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Transfer Credit

Thomas Edison State University accepts transfer credit from entities accredited by institutional accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The University's Division of Academic Affairs has established a systematic process to evaluate college level equivalency credit for courses. In addition, the University offers a host of ways to earn credit for knowledge obtained in non-collegiate settings.

Examples include:

  • Courses and examinations approved through the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and the American Council on Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service.
  • Military service schools as recommended by the American Council on Education. 
  • Credit recommendations from a required course-by-course international credit evaluation completed by one of the following agencies: Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI); Center for Applied Research, Evaluations & Education, Inc.; Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE); World Educational Services, Inc. (WES); SDR Educational Consultants; TEC The Evaluation Company; and Transcript Research. 
  • Thomas Edison State University may accept in direct transfer college-level credits earned at institutions accredited by other accreditation agencies recognized by the US Department of Education that have developed formal articulation agreements with Thomas Edison State University.  In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 articulation agreement partner institutions are listed below.
  • College-level skills and knowledge acquired outside the classroom or through methods or from organizations not reviewed by one of the aforementioned organizations may be validated through established TESU policies and procedures.
  • TESU will accept transfer credit as determined by University Articulation agreements.

Accreditation and Candidacy

Thomas Edison State University accepts transfer credit from institutions with institutional accreditation, including credit earned during a formal period of candidacy once accreditation is attained.

Transfer credit is awarded in accordance with these policies:

  • is awarded for academic level courses;
  • is not awarded for developmental/remedial, English as a Second Language (ESL), continuing education courses (CEUs), or vocational coursework;
  • for courses that the source institution would apply to its own degree programs;
  • semester hour limitations;
  • maximum of 90 semester hours of community or junior college courses;
  • maximum of 90 semester hours for a baccalaureate degree and 45 semester hours for an associate degree from NCCRS and ACE recommendations;
  • maximum of 70 semester hours earned in one subject area toward a baccalaureate degree;
  • maximum of 30 semester hours for a baccalaureate degree and 15 semester hours for an associate degree of graduate credit;
  • transfer credits from a four-year institution accredited by one of the institutional accreditors cited above may be used to fulfill all degree requirements except for the two required courses from TESU:
  • TESU will not accept transfer credit from any source for the two required TESU courses:

•   SOS-1100 Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today

  •   Capstone Course

  • maximum of 90 semester hours for a baccalaureate degree and 45 semester hours for an associate degree of foreign credit that has been reviewed by an approved foreign credential review agency;
  • foreign credential review agencies must indicate C or better grades for courses to be acceptable;
  • for a full listing of International Student Policies, please visit International Student Policies;
  • minimum grade of C for English composition courses and the area of study for all degrees;
  • some degree programs have requirements around the age of courses used in the area of study;
  • institutionally accredited course work, approved under the TESU Transfer Credit Policy and Guidelines, is assigned a course equivalency at the same level (1000/2000 or 3000/4000);
  • duplicate transfer and institutional credits will only be applied to degree requirements once.

If your credits were earned on a quarter system, the following conversion applies:

  • 2 quarter hours = 1.33 semester hours

  • 3 quarter hours = 2 semester hours

  • 4 quarter hours = 2.67 semester hours

  • 5 quarter hours = 3.33 semester hours

In cases where the University accepts a transfer course worth fewer credits than the TESU course equivalent, the credit deficit must be made up in related degree requirements as determined by the University. The student must meet the overall number of credits required to earn the degree.

Non-Collegiate Providers

Thomas Edison State University generally accepts the credit recommendations of ACE and NCCRS; however, the University reserves the right to determine the appropriate equivalency and application to a degree program. The University maintains an Approved Provider Directory of approved non-collegiate providers recommended by either ACE or NCCRS. Visit Educational Provider Review for more information on becoming an approved provider.

TESU programs with or intending to seek programmatic accreditation reserve the right to require programmatic accreditation for transfer credit.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation Agreements
Thomas Edison State University has entered into articulation agreements with many colleges and universities. An articulation agreement is a formal agreement or partnership between Thomas Edison State University and another institution of higher education. These articulation agreements determine which courses will transfer for degree credit or fulfill Thomas Edison State University course equivalencies.

Specialized articulation agreements with partnering institutions may be found on our Transfer Pathways page.

Details on the terms of any Thomas Edison State University’s current or historical articulation agreements should be referred to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@tesu.edu.

NJ Transfer
Thomas Edison State University also participates in NJ Transfer. This program provides a statewide transfer agreement process to determine the transferability of courses to participating New Jersey colleges and universities. Participating institutions are listed at www.njtransfer.org.

Thomas Edison State University is covered by, and will strive to adhere to, the tenets of the Comprehensive Statewide Transfer Agreement adopted by New Jersey President’s Council on Sept. 22, 2008. Students who wish more specific information concerning the transfer of credit, or to appeal a transfer decision, should contact the University at registrar@tesu.edu; Attention: Director of Transfer Evaluations.