Am I considered a transfer student?

A transfer student is any student who has attempted at least 18 credits from a regionally accredited college/university AFTER high school graduation.

What are the transfer requirements?

  1. At least 18 credits attempted from a regionally accredited college/university

  2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (3.0 for all Education majors) on a 4.0 scale.
    GPAs are recalculated to include all courses and grades, including all repeated courses, from all colleges/universities previously attended.

  3. Successful completion of college algebra OR two years of algebra and one year of geometry from high school except for business, engineering, science, math, computer science, cybersecurity, IST, and SRA majors. Students in these majors must have successfully completed trigonometry, pre-calculus, OR calculus in college OR high school. NOTE: exceptions may be made for adult learners.

What are the application deadlines?

Fall semester: July 31
Spring semester: November 30
Summer semester: April 30

Applications received after the deadline are considered on a space-available basis.

As a domestic student, what documents should I submit when I apply? 

  1. Completed online application

  2. Official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities previously attended

  3. Official military transcripts (if applicable)

 As an international student, what documents should I submit when I apply?  

  1. Completed online application
  2. Proof of English Language Proficiency
  3. Official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities previously attended

Where should I send my official transcripts?

Students are strongly encouraged to submit all official transcripts electronically as long as the transcripts are sent directly from the school(s) using a third-party vendor such as: Parchment, eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, Naviance, SCOIR, or another university-approved vendor.  If sending transcripts electronically, please use the email address: [email protected].

If mailing official transcripts, please send to

Penn State Harrisburg
Admissions Office
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057-4898

When do I declare a major?

Students declare a major on the application for admission. 

How do I know if my credits will transfer to Penn State? 

Students can view transferable courses using Penn State's Transfer Credit Tool.

Prospective students are welcomed to schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor to discuss course transferability by calling the Admissions Office at 717-948-6250.  

What is the maximum number of credits I may transfer to Penn State? 

The maximum number of transferable credits varies by degree program. For a bachelor's degree, 36 of the last 60 credits must be completed at Penn State. For an associate's degree, 18 of the last 30 credits must be completed at Penn State.

Are scholarships available for transfer students?

YES! Transfer students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 may be eligible for scholarships. Additional scholarship information can be found here.

When do I schedule classes?

Transfer students will schedule courses during the Transfer Student Orientation.

Can I live on campus?

Transfer students may request on-campus housing after they have accepted an offer of admission. On-campus housing for transfer students works on a lottery system and is not guaranteed.

Is there a transfer orientation?

YES!  All transfer students are highly encouraged to participate in the Transfer Student Orientation. Additional details about Orientation will be available after you accept your offer of admission.