Transferring Credits to CCU

Complete Your Degree Sooner and Save Money!

We are excited that you are interested in attending the College of Undergraduate Studies at Colorado Christian University. As you think about what to major in during college, you should explore ways to lower your costs and save time as well. A typical bachelor's degree requires 120 credit hours, but you may need to complete far fewer credits at CCU if you plan ahead:

  Take advantage of AP classes, dual credit courses, and other college-level courses offered at your high school.
  Explore affordable online dual enrollment courses offered through CCU Academy, you could even complete your associate degree before you finish high school.
  Investigate testing for credit options, including CLEP and DSST.
  If you have already attended college, check with an Enrollment Counselor to see which credits will transfer to CCU.

 Quick Tip

Transferable credits will be based on the academic catalog of the year the student is enrolled at CCU or admitted to a program and not the year the exam was taken. At CCU, we understand that you've worked hard to prepare for college. For this reason, it is important to read through CCU's Academic policies on transferring non-traditional credit ( CLEP equivalencyDSST equivalency, AP equivalency, IB equivalency).

Transferable Credits

AP Credits

A high school graduate who has taken the Advanced Placement Examinations conducted by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) and who has passed with a score of 4 or 5 may receive University credit. Credit awarded will be treated as transfer credit and will count toward graduation as applicable. Please see our AP Academic Catalog Policies and CCU's AP equivalency for current requirements or you may consult the College Board website as AP equivalency is subject to change. CCU acceptance of AP credit for an undergraduate degree is no guarantee that graduate or medical schools will accept AP credit for prerequisite requirements.

IB Exam Credits

Students who have participated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program in high school may be able to receive undergraduate credit for higher-level courses with scores of 5 or higher, depending on their chosen major. No more than 32 hours of International baccalaureate will be accepted for transfer and applied to a degree program at CCU. Please see our IB Academic Catalog Policies and CCU's IB equivalency PDF to see how IB credit may transfer into CCU. CCU acceptance of IB credit for an undergraduate degree is no guarantee that graduate or medical schools will accept IB credit for prerequisite requirements.

High School Dual Credit Courses

A C- (Pre-Nursing Students: C or higher) or higher is required for the course to transfer. Registration Services will evaluate if and how the credit would transfer to your specific major.

CCU Academy Courses

All CCU Academy dual credit (taken through your high school) and online dual enrollment courses will transfer into the CCU CUS program, however, they will need to go through the evaluation process with the Registration Services for specific class fulfillment within your major. For preliminary guidance, you can contact CCU Academy's student advisor at academy@ccu.edu.

Transferring College Credit Policies, Limitations, and Limited Transfer Courses

When transferring credits, CCU accepts courses that meet the following criteria. For complete policies please refer to the current course catalog.

CCU accepts all undergraduate credits for transfer as long as the incoming credit meets the following criteria:

  • The transfer institution is accredited and recognized by the Department of Education.
  • The course is undergraduate level; we do not accept developmental courses for transfer.
  • Transfer courses must have a grade of C- or better (C or better for nursing students).
  • Courses that do not meet a specific program requirement will be transferred as an elective.

Graduation is determined/based on:

  • Successful completion of all program requirements, including all required courses in the major, minors (if applicable), and general education program.
  • A minimum of 120 undergraduate credit hours for bachelor's degrees.
  • Residency at CCU, a minimum of 30 credits completed at CCU.

The CCU College of Undergraduate Studies (CUS) does not accept ACE-recommended credit from programs such as Straighter Line, Sophia, etc.

For an official evaluation of transfer credit, students must be fully admitted, and official transcripts must be received by CCU. Transfer Credits are evaluated for equivalency to CCU courses. Some courses may be subject to a Dean's review and approval. Even courses that are not equivalent to CCU courses may transfer as electives and will count toward graduation requirements.

Limited transfer of credit is accepted for the following courses:

  • BIB/HIS-111 Old Testament
  • BIB/HUM-114 New Testament
  • ECO-215 Economics
  • HIS-185 Western Civilization
  • POL-207 Introduction to American Politics

Transfer credit that will be accepted prior to matriculation at CCU but will not be accepted for courses after a student matriculates to CCU:

  • Fine Arts Requirement (HUM-120, MUS-110, THR-112)

Major Courses with no transfer at CCU:

  • BUS/MGT-101 Business and Management in the 21st Century

Transferring Credits FAQs

If I plan to attend CCU, which types of credits are most likely to transfer into the CCU Traditional Undergraduate program?

All CCU Academy credits will transfer to CCU's traditional undergraduate program in the College of Undergraduate Studies. If you are earning college credit from another institution besides CCU, you will want to ensure the institution is fully accredited. It is a good idea to be aware of the general education courses required of most majors at CCU, though do keep in mind that this can vary slightly depending on your major. In order to view courses currently required for your specific major, please view our course catalog. Courses that either are not an equivalent match or cannot be substituted to fulfill the required general education course requirement would then count as elective credits. Be aware that select majors, such as Nursing, Pre-Med, Education majors, and Engineering, allow for little to no elective credits. Please review notes for each course, as some courses are limited transfer of credit accepted.

If I am transferring credits how many hours do I need at CCU to earn a degree here?

A minimum of 30 hours must be earned at CCU, including at least 50% of the major requirements and at least 12 upper division (300-400 level) hours. Please see the CCU Residency Requirement.

If I am an international student, do I need to do anything to make sure my credits transfer properly?

Yes. Please refer to our International Student Admissions Page to see requirements for sending transcripts.

Is there a place I can see general degree timelines for specific programs?

Please see general degree timelines for the College of Undergraduate Studies.

When do I register for classes?

Registration for fall semester classes will kick off at the end of April with our Cougar Days event and continue throughout the summer. Once you have been accepted to CCU and paid the tuition deposit, you will be directed to complete your next steps for registration.

I have another question not listed here. Who should I contact?

We are more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have at ccuadmissions@ccu.edu.

*Information provided on this page is reflective of the current catalog year and policies. Catalog majors/minors/programs and policies are subject to change annually, which can impact how credits transfer.
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