Between showing up in class, keeping up on assignments and studying for exams, you worked hard to earn your credit hours. We respect the work that you’ve already done, so when you transfer to Canisius, we apply as many credits as possible. Follow our guide below to determine which tool is best for you and next steps to take.
Quick Lookup Tools
To get a sense of how many of your classes will count toward Canisius credit, please use one of the two tools below:
Unofficial Credit Tool. Use this tool to map out your courses for future semesters and review equivalencies from any school from which we've accepted transfer credit before.
Credit Equivalency Quick Lookup. Use this tool to look up classes from common two- and four-year schools around Western and Central New York.
Get Help Evaluating Your Credits
Request an Unofficial Credit Evaluation. Work directly with a transfer admissions counselor to get a more precise estimate. Completed evaluations will be emailed to you within two weeks of your request.
Transferring From a Local Two-Year College
- Use a credit agreement to find credits for your specific major (not liberal arts/general studies).
- Use a guide sheet if you are a liberal arts and science/general studies major.
Find your school
- Finger Lakes Community College: Credit Agreement | Guide Sheet
- Genesee Community College: Credit Agreement | Guide Sheet
- Jamestown Community College: Credit Agreement | Guide Sheet
- Monroe Community College: Credit Agreement | Guide Sheet
- SUNY Niagara: Credit Agreement | Guide Sheet
- SUNY Erie: Credit Agreement | Guide Sheet
Special Credit Situations
Military Credit
Canisius is a proud supporter of our military. Most veterans receive some form of college credit from their time in service, including basic training, specialized job training, leadership training, and much more. Be sure to submit your Joint Services Transcript, Community College of the Air Force transcript, or any other forms of military credit when you apply for transfer admissions at Canisius.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
Students achieving a three or higher on a College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Test will normally earn at least elective credit toward their Canisius degree. (Canisius reserves the right to deny credit for a three in a particular Advanced Placement Test if subsequent student performance in relevant courses at Canisius has provided evidence that the score does not demonstrate college-level competence.) Core curriculum credit for such courses is subject to approval by the Office of Academic Affairs, and credit in the major is subject to approval of course equivalency by the major department or program. Official results of the exam must be sent from the College Board to Canisius before credit can be awarded. All such requests should be directed to the Student Records and Financial Services Center, which will consult with the major program or department as needed.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit
Canisius University grants academic credit for the following International Baccalaureate work.
For individual exams:
• A five or higher on a Higher Level exam counts as two three-credit courses – one field in the core curriculum and one free elective (unless a department recognizes specific course equivalencies).
• A four on a Higher Level exam counts as a three-credit free elective.
• A five or higher on a Standard Level exam counts as a three-credit free elective.
• An IB diploma will be recognized with 30 credits of work at Canisius, which is the maximum amount of credit granted for pre-college work.
Official IB exam scores should be sent directly to the Student Records and Financial Services Center to have individual diploma exams evaluated to determine specific transfer credit to be applied toward major, core curriculum, or elective course requirements. Major credit will be determined in consultation with department chairs. Students will not receive additional credit for AP exams that duplicate credit awarded for the IB exams.
Learn More About IB Credit Equivalencies
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students who are applying for admission or who are presently in attendance may obtain credit for previously completed examinations sponsored by the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Board. The minimum acceptable grades for these exams are “pass” for exams graded pass/fail, “C” for exams with letter grades, and 50 on exams graded on a standard score scale of 20 to 80. Credit is not awarded for the CLEP general examinations. Credit in appropriate subject area exams is granted by the Student Records and Financial Services Center after the student has matriculated. However, not all CLEP exams are acceptable as transfer credits. In addition, credits to be used in fulfilling departmental major requirements must first be approved in writing by the department chair. Students should plan to complete all of their coursework at Canisius. Permission for matriculating students to take CLEP exams to fulfill degree requirements must be requested from the appropriate associate dean and will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.
Transfer Credit Policies
- A maximum of 66 credit hours may be transferred from two-year colleges, and at least 60 more credit hours must be earned at Canisius in order to be awarded the bachelor’s degree.
- Students transferring from four-year institutions may transfer a maximum of 90 credits and must complete at least 30 credit hours at Canisius, including at least 18 in their major, in order to earn the bachelor’s degree.
- Transfer credit from accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education is granted when the course objectives for the completed work are substantially the same as the course objectives at Canisius. Transfer credit is awarded only for courses with a minimum grade of C- or better.
- If you have already earned an associate's degree, all courses with a minimum grade of D or better will be considered for transfer credit.
- For teacher certification candidates, a grade of C or better is required to transfer courses listed as major courses in teacher education, special education, health education, and athletic training programs.
- Once transcripts have been submitted to and reviewed by the Student Records and Financial Services Center, the student will meet with an assistant/associate dean to review the transfer credit and register for classes.
- The original grades in transferred courses will not be calculated into the Canisius GPA, but the credits will be applied to the major, core curriculum, or as free electives (counting toward the 120 credit-hour requirement for the bachelor’s degree).