Transfer Students
We offer you a number of pathways to a degree. There are some requirements, of course, but our entire admission process is designed to be flexible and meet you where you are.
Check your credits
Students who wish to meet with an adviser to discuss transfer credits may schedule an appointment with our Transfer Prospective Student Advising team.
Guaranteed Admission
VCU College of Engineering has a guaranteed admission agreement with the Virginia Community College System. If you are a community college student, please review the admission agreement for engineering.
- College course credits in math to Calculus 1 (equivalent to VCU MATH 200) or higher
- College credit for at least one laboratory science course (see lab science notes below)
- A GPA of 2.7 or higher on all college course work, with an emphasis on grades in math and science (see lab science notes below)
Ideally, transfer students will have lab science courses that count toward graduation requirements. Specific courses vary by major. Ideal VCU equivalents are:
- Biomedical Engineering
• BIOL 151
• CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101
• PHYS 207 - Chemical and Life Science Engineering
• CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101
• BIOL 151
• PHYS 207 - Electrical and Computer Engineering
• CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101
• PHYS 207
• PHYS 208 - Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
• CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101
• PHYS 207
• PHYS 208 - Computer Science
Students in Computer Science choose a science pathway, choose from ONE of the bullet options below.
• CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101
• PHYS 207
• BIO 151
Successful transfer applicants should be good students overall with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or above, and math and science grades should be 3.0 or better.
When we review an application, we consider courses taken at all previous colleges and universities. More recent courses are the most important, but we take earlier grades into account. Because many transfer students have attended multiple institutions, or have not been continuously enrolled the evaluation process is highly individualized and the GPAs above can only be considered rough guidelines.
Applicants should display consistent performance in high school or college-level classes, which helps indicate ability to manage time and complete the course work required for success at VCU Engineering.
If you are enrolled in the Virginia Community College System or Richard Bland College, be sure to review the transfer maps VCU has created to help you prepare for your desired major. You can find these and other resources to help make sure you will graduate on time with minimal dept and loss of transfer credit.
Our collaborative, creative, entrepreneurial culture means transfer students quickly become part of the VCU Engineering family. If you have a passion for innovation and meet the criteria below, you may be a future Ram engineer.
Evaluating and Awarding Credit
Accepted students who have paid a tuition deposit receive official credit evaluations. Many students would like to see an unofficial credit evaluation. To do this, make an appointment with our transfer advising office at https://transfer.vcu.edu/contact/ and select Request Transfer Advising.
We only accept transfer credits from colleges that are accredited by one of the seven regional accreditation bodies in the U.S. Transfer credits from institutions outside the U.S. are evaluated, on a case-by-case basis.
It may be necessary for students to provide additional information to gain transfer credit. It is possible for students to “challenge” courses with permission of the faculty and must be done within university guidelines. Official results from CLEP, AP or IB exams must be submitted for credit to be awarded based on Learn more about additional sources of credit at http://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-study/admission-university/additional-sources-of-credit/.
Equivalencies for courses completed through the Virginia Community College System and Richard Bland have been evaluated through a collaborative agreement between VCU and VCCS. Students are encouraged to contact the College of Engineering about transfer equivalencies of specific courses toward requirements in the engineering and computer science curricula.
Standardized Test Scores
Applicants with an associate’s degree or higher do not have to submit standardized test scores. Transfers under the age of 22 who have fewer than 30 college credits must submit a high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores. . Veterans who have military education credits should forward documentation so that possible transfer credits can be identified.
What kind of transfer are you?
At VCU we celebrate diversity, and we know that every student has a unique journey that has brought them to this point. We know that you may have questions about what the rest of your journey toward being an engineer or computer scientist may look like. While every pathway is different, we’ve provided some common themes to help you plan your educational future.
Students who have an associates degree have met VCU’s core requirements. Depending on your community college credits, you may still have VCU Engineering core course requirements to complete. See how your prior college credits transfer or contact the VCU Transfer Center.
While you may come in at a Sophomore or Junior level from the number of credits, it may take you more than 2 academic years to finish your degree. The amount of time it takes to finish your degree will depend on how “degree applicable” your community college courses are to your VCU Engineering major requirements.
All transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. VCU has evaluated many courses, which you may look up. You may also contact the VCU transfer office for an unofficial evaluation of prior credit. The amount of time it takes to finish your degree will depend on how closely related your prior coursework is to the major you choose.
If you are changing careers with a prior degree, your pathway will be similar to that of a transfer student who finished a degree at a community college (see above). If your prior education is closely related to engineering and computer science, it is more likely that your transfer credits are degree or certificate applicable. If you have credits without a full degree, your experience is closely related to a student who has started at a university or college without an associates (see above).
If you are changing careers without prior college or university credit, we encourage you to review the information above about mathematics and science requirements for your intended major.
Your pathway will look similar to "changing careers" (see above). Be sure to submit your military experience for a credit review.
Join the RAMily
VCU Engineering student organizations, design-a-thons, unique student experiences, and our special events are designed to make you feel at home — because you are home! Join our ambassadors program, get help from a tutor participate in an innovative program, inspire and be inspired.
Undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering have myriad opportunities to get involved with student organizations outside of the classroom. The following organizations offer opportunities for networking, socializing, developing leadership skills and furthering academic achievement at VCU.
The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in multiyear, multidisciplinary, team-based projects under the guidance of faculty and graduate students in their areas of expertise.
The Dean’s Undergraduate Research Initiative (DURI) aims to broaden the undergraduate student research experience and provide opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to develop skills in mentoring at the VCU College of Engineering under the leadership of our faculty.
The academic and experiential offerings of the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation aim to create T-shaped individuals who are anchored in a discipline and have the capacity and openness to span across disciplines. As a result, students are better prepared to engage in our increasingly global world because they have developed the skills and tools necessary to engage in difficult dialog, to disagree, to reframe failure, and make change. The da Vinci Center is committed to increasing diversity and inclusivity in entrepreneurial and technical ecosystems; recognizing that our students represent the next generation of innovators and creators.
As a transfer student you may be concerned about being behind others in the search for practical experiences like internships and co-ops.
When transfer students enroll at VCU:
Check-in with Engineering Career Services before the semester starts. Make a virtual appointment to introduce yourself to our Career Advisors and let them know about your future plans.