Transferring Credits

New Students: Transfer Credit Evaluation

A transfer credit evaluation (TCE) can help you better understand which of your previously taken courses will transfer into Simmons. Please note that all admitted or waitlisted applicants will receive a transfer credit evaluation ​between 2-3 weeks after acceptance.

​A TCE is created by the Manager of Degree Audit and Transfer Credit. Admissions works directly with the Office of the Registrar to provide the transcripts of the incoming student; the Manager of Degree Audit and Transfer Credit then evaluates the courses to see if they are acceptable as transfer credit and also determines eligibility for Simmons course equivalency. After the TCE is complete, it is emailed directly to the student at the email provided in the student’s application to Simmons.

For any questions about transferring in credits for new students, please contact the Transfer Credit Department in the Office of the Registrar.

AP Credits

Please refer to the current AP Credit Equivalencies list that outlines all of the tests that will count towards general transfer credit versus a specific Simmons course equivalent. Students will receive up to four (4) transfer credits for each score of 4 or 5 received on an AP exam. No student may receive more than 32 credits for AP scores.

The College Board can send all AP scores upon request directly to Simmons University and they will be delivered to the Office of the Registrar. AP credits can take several weeks to be processed and coded onto students’ accounts. If you do not see your AP credits on your account on Workday, you may contact the Office of the Registrar to confirm that your official score report was received. 

Transferring Credit While at Simmons

Current undergraduate students enrolled at Simmons, wishing to take courses at another institution, may do so during a summer or winter term or while on a Leave of Absence, or with approval of the Administrative Board. Graduate students may transfer credit at the discretion of their program director.

To transfer courses during a Summer or Winter term, UG students must submit a Petition for Transfer Credit for the Summer/Winter and receive approval prior to the start of the course(s).

To transfer courses during the Fall or Spring semesters, either while on an LOA or while enrolled full time at Simmons, UG students must submit a Petition for Transfer Credit for the Fall/Spring and receive approval prior to the start of the course(s).

It is the student’s responsibility to review all of the transfer credit policies outlined on the Petition for Transfer Credit form prior to submission. 

Transferring Summer or Winter Courses (Undergraduates)

UG students can apply a maximum of sixteen (16) summer and winter transfer credits combined towards the baccalaureate degree. 

Prior to registering for a summer course at another institution, undergraduate students should fill out the Petition for Transfer Credit - Summer/Winter form. Students may turn in the completed form and include a link to the course description of the course they plan to take. The petition will be evaluated and the student will receive an email 1-2 weeks after turning in the form confirming whether or not the course will be accepted as transfer credit. The form must be submitted at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the course to ensure enough time for its review and confirmation of its approval or denial.

It is the student’s responsibility to review all of the transfer credit policies outlined on the Petition for Transfer Credit form prior to submission.

After completing the course and receiving the final grade, the student must request an official transcript from the institution to be sent electronically through Parchment or the Clearinghouse to Simmons University, or by mail to:

Simmons University 
Attn: Office of the Registrar
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Once the transcript has been received, the transfer credit will be coded to a student's account within 3-4 weeks.

If a student did not submit a Petition for Transfer Credit form prior to taking the course, the course may still be approved for transfer credit. The student should submit the Petition for Transfer Credit and contact the Transfer Credit Department in the Registrar’s Office for approval.

Transferred courses will appear on your transcript either as general credit or as a Simmons course equivalent, and will not have a grade associated with them on your Simmons transcript. Note that Colleges of the Fenway courses are not considered transfer credits, and will appear with a grade on your transcript. For more information on COF courses, see our Cross Registration page.

Taking Courses While on Leave (Undergraduates)

If an undergraduate student is not currently taking courses at Simmons but plans to return, they can take courses elsewhere during their absence to transfer into Simmons. Students should review the information on our Leaving Simmons page and contact the Office of the Registrar when planning to return to Simmons. UG students on a Leave of Absence must submit a Petition for Transfer Credit for the Fall/Spring for each course they are planning on taking during their LOA. These petitions must be approved in order to transfer the credits. Once the courses are complete and final grades have been issued, the official transcript must be requested to be sent to Simmons. Institutions can send transcripts electronically through Parchment or the Clearinghouse to Simmons University, or by mail to:

Simmons University 
Attn: Office of the Registrar
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Transferred courses will appear on your transcript either as General Credit or as a Simmons course equivalent, and will not have a grade associated with them on your Simmons transcript.

It is the student’s responsibility to review all of the transfer credit policies outlined on the Petition for Transfer Credit form prior to submission.

Taking Courses While Enrolled (Undergraduates)

Undergraduate students who wish to take courses at another institution for transfer credit while enrolled in a fall or spring term at Simmons must petition the Administrative Board for special permission to do so. Students should fill out and submit a Petition for Transfer Credit - Fall/Spring form as well as a Petition to the Administrative Board.

If approved, transferred courses will appear on your transcript either as General Credit or as a Simmons course equivalent, and will not have a grade associated with them on your Simmons transcript. Note that Colleges of the Fenway courses are not considered transfer credits, and as such permission from the Administrative Board is not needed to register for them, and they will appear with a grade on your transcript. For more information on COF courses, see our Cross Registration page.

Graduate Student Transfer Credit

Graduate students seeking to transfer credit from another institution must submit the form appropriate to their program's school and have it approved by their program director, along with any other necessary documents specified on the form. Students may choose the form for the School of Management, School of Nursing, School of Library Science, or School of Social Work. **Note: Separate policies are in place for Nursing, Social Work, and MBA/HCMBA online students. Students should consult their Academic Adviser for more information.**