Transfer Services

The Transfer Services Unit is a division of the Office of the Registrar and is available to assist admitted and current transfer students with the transfer of credit from other institutions.  The goal of the Transfer Services unit is to facilitate the process of course evaluation to ensure a smooth transition for our transfer students to their new institution.

Transfer Opportunities and Agreements 

 Massachusetts Public Colleges and Universities

A student attending a Massachusetts state college/university or community college may be entitled to a variety of programs designated for transferability across the public college system. These may include MassTransfer, MassTransfer Block, Joint Admissions, and/or the Commonwealth Transfer Compact. Each of these programs are in effect for different academic time periods and each have specific requirements. Each of these programs seek to provide a broad population of students with straightforward and understandable options toward the completion of associate and baccalaureate degrees, clearing the way for student access and student success in Massachusetts’ public higher education system.  The full policies are available at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education website at mass.edu.

• MassTransfer.  Students completing an Associate’s Degree in a designated program at a Massachusetts Community College may be eligible for MassTransfer. This program provides community college associate degree graduates who were enrolled in linked programs and meet the required GPA with the transfer of credit, guaranteed admission and a tuition discount.  Students completing designated MassTransfer Associate Degree programs will not need to complete the core requirements at Salem State College. Students will be required to complete all major, minor and support requirements.
• MassTransfer Block.  Students who complete the MassTransfer Block at any Massachusetts community college, state college or university and meet the required GPA may transfer their courses and satisfy the general education/distribution/core at Salem State College.  Completion of the block is certified by the sending institution’s Registrar’s Office.
• Joint Admissions.  Student who enrolled at Massachusetts Community College prior to the fall 2009 and who plan to complete an  Associate’s Degree in a designated program by August 2013 may be eligible for the Joint Admissions Program. Students who complete the designated degree with a grade point average of 2.5 are guaranteed admission into designated programs at Salem State College. Students who complete the designated degree with a grade point average of 3.0 and enroll as day students may be eligible for 1/3 off of in-state tuition.
• Commonwealth Transfer Compact Program.  Students who complete an Associate’s Degree in a Commonwealth Transfer Compact Program will be have their transfer courses reviewed as a unit and construed as completion of 60 hours of work towards the Bachelor’s Degree and 35 hours towards fulfillment of the general education requirements. This agreement only pertains to the designated compact programs at the Community Colleges and is not in force for those programs considered terminal in nature. Students will be required to complete all major and support requirements.

Salem State College Transfer Information

1. A student transferring from a two-year college is entitled to transfer no more than 68 credits.
2. Salem State College has established many Articulation Agreements with Massachusetts’ two-year colleges. These agreements are developed by faculty to help students move from the Associate’s Degree to the Bachelor’s Degree. Please contact the Transfer Services Office for more information.
3. Students who complete the General Education requirements at one Massachusetts State College or University shall not be obliged to meet additional or general education requirements of the receiving college. A letter of confirmation must be received from the state college Registrar.
4. Students who complete a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States shall not be obliged to meet the Salem State College general education requirements (core and distribution) unless specified by the major department. Courses should be comparable to those offered and taught by faculty with credentials similar to those at Salem State College.
5. Typically, transfer credits will be granted for courses from a regionally accredited college with a grade of C- or better.
6. Courses should be comparable to those offered and taught by faculty with credentials similar to Salem State College.
7. IIf transferring 30 credits or more, students are exempted from the College’s physical education activity requirement. This exemption does not carry credit and students will be responsible for meeting minimum degree credit requirements for their program of study.
8. Advanced Placement, CLEP and advanced standing credits will be accepted when applicable.
9. Among equally qualified applicants priority will be given to transfer students from other Massachusetts public institutions. 

Credits by Examination

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)

Salem State College subscribes to the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are open to students who have participated in Advanced Placement courses in high school. Credits will be granted, generally, in subject areas in which scores of 5, 4, or 3 are attained. Credits will not be granted for scores of 2 or 1.Students interested in Advanced Placement status in the Freshman year should notify the Director of Admissions and must submit Advanced Placement Test Scores.

 College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is a national program, sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board, of credits-by-examination that offers the opportunity to obtain recognition for college level achievement. This examination program is a means of measuring learning attained through formal or informal study. If the results of the examinations are acceptable to Salem State, academic credits may be awarded. There are two types of CLEP examinations: General Examinations and Subject Examinations.

The General Examinations are designed to measure familiarity with the material covered in those courses taken during the first two years of college to meet the general education or liberal arts requirements. The General Examinations include: English Composition, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Studies and History. The English Composition test will be accepted at Salem State only if the student also successfully completes a writing examination administered by the College’s English Department. 

The Subject Examinations are designed to measure knowledge and achievement usually covered in specific college courses. Each Subject Examination is a 90-minute multiple-choice test. Most of the Subject Examinations have an additional essay section. Salem State requires both the multiple-choice and essay sections. Certain Subject Examinations are not equivalent to courses at Salem State and credits for such tests will not be granted. To find out more about the College’s CLEP credits policy, write or call the Academic Advising Center. Salem State College is not a Test Center. CLEP tests are administered at North Shore Community College and at several institutions in Greater Boston.