Transfer Credits & Prior Learning
You’ve already started your college degree. Now, get the credit you earned.
The exact way your prior credits will transfer to Winona State University depends on the type of institution, program, or exam you used.
Here’s a quick breakdown for how transfer credits generally work for undergraduate programs:
- WSU will determine what credits transfer and whether they meet degree requirements.
- WSU accepts D grades or better for transfer. WSU will review credits from courses and programs and look for equivalencies to course goals, content, and level of instruction.
- Not everything that transfers counts toward graduation requirements. Degree programs usually count credits in three categories: general education, prerequisites, and major/minor courses or electives.
To get a sense of how your credits will transfer, check for course equivalencies in Transferology. You can also find many tools and resources for transfer students online.
You may also be able to earn credit through the credit by exam process and portfolio review. This is helpful if you’ve gathered relevant prior learning experiences outside formal education.
Types of Credits
WSU will give undergraduate course credit for scores of 3 or higher on most Advanced Placement exams.
There’s an exception for the English Language and Composition Exam.
You’ll need to score a 4 or 5 to receive 3 college credits toward WSU’s freshman English requirement (ENG 111). Then you only have to take a 1-credit class (English 112) to complete this skills requirement for graduation.
If you score a 3 on either the Language and Composition or the Literature and Composition AP tests, you’ll receive 3 general elective credits.
You may receive 3 or more course credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual Higher Level IB exams.
If you earn an IB diploma, you’ll be granted 6 undergraduate credits for scores of 4 or higher on each Higher Level IB exam.
You’ll receive 2 undergraduate credits for scores of 4 or higher on each Standard Level IB exam.
Results from IGCSE, Cambridge Advanced Level (A-Level) exams are considered for advanced credit.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a testing program from The College Board that’s designed to measure prior learning.
WSU will grant credit for CLEP exams if a student receives a score of 50 or higher on the exam.
All credits earned at any accredited college or university will be reviewed for application toward the selected degree program. WSU also has articulation agreements in place with select colleges.
WSU has the right to determine whether previous coursework provides a suitable base for advanced study.
Transfer Credits for General Education Requirements
Transfer credits meet WSU’s General Education Program (GEP) requirements if you have:
- earned an Associate of Arts degree after May 1985
- earned a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
- completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), including through Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree programs
If you’re transferring to WSU from a participating institution and you’ve satisfied all 10 educational goals of the MnTC, you’ll get credit for completing all general education requirements.
See the current WSU courses that meet MnTC goal areas.
WSU complies with Minnesota State College and University guidelines, such as Undergraduate Course Credit Transfer Policy (3.21) and Procedure (3.21.1) as well as Transfer Rights and Responsibilities (3.39).
Transfer Graduate Level Credits
If you have credits from graduate study that you would like to transfer to WSU, complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
Contact Admissions at admissions@winona.edu if you’re interested in transferring credits from technical colleges.
WSU will accept a 16-credit general elective package of college-level technical courses offered by institutions with appropriate regional accreditation.
Some departments may offer course transfer credit of technical classes that apply to a program of study. Students can obtain a special form to facilitate the process.
Students are considered transfer students if they’re entering WSU from a technical college. They must submit an official transcript from the technical college.
A high school transcript and appropriate admission test scores also are required for admission.
Winona State University determines which credits transfer from international universities and whether they meet degree requirements.
To receive credits for international work completed, an official evaluation completed by a NACES or AICE member agency must be submitted to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at is@winona.edu.
We aren’t able to provide you information on how many credits will be accepted until the credit evaluation report is received. So, you should submit this evaluation as soon as possible once you’re admitted to WSU.
Learn more about applying to WSU as an international student.
Veterans may be granted academic credit for formal military schools they attended while on active duty.
WSU Admissions uses the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation Experience in the Armed Forces to evaluate military experience. You’ll need to provide a copy of your SMART, AARTS, or CCAF transcript for this evaluation.
Learn more about how you can get credit for experience in military branches.
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests
The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) can be individually reviewed by WSU academic departments.
DANTES funds DSST testing for eligible service members and personnel at DANTES military test centers.
Students who were enrolled in PSEO courses must transfer those credits to WSU regardless of their earned grade. You can find course equivalencies for PSEO courses through Transferology.
If your PSEO or College in the Schools (CIS) credits are from a Minnesota State college or university, just let WSU Admissions know and we’ll retrieve those transcripts automatically.
If your credit is earned at any non-Minnesota State school, you’ll need to ask them to send your official transcript to WSU Admissions.
Licensed registered nurses (RN) who’ve completed 3-year hospital training programs may receive 48 semester (72 quarter) credits of electives toward any undergraduate degree program, except nursing.
32 semester credits will be applicable to lower-division coursework. 16 semester credits can be applied to upper-division coursework.
To transfer these credits, you’ll need to provide proof that you successfully completed the necessary RN tests.
For more information, contact WSU Admissions at admissions@winona.edu.
WSU accepts some correspondence work toward a degree.
Please contact WSU Admissions at admissions@winona.edu if you’re interested in transferring correspondence coursework.
Appealing a Transfer Credit Decision
All students have the right to appeal transfer credit decisions.
If you haven’t yet enrolled at WSU, print out the WSU Transfer Decision Appeal Form (PDF) and send it to the Admissions Office.
If you’re already enrolled, please use the online Degree Audit and Transfer Credit Request form.
WSU also complies with the Minnesota State system transfer credit appeal procedure (3.21.1).
Credits by Exam
If you can satisfy a course’s requirements by a written or oral examination, you may be able to get credit without formally enrolling in that course.
This is a way to receive credit for equivalent study at a non-accredited school, independent study, and related work experience.
Students cannot use this process to repeat a course to improve a grade.
To start the process, you should meet with the faculty member offering the course.
You must be enrolled and have at least a 2.0 GPA at WSU during the semester you wish to get credit by exam.
Credits by exam cost $50 per credit and will be posted to your student’s record at the end of the term. These credits do not count toward determining full-time status.
Portfolio Review
A portfolio review is an opportunity to present a coherent, carefully organized, and convincing case that identifies specific learning outcomes which you’ve gained through your life experiences.
The WSU faculty evaluators may recommend that credits be awarded if you can demonstrate that what you have learned is substantially equivalent to the level and depth of knowledge you would acquire in the classroom.
How to Start a Portfolio Review
You must complete this process at least 6 months prior to graduation. It will take you a significant investment to put together a compelling portfolio, and there’s no guarantee you will receive credit.
Email continuingeducation@winona.edu to make an appointment to meet with an Adult Entry Process Advisor and bring along a brief outline of your prior learning experience.
The Adult Entry Process Advisor will help you realistically evaluate your experiences and determine whether the portfolio process is right for you.
If you’re a good candidate for portfolio review, you will compile the material that demonstrates your prior learning into a portfolio.
In addition to preparation of written material, you may be required to give an interview or demonstrate competency in other ways.
The process of assembling a satisfactory portfolio can be time consuming, and there is no guarantee that credit will be awarded. The decision to recommend equivalency credits rests with the faculty.
Categorize Your Work Experience
Using the current WSU Undergraduate Catalog, divide your work experience and training into categories that would fit in academic departments at WSU. For example, computer skills would most likely be taught in Computer Science or Management Information Systems, etc.
Each academic area will be reviewed separately, so, if you are seeking credit for more than one area, you will need to prepare an individual portfolio for each area.
Identify Knowledge Skills
Begin with work experience identifying knowledge, skills and competencies demonstrated by your job functions. Identify job positions, employers and length of time spent working in each category of job responsibilities/requirements.
Identify Formal & Informal Training
Identify all formal and informal training you have received in each job area excluding training for which you have received formal college credit (either from WSU or by approved transfer credit).
Calculate Time
Calculate or estimate the amount of time spent in non-credit bearing training for each category or area that you plan to submit for credit evaluation.
Include Resources
Include any other resources you have utilized as part of your prior learning experience that would contribute to the knowledge, skills or competencies being used as a basis for your credit evaluation request.
Prepare a Written Narrative
Prepare a written narrative of your prior learning that specifically details the learning outcomes you have received as a result. These learning outcomes should match the learning outcomes for the course you are seeking equivalency credit for.
You’ll review your portfolio with the Adult Entry Process Advisor and a faculty member from a relevant department for an initial review.
If you still want to proceed, then you’ll complete a Request for Prior Learning Assessment form.
Costs for Portfolio Review
There is $50 fee for the assessment of prior learning for each academic area, and you can submit multiple portfolios for credits in different disciplines.
For example, you could submit a portfolio to be reviewed for credits in accounting and another portfolio to be reviewed for credits in management. This would cost $100 to assess both portfolios.
If equivalency credits are granted, you will have to pay an additional charge for each credit. This charge amounts to 50% of the resident undergraduate credit hour tuition rate.