of making a move, CUNY has transfer friendly policies and a great selection of academic programs to help you meet your goals.
Step 2: Apply
Ready to Apply? The CUNY Application allows you to select up to 4 college choices as a transfer student. Visit our How to Apply page for guidance on submitting your application, sending documents, and checking the status of your application.
Step 3: Enroll
Once you receive decisions from each of the colleges to which you’ve applied, you can accept your offer in the Student Center of CUNYfirst. You’ll also be able to see your Transfer Credit Evaluation in CUNYfirst. Make sure to check how your credits transferred – general education requirements, major requirements or electives.
Transfer to CUNY With Ease
It’s never been a better time to transfer to CUNY, and the process is smoother than ever.
Thousands of students transfer to CUNY every year for a variety of reasons:
Easy Process
Transfer to CUNY in just a few steps, and receive a decision quickly.
Value
A CUNY degree is the most affordable high-quality degree in NYC.
Opportunity
Launch your career with access to NYC’s internships & jobs.
Inclusion
Our extremely diverse student body welcomes all backgrounds.
Jillian Quinn
Pace University to CUNY
“Transferring to CUNY was easier than I thought, and I got help along the way.”
Emily Springer
Smith College to CUNY
“Transferring to CUNY helped me develop as a student, and as a person.”
Yulen Senosiain
Rutgers University to CUNY
“New York City is the epicenter of everything and I wanted to be closer to home.”
Aziz Sharipov
Michigan State to CUNY
“My CUNY professors felt more relatable while helping me with my goals.”
Affordable Education
CUNY degrees expand your mind without emptying your pocket.
Our financial aid enables 75% of our students to graduate debt-free.
NEW YORK STATE RESIDENT
Four-Year Colleges
$6,930 per year
Two-Year Colleges
$4,800 per year
OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENT
Four-Year Colleges
$18,600 per year
Two-Year Colleges
$9,600 per year
Study at 25 colleges
across New York City
5 Boroughs
12 Four-Year Colleges
7 Community Colleges
6 Graduate & Professional Schools
Online Programs Available
Tips for Transferring
Track Your Financial Aid
Financial aid is available only for a limited number of semesters – federal Pell grants for 12 semesters and NY State TAP grants for eight. It’s important to carefully plan your courses to ensure you do not run out of aid before graduating!
Self-Advocate!
If you have used the transfer tools to understand how your courses should transfer and you believe something transferred incorrectly, file an appeal.
Connect with an Advisor
Reach out to an advisor at your potential transfer college and ask what resources exist! Many CUNY colleges have peer mentor or ambassador programs, letting you speak to current students who have recently transferred.
College Transfer Websites
College Transfer Websites
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have attended a college/university, proprietary school, vocational school or religious school after completing high school, you are a transfer student. Select the transfer application even if you are not seeking transfer credit or have decided to change majors. Second degree students are also transfer students.
Use the CUNY Application to apply and receive decisions from up to 4 colleges. Visit our How to Apply page for more guidance on what is needed to apply.
Yes. The priority deadline to apply for Fall is February 1st. For Spring, the deadline is September 15th. Our colleges operate on a rolling admission basis, which means that they continue reviewing applications throughout the cycle. It’s a good idea to apply early and have more time to complete your enrollment steps at your future campus.
Visit our Majors page to learn about what’s offered at each college.
Start planning as soon as you know you want to transfer; it’s a great idea to meet with your academic advisor and plan to take courses that are likely to transfer to your future college. You also want to review the admissions requirements of your future college.
CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs has a page dedicated to outlining your rights and responsibilities as a transfer student, whether you are a current CUNY student or not. Familiarize yourself with the content on this page at the beginning of your transfer process. This page will empower you to make sound decisions during your transfer journey.
It’s a great idea to plan your transfer with your current academic advisor. Some colleges also have transfer offices that are dedicated to helping students transition to a new college. And finally, the admissions office at your future college is a great resource. Each of these offices is dedicated to supporting your journey.
No, GPAs start over when a student transfers to a new college.
Planning for a successful transfer to another institution should begin as early as possible. The specific program and college you choose directly impacts how credits transfer. The longer you wait to make a decision, the more you risk accumulating excess credits that cost you time and money.
As soon as you start enrolling in classes, you should consider making an informed decision about transferring and where you might want to transfer. Then align your coursework to those courses that either the Transfer Credit Tools or the Transfer Agreements say will transfer best for you and take those courses. If you start to run out of courses that will transfer, it may be the time to consider transferring and then obtaining your associate degree through the Reverse Transfer Process.
As part of your preparation for transfer, it is recommended that you start your math (based on your major) and English (composition) sequences as early as possible, as they are common requirements across most programs. Generally, you can also prepare to transfer by meeting with advisors and aligning your coursework to those courses that the Transfer Credit Tools or the Transfer Agreements say will transfer best for you.
Once you are accepted and admitted to the college you applied to transfer to, the college will conduct a credit evaluation using the information you submitted during the application process. The results will be made available via CUNYfirst and subsequently in DegreeWorks.
NOTE: CUNY colleges may also request to see supplemental materials (like transcripts) and other relevant information about coursework to determine the number of transfer credits to be awarded. Visit your college’s transfer office website to find out more information.
It depends on many factors that are unique to each student’s situation. A major factor is how well the courses in your associate degree program will count toward requirements for your desired bachelor’s program (i.e. satisfying the general education and/or major requirements for your desired bachelor’s program). Students who complete a CUNY associate degree before transferring only need to take 6 additional general education credits at the CUNY senior college (instead of 9-12 credits for a student without an associate degree). However, if you start to run out of courses that will transfer, it may be the time to consider transferring and then obtaining your associate degree through the Reverse Transfer Process
If you are a CUNY student, use the transfer credit tools that are available to get an idea of how many credits will transfer. If you are a Non-CUNY student, you may have tools available at your current school to help and when you commit to your transfer school you will receive your Transfer Credit Evaluation Report
All schools consider a student’s GPA when reviewing applications, so keep your GPA as high as possible to remain competitive.
This is a process through which a student who has transferred to a CUNY Bachelor’s program from a CUNY community college without first earning an Associate’s degree might still be able to earn that associate degree. With Reverse Transfer, credits earned at the transfer school that meet and complete the academic credentials of the Associate’s degree are “transferred back” from the four-year institution to the two-year institution to meet the Associate’s degree requirements. Visit the Reverse Transfer page for more information.
There are many benefits for students who earn their associate degree through reverse transfer. For starters, an associate degree provides students with a recognized and meaningful credential that can increase their job and wage potential.