Transfer Student Admissions
External Transfers
Students transferring to Pitt from another institution must apply through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA). The School of Arts and Sciences has a rolling admissions policy for transfer students, meaning that transfer students may apply for admission at any time.
The University is interested in enrolling transfer students on the Pittsburgh campus who will be academically successful. The holistic assessment of a candidate’s likely success will take into consideration a variety of factors.
Transfer applicants must be in good academic, disciplinary and financial standing and eligible to return to their current or previous institution(s). The Admissions Committee evaluates all of the transfer applicant’s credentials, including the type(s) of institution(s) attended, coursework relevant to their major, number of credits completed and cumulative grade point average. Successful candidates usually present a distinguished record of previous college study. The following guidelines for each academic unit do not guarantee admission, nor do they preclude admission. Each applicant is reviewed individually, taking into consideration such factors as cumulative grade point average, rigor of coursework, trend in grade performance, choice of school/major, transferability of courses, and type of institution attended.
Non-academic factors may also be considered if:
- You are an adult student
- You have significant work-related experience
- You possess particular outstanding talents
All transfer students are required to submit the following information:
- Completed admission application
- $45 application fee
- Official high school transcript(s)
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions
- Required test scores (if applicable)
- Submission of personal statement and/or letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged
Certain majors are more selective and may require a higher grade point average and/or specific coursework or the completion of prerequisites in order to admit an applicant to that specific academic program.
If you are currently enrolled in an Associates Degree program or taking courses at a community college, we normally expect you to complete two full years of transferable coursework before you enroll at the University of Pittsburgh. However, if you completed a strong college preparatory curriculum in high school with grades and test scores (SAT or ACT) that would have made you admissible as a freshman, then it is likely that we may offer you admission even if you have completed less than two years of coursework, provided that your college-level work demonstrates academic success.
Internal Transfers
Students who want to transfer to Arts and Sciences from other schools at the Pittsburgh campus should contact their current school to have their records sent to us. Arts and Sciences will evaluate the records and send the student a letter of admission or rejection. To qualify, a student must have an overall average of at least 2.00, and students in the College of General Studies (CGS) must have at least 24 credits earned at CGS. In addition, Arts and Sciences prefers that students complete their basic skills requirements in English composition and algebra before applying.
After acceptance, Arts and Sciences evaluates the internal transfer student’s previous coursework to see how it matches the school’s requirements. Students receive a maximum of 18 non-Arts and Sciences credits toward graduation from Arts and Sciences. Students must earn the last 30 credits toward an Arts and Sciences degree, and at least half of the credits for their major, while enrolled at Arts and Sciences.
Regional Transfers
Students who want to transfer to the Pittsburgh campus within the School of Arts and Sciences may apply by contacting the campus where they were most recently enrolled and asking for their records to be forwarded. The school will evaluate the records with respect to Arts and Sciences skills and general education requirements, then tell the student if they’re accepted.
Regional transfer students must complete at least 60 credits, 45 of which must have been completed at the regional campus before applying for transfer to the Pittsburgh campus. Additional requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of appropriate General Education Requirements. Arts and Sciences prefers that regional transfer students declare their major when they transfer.
