Transferring colleges is a useful tool that can offer students a fresh start with new opportunities and a chance to find a more learning-conducive and fitting environment.
Students often wonder “Can I transfer colleges with bad grades?” while some want to know what happens if you fail a class before transferring. These are precisely the sort of questions that we will try to answer in this article where we will go a step further and give you some specific examples of colleges that accept low GPA transfer students, as well as colleges that accept students who failed classes before transferring.
What’s a GPA
Grade Point Average, or GPA, is a numerical representation of the student’s academic performance. Each letter grade is assigned a numerical value which are then averaged to calculate the GPA. GPA typically ranges from 1.0 to 4.0 with a higher number indicating a higher level of academic performance.
GPA is used by many colleges as a primary measurement for an applicant’s past academic achievements so a low one may be detrimental to further education.
Luckily, there are a number of colleges that are moving away from GPAs in their admissions process as they realize that it may not always be a correct representation of a student’s ability and especially potential. There are now even some Masters programs that accept 2.0 GPA applicants if they fulfill certain other criteria, so regardless of your GPA or whether you failed classes before transferring colleges, there are surely going to be various reputable options for you to continue your education at.
Colleges that accept low GPA transfer students
There are many different colleges that accept low GPA transfers, there are even colleges that accept 1.5 GPA transfers and lower, if they fulfill certain other criteria. We tried to list a few of the most accessible ones to give you an insight into the various criteria and GPA requirements.
California State University accepts students with a 2.5 GPA if they are from California and 3.0 from elsewhere, but it may consider students with lower GPAs if they impress on other criteria.
Colorado Technical University accepts students with 2.0 GPA to any of its 33 undergraduate programs and is known for accepting and transferring up to 75% of accumulated college credits
Arkansas Tech University is another notable option and they accept students with as little as 24 accumulated college credits and a GPA of 2.0.
Grand Canyon University requests applicants with between 6 and 24 credits to have a GPA of 2.75 while those with 24 to 90 accumulated credits can have a lower GPA, with the lowest accepted at 2.25 GPA.
There are, of course, educational institutions with much stricter as well as those with more lenient criteria, but there are opportunities abound for everyone and a low GPA shouldn’t stop anyone from advancing their education and career.
Colleges that accept students who failed classes before transferring
There are colleges that accept failed students, and although the phrase “failed students” may carry certain negative connotations, many educational institutions see failure and setbacks as an integral part of learning and growth.
Excelsior College accepts both low GPA, as well as students who have failed some classes, and offers both support services and a flexible credit transfer policy to accommodate everyone’s situation.
City University of New York (CUNY) System offers academic opportunities to students who may have faced difficulties, including failed classes, with well-established support structures put in place to fulfill their potential.
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is known for accessibility to adult learners, including those with less-than-stellar academic records. It is well known for its flexible admissions and credit transfer policies, as well as a high level of delivered knowledge.
Conclusion
While having a low GPA or even failing some classes may be detrimental to your academic progress, there are options and solutions put in place for students who may have had or still are having academic difficulties.
Many colleges accept low GPA transfer students, and many will accept students who failed classes before transferring. No matter how difficult your situation may seem, look into some of these options, make your setbacks a setup for your comeback, and get that degree!
