University of Rhode Island

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Transfer FAQ

Who is a Transfer Student?

You should apply as a transfer student if you currently are or have been enrolled as a degree candidate in another college or university. (You should apply as a freshman if you are taking college courses during high school.)

What does URI Look For in a Transfer Candidate?

The primary criterion for transfer admission is the quality of your academic record. We also consider the number of transfer credits, prerequisite coursework, type of completed courses, consistency of grades, and available space.

Minimum qualifications for acceptance to URI as a transfer student:

I've gone to a few different colleges, and would like to transfer to URI. Do I really need to submit all of my transcripts?

Yes. You must submit transcripts from every college or university you have attended, regardless of whether or not you desire academic credit for the work you completed there.

How will my application be reviewed?

Each application is thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee. A large and exceptionally well-qualified applicant pool enables us to enroll a transfer class that is academically talented.

When you submit your application, we will bring together the various supporting credentials we have received from you (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.). We will confirm receipt of your application via e-mail. If something is missing that is necessary to complete our review, you will be able to view the requested item by accessing your e-campus account.

My high school record is weak. Since I plan to transfer to URI, will my work in high school make a difference?

If you complete 24 transferable credits or more, our decision will focus almost exclusively on your post high school academic performance. If you did not complete the appropriate college-preparatory courses in high school you must complete those subject areas (or their equivalencies) in college before transferring.

4 in English

3 in Math (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)

2 in Science

2 in History/Social Science

2 units of the same foreign language

If you complete fewer than 24 transferable credits, your admission will be based on a combination of your High School records, results of SAT or ACT testing completed during High School, and college courses completed to date.

I graduated from high school a long time ago do I still need to submit my high school transcript?

All transfer students are required to submit proof of high school graduation. If you attended high school in the United States, you must submit a full high school transcript. If you completed secondary school in another country, you must submit proof of completion of secondary school.
Most high schools keep their students' records indefinitely, or at least have access to them. Call your high school for details.

My current GPA is lower than the 2.5 you require for admission, but I am still interested in coming to URI. What should I do?

You should make an appointment with your academic advisor at your current school to discuss how best to improve your GPA. In many cases retaking courses you did not successfully complete during your first attempt is the best way to immediately improve your overall grade point average and the transferability of course credit.

If you have courses in progress, we will generally wait until you complete them and submit a
new transcript before we make a decision. This gives you a chance to bring your GPA up to the required 2.5.

I'm a student at the Community College of Rhode Island. Do I need my associate's degree before I can transfer?

As with students transferring from any other college or university, you do not need an associate's degree in order to transfer.
Earning your Associate's degree has a distinct advantage: you are guaranteed admission if you earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree with a 2.4 GPA or better (this does not guarantee admission to all degree programs).

I'm a student at the Community College of Rhode Island, and plan to transfer to URI eventually. How do I know what to take while I'm at CCRI?

As a CCRI student, you have several excellent resources available to you. First, there is the Transfer Guide for Students. This is a listing, updated annually, of every course that transfers and their equivalents here at URI. With this powerful workbook you can:

Choose general education courses (Section 1)
Check the transferability of courses (Section 2)
Follow a program transfer plan to a URI degree while earning any one of a number of Associate's degrees (Section 3)
Track courses you have taken and courses you need (planning sheet, last page)

Additionally, the academic advisors in the Advising and Counseling Center at each of the four CCRI campuses are there to help you. They can work with you to choose coursework that fits your interests and fulfills the requirements for transferring to URI and earning your Bachelor's degree. Click on the link above or call for an appointment:

825-2301 (Warwick)
333-7160 (Lincoln)
455-6063 (Providence)
847-9800 (Newport)

I've heard about something called the Joint Admission Agreement (JAA). What is it, and how do I find out more?

The Joint Admission Agreement, or JAA for short, is a plan that you can sign up for at any time during your first 30 credits at CCRI. When you sign up, you are conditionally admitted to URI. By following one of the plans detailed in the JAA Transition Plans section of the Transfer Guide for Students, you will be guaranteed admission with your A.A. degree and a 2.4 GPA or better.

The additional benefits of JAA are:

You earn 60 credits toward a specific bachelor's program at URI
Can be advised by both CCRI and URI advisors
Register for URI courses at the same time as other students at URI who have the same number of credits
No URI admission application fee
Eligibility for tuition reduction benefit for students with a 3.0 GPA or higher

The advisors in the Advising and Counseling Center can tell you more about JAA and how to sign up. You can also check out the information for yourself online.

I'm a student at CCRI. Can I take courses at URI?

Anyone can sign up for courses at URI through open registration (we call this "non-matriculating").
CCRI students, however, have the special benefit of the Student Exchange Policy: If you are a full-time student at CCRI, you can take up to 7 credits of your full-time course load at URI at no extra charge. CCRI Enrollment Services has the form you need to fill out to take advantage of this benefit. Be sure to consult with an advisor in the Advising and Counseling Center at CCRI before signing up for URI courses.
Note that you have to wait until the open registration date at URI to sign up for your URI courses. Click here for the URI Academic Calendar, which lists the registration date for non-matriculating students. Look for the row labeled "e-Campus registration for non-matriculated students."
Which of my courses will transfer to URI?

Courses that:

Have been completed at regionally accredited degree-granting post-secondary institutions;
Are comparable in quality and content to courses offered by the University of Rhode Island
Have been completed with a grade of "C" or better

You can get a good idea of what may transfer by comparing course descriptions from your current school and URI. URI's course descriptions are listed alphabetically by subject area in our Catalog, viewable on-line.

Unfortunately, we receive too many inquiries and transfer applications to do a credit evaluation prior to admission to the University.

When will I receive a credit evaluation?

All admitted transfer students receive a transfer credit report within three weeks of their acceptance. This report shows the courses you have taken at other institutions, and their URI equivalents. Credit evaluations can only be completed using official transcripts.

How will I know the exact requirements of my major?

The University Catalog is the official source for this information. You can request a hard copy of the University Catalog by contacting our office at 401.874.7000, or e-mail a request to: admission@uri.edu.
Once you are accepted and pay an enrollment deposit, you will set up an appointment with an academic advisor, who will tell you exactly which courses fulfill which requirements for your major. Your advisor will then help you to choose courses that best suit your major and interests.

I am planning to Transfer to URI in the near future, but in the meantime I'll be taking classes elsewhere. How will I know what to take?

The Academic Advising staff at your current institution can help you to choose courses that will benefit you most upon transfer. In general, you want to stick to General Education requirements, and complete the core courses for your Major area of study once you're at URI.
University College provides a handy web page with a downloadable booklet to help you understand the University’s General Education requirements.