Transfer Information

Transfer advising is offered for students who want to continue their education beyond MWCC. The transfer advisor works with many four-year institutions developing transfer agreements that ease the transition for transferring students. MWCC participates in MassTransfer with Massachusetts public colleges and universities. Additionally, the college has many transfer agreements with private and public colleges established to ensure a smooth transfer process. Annually, students transfer to more than 60 different colleges and universities across the United States. Learn how you can save time and money by graduating from MWCC. Visit the transfer services web page: http://transfer.mwcc.edu, or call 978-630–9109 to schedule an appointment with the transfer advisor. The transfer advisor is located in the advising center on the Gardner Campus and is available by appointment in Leominster.

3 + 1 Bachelor Degree Completion Program

Transfer of Credit

Students who meet the following criteria will be guaranteed that a minimum of 60 credits will transfer to a Massachusetts state college or university.

• Complete an associate degree with a minimum of 60 credit hours exclusive of foundation coursework.
• Achieve a cumulative QPA of not less than 2.0 (in a 4.0 system) at the community college awarding the degree.
• Complete the following minimum general education 34-credit transfer block exclusive of foundation coursework:
  English Composition I and II        6 credit hours
  Behavioral and Social Science        9 credit hours
  Humanities and Fine Arts             9 credit hours
  Natural or Physical Science           7 credit hours
  Mathematics                               3 credit hours
  Total                                          34 credit hours

The 34 credits in general education, specified above, will be applied toward the fulfillment of the receiving institution’s general education requirements.  A minimum of 26 additional credits will be accepted as transfer credits by the receiving institution.

Guaranteed Acceptance

Students who meet the above-mentioned criteria AND who graduate from MWCC with a QPA of 2.5 or higher in MassTransfer-eligible programs will be guaranteed acceptance to the appropriate university/college/school/major.

Tuition Reduction

Students who meet all of the above-mentioned requirements AND graduate from MWCC with a QPA of 3.0 or higher will be guaranteed an in-state minimum tuition (not fees) reduction of 33 percent for the first year at the college or university. If the student maintains a 3.0 QPA for the first year at the four-year institution, he/she will receive an in-state tuition reduction for the second year of attendance. Students transferring into continuing education programs are ineligible for the tuition reduction. The credits of students who transfer but do not meet the conditions of MassTransfer will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis at the four-year college or university.

*MassTransfer replaces Joint Admissions, Tuition Advantage Program (TAP), and Commonwealth Transfer Compact (CTC), effective fall 2011.

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education-Early Childhood and Elementary Education Compacts

The Early Childhood and Elementary Education Compacts apply to students transferring from participating community colleges upon graduation to participating state universities and Umass campuses offering Early Childhood or Elementary Education licensure at the baccalaureate level.

Transfer of Credit to MWCC

Students seeking to transfer credits to MWCC should submit an official transcript from each institution for which he/she is seeking the transfer of credits. Upon receipt of the transcript(s), the college will verify the accreditation of the institution(s); and if comparable regional accreditation exists, the college will review the courses to determine comparability with MWCC courses.

Where an equivalent course exists, credit will be granted for that course with a non-weighted QPA grade being awarded (e.g. TA, TB, TC, etc.). Where no equivalent course exists, but it is determined that the course is eligible for transfer based on college-level work and the applicability toward the student’s declared degree or certificate program, the course will be awarded transfer credit in the field of study most closely aligned to the course. The minimum course grade/qualitative point average required for credits to transfer to MWCC is C/2.0. Certain programs of study may have higher grade point average requirements for designated courses in their program. Students should consult their degree requirements for specific program differences. Non-graded course work will not be transferred (e.g. pass/fail courses). Courses taken more than ten years prior are subject to approval. If a student changes a program, the college will re-evaluate transcripts to provide up-to-date information. The maximum number of allowable transfer credits is 50% of the credits required for degree completion in the enrolled program.

Determinations of transfer credit will be made within a reasonable period of time after the receipt of the official transcript and all required additional documentation. Notice to the student will be given at the time of the completed evaluation.

Credits earned at non-accredited institutions or institutions with accreditations different from MWCC will receive the following review processes:

The student should submit official transcript(s) from the institution(s) for which he/she is seeking transfer credit. The college follows the American Council on Education’s (ACE) published recommendations on the transfer of non-accredited institutions including military and credit for training programs. These guidelines are published at http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=CCRS. For credits earned from international institutions, the college will follow the guidelines established by National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES).

The college may, at its discretion, form articulation agreements with non-regionally accredited institutions or organizations that will dictate the transfer of credit for students transferring between them. In compliance with the most current Massachusetts Quinn Bill revisions, the college may only accept certain credits for criminal justice students and/or courses. This may restrict the college’s general policy for the granting of credit for life experience or military credits in this case.

Any student who feels as though an error or omission has occurred in the evaluation of his/her transfer credit may appeal the situation to the transfer ombudsperson whose responsibility is to ensure institutional compliance with transfer policies and procedures. The transfer ombudsperson is the vice president of academic affairs and she/he can be reached at 978-630-9288. The Transfer Credit Evaluation Team has been established as a standing subcommittee of the MWCC Academic Council with additional representation from the MWCC advising center. The group will meet once per semester when any significant transfer issue arises that requires their input.