A generous credit transfer policy is one of the most important benefits a university can offer working adult students. For those working a full-time job, receiving credit for what they have already learned saves time and money as they further their education by earning a bachelor’s degree.

A transfer-friendly college looks at all aspects of what a working adult has learned, not just credits earned at other schools. This can include military experience and credit for prior learning. The goal is to eliminate the need for students to repeat courses when they have already mastered the subject matter.

That’s a key benefit for those going back to school as adults and enrolling in undergraduate degree programs.

Transfer-Friendly Colleges and Adult Learners

About 40 percent of all college students work a full-time job, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Among part-time students, that number jumps to 74 percent.

Also, older students are more likely to be working while attending school. The NCES data show that 56 percent of full-time college students between 25 and 39 work a job. Of college students in their forties, 58 percent have a job. Of those ages 50 to 64, 61 percent work a job.

The data show that many people are going back to college as adults. That’s a significant trend, as it’s never too late to earn a college degree. The numbers also show why colleges and universities must address the needs of working adults ready to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.

Transfer-Friendly Policies at NMU Global Campus

Recognizing that students come from all walks of life, including working adults with full-time jobs, NMU offers a generous transfer policy that helps students reach their academic goals faster and get credit for what they have already learned.

NMU offers five main pathways for earning transfer credit.

  • Credits earned from accredited community colleges or four-year universities, courses after high school
  • Advanced placement credit earned through three national testing programs: CLEP (College Level Examination Program), AP Examination (Advanced Placement Program of the College Examination Program), and IB (International Baccalaureate), and academic departmental recommendation based on previous work or educational experiences.
  • Dual enrollment/early college programs in high school
  • Military service (Joint Service Transcript or Community College of the Air Force)
  • Credit for prior learning, displaying learned competencies through a portfolio, or successfully completing other relevant assessments.

Academic advisors guide each student through the transfer credit process, including submitting college transcripts, test results, and other documents. Each student receives a Transfer Credit Evaluation within several weeks of admission to NMU. Students may transfer up to 90 semester credit hours from a two-year college and an unlimited amount from a four-year college.

The Benefits of Earning a Bachelor’s Degree

As a transfer-friendly college, NMU Global Campus can help working adults earn a four-year degree in less time, allowing them to reap the benefits of holding a bachelor’s degree as soon as possible.

Those benefits include expanding their skills and knowledge through college courses that broaden their worldview and expose them to new concepts. College students also boost their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Hiring managers typically prefer college graduates for leadership positions. College graduates have more marketable skills. They know the hard skills needed to do the job and the soft skills that make them better co-workers, team members, and leaders.

Data also shows the substantial practical benefits of going back to college as an adult. The latest federal government numbers show that as of 2021, people with a bachelor’s degree in the United States earned a median salary of $1,334 a week ($69,368 a year). That’s significantly more than those with an associate degree ($963) or a high school diploma ($809).

Also, the unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree was 3.5 percent, compared to 4.6 percent for an associate degree and 6.2 percent with only a high school diploma.

A transfer-friendly college allows students, including working adults, to get credit for what they already know from their education and years of experience. It’s a policy that enables motivated adults to realize their educational ambitions quickly.