Apply as a Transfer Student

Put your credits to work for you at UMN Morris, where you’ll find your people, place, and purpose. Here, you’ll earn a degree from a top research university while benefiting from a small, liberal arts campus community that will set you up to succeed and thrive.

Apply as a Transfer Student from another College or University

Apply as a Transfer Student from another University of Minnesota Campus

Academic Requirements

To transfer to UMN Morris, you should meet or exceed the following requirements.

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.50* from your transfer institution(s)
  • Evidence of college-level coursework
  • Good academic, social, and financial standing with all previously attended colleges

*Applicants who are near or below this requirement, or who have semesters below this benchmark, will be considered individually. In this case, please provide a written statement with your application about the circumstances contributing to any academic hardship and explain how you have addressed these issues to ensure your future college success.

If you have not completed 30 college credits after graduating high school at the time you submit your application, your high school record will also be taken into consideration.

Not every course that transfers will help you graduate. UMN Morris's bachelor of arts program requires coursework in several categories:

  • General education
  • Major/minor courses with prerequisites
  • Electives

Steps for Future Transfer Applicants

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Steps for Future Transfer Applicants

From another college

  1. Visit Us. Experience the sights and sounds of campus in person. Choose from multiple visit options. Not able to visit in person? Try our virtual tour.
  2. Apply online using the UMN Morris application or the Common App. For tips on how to make the most of your application, read how we evaluate applications.
  3. Have ALL official college and university transcripts sent directly to UMN Morris. Consider doing this early, as it can take several days for a college to issue your transcript. College transcripts are considered official if sent directly from the original institution. If the transcript is issued to you, we must receive it in the original envelope in which it was issued, with notation over the seal to determine if it was opened. Our transfer credit policy has more information on transferable course credit.
  4. If you have fewer than 30 transferable credits, have your official high school transcripts (and GED transcripts if applicable) sent directly from the school to UMN Morris. Call 888-866-3382 with any questions.
  5. Send any additional information (optional). Feel free to include extra materials like written statements, letters of recommendation, resumes, and portfolios that you feel would help us get to know you better. We encourage written statements if there are any extenuating circumstances we should take into account when reviewing your application.
  6. Receive your admission decision in approximately two weeks. This will be sent to the email address you listed on your application. 
  7. Your transcripts will be evaluated after you’ve been accepted and you’ll receive an email from our transfer coordinator about what transfer credits you received.
  8. Save your place! So we don’t give your spot away, return the confirmation card included in your admission packet with a nonrefundable $175 confirmation fee or pay the confirmation fee online with a credit card. Once we receive your confirmation, you will be able to request housing, schedule a registration session, and complete the necessary steps to become a UMN Morris student.

From another University of Minnesota campus

  1. Visit Us. Experience the sights and sounds of campus in person. Choose from multiple visit options. Not able to visit in person? Try our virtual tour.
  2. Complete the Change of College Application. Send your completed form to the Office of Admissions. 
  3. Have ALL official college and university transcripts sent directly to UMN Morris. You will not need to send any University of Minnesota transcripts, but you will need to request official college transcripts from colleges outside of the University of Minnesota be sent directly to UMN Morris. Consider doing this early, as it can take several days for a college to issue your transcript. College transcripts are considered official if sent to UMN Morris directly from the original institution. If the transcript was issued to you, we must receive the transcript in the original envelope in which it was issued, with notation over the seal to determine if it was opened. Our transfer credit policy has more information on transferable course credit.
  4. If you have fewer than 30 transferable credits, have your official high school transcripts (and GED transcripts if applicable) sent directly from the school to UMN Morris. Call 888-866-3382 with any questions.
  5. Send any additional information (optional). Feel free to include extra materials like written statements, letters of recommendation, resumes, and portfolios that you feel would help us get to know you better. We encourage written statements if there are any extenuating circumstances we should take into account when reviewing your application.
  6. Receive your admission decision in approximately two weeks. This will be sent to the email address you listed on your application. 
  7. Your transcripts will be evaluated after you’ve been accepted and you’ll receive an email from our transfer coordinator about what transfer credits you received. You may also run an APAS for the UMN Morris campus, but keep in mind that the transfer credits are not official until evaluated by the Office of the Registrar at the UMN Morris campus after admission.
  8. Save your place! So we don’t give your spot away, return the confirmation card included in your admission packet. Once we receive your confirmation, you will be able to request housing, schedule a registration session, and complete the necessary steps to become a UMN Morris student.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re so glad that you’re interested in transferring to UMN Morris! You may find answers to some of your questions here, otherwise don’t hesitate to contact our transfer admissions counselor.

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Where do I send my official transcripts?

To earn credit for college courses, send official transcripts for all coursework to the Office of Admissions via email to admissions@morris.umn.edu or mail to:

Office of Admissions
600 E 4th Street
Morris, MN 56267

How many UMN Morris credits do I have to earn to receive my University of Minnesota Morris degree?

You’ll need to earn at least 30 UMN Morris credits. Additionally, at least 15 credits of the last 30 credits earned prior to the awarding of your UMN Morris degree and half of your upper-level coursework in your major must be earned at UMN Morris.

I applied last year and was accepted. Do I have to submit a new application?

No. We have your application on file. Simply call 888-866-3382 or email admissions@morris.umn.edu to let us know you are re-applying. We will need the following, if we don’t already have them:

  • Official college or university transcripts
  • If you have less than 30 completed college credits include
    • official high school transcripts (and GED transcripts if applicable) sent directly from the school to UMN Morris and
    • official ACT or SAT reasoning score report (if your score is printed on your high school transcript, it is considered an official score). The Morris ACT code is 2155 and the SAT code is 6890.

Your application will be evaluated again based on past and updated application information. Re-admission is not guaranteed. Please contact Admissions with questions.

I applied and was accepted last year and was offered a scholarship. Do I automatically receive this scholarship again?

It depends. If you received a Transfer Academic Scholarship and still meet the required credit and transfer GPA requirements, and have not attended another University of Minnesota college since the scholarship was initially awarded, your Transfer Academic Scholarship will be reinstated. Other scholarships are canceled when you don’t enroll at UMN Morris. If eligible, you may re-apply for other scholarships.

What is the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum?

The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) is an agreement for transferring general education requirements as a package from and between participating colleges. The MNTC can be completed as a stand-alone program and is built into the associate of arts degree at participating colleges. UMN Morris accepts the MNTC. Contact your previous college for more information on availability and for guidance in completing the program.

I have completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. What does that mean if I attend UMN Morris?

  • All of your general education requirements are fulfilled for UMN Morris, with the exception of our second language requirement.
  • The language requirement can be fulfilled with two semesters of a single, beginning level second language.
  • In many cases, it’s best to complete prerequisites for your major instead of completing the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. Please contact UMN Morris as early as possible to ensure a smooth and efficient completion of your four-year degree.

What if I haven’t completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum?

Don’t worry! We will just look at your previous courses and make transfer decisions on a course-by-course basis. In many cases, it’s best to complete prerequisites for your major instead of completing the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.

Please contact UMN Morris as early as possible to ensure a smooth and efficient completion of your four-year degree.

Will credits from colleges that are not regionally accredited transfer to UMN Morris?

Not automatically. We do not accept transfer coursework from proprietary technical colleges, business colleges, and similar postsecondary schools that are not regionally accredited. However, you may be able to take an exam in certain subjects for credit. In lieu of regional accreditation, determination must be made that instruction is collegiate level and appropriate for UMN Morris’s liberal arts mission before credit is awarded.

Will my previous college GPA transfer to UMN Morris?

The only GPA that will transfer to Morris is one earned at another University of Minnesota campus. GPAs from a college or university outside of the University of Minnesota System will not be calculated in your UMN Morris GPA. Individual transfer courses, credits, and grades earned outside of the University of Minnesota System will not appear on your UMN Morris transcript, even if those transfer courses are used to complete your UMN Morris degree requirement.

I have already earned a four-year degree from another college but want to add a teaching license at UMN Morris. What do I need to do?

Apply for admission following the steps that match the type of college from which you are transferring. You will need to be admitted to both UMN Morris and the UMN Morris education program. The Office of Admissions will send you a separate education application packet after receiving your application for admission. Contact the Division of Education as early as possible to determine what licensure requirements you will need to fulfill and to avoid missing important application deadlines.

If you are transferring to UMN Morris after earning a degree from another college, note the following information.

  • You need to be admitted to both UMN Morris and the UMN Morris education program.
  • You may earn a bachelor of arts degree that would be recorded on the University of Minnesota official academic transcript.
  • You may elect a "teaching licensure only" option without a degree notation on the official transcript.

What if I already have a bachelor’s degree from another college?

Great! You are exempt from our general education requirements. You may not earn a second bachelor of arts degree, but you can pursue additional coursework or a new major at UMN Morris.

Do I automatically get junior standing when I transfer with a two-year degree?

No. We do not automatically grant junior standing. Class standing at UMN Morris depends on your total earned credits in transfer coursework, not time in school or degrees earned. On a similar note, if you have completed two years of coursework, you may have more than two years left at UMN Morris to complete your major, depending on previous coursework completed.

Is there a limit to the number of credits I can transfer?

No. There is no absolute limit on the number of credits in appropriate coursework that may be transferred to Morris. You will still need to fulfill all UMN Morris degree requirements, regardless of the number of credits you are transferring.

Will credits in religious studies transfer to UMN Morris?

Maybe. Religious studies from public regionally accredited colleges go through the normal transfer review. Religious studies from colleges that do not have regional accreditation go through a special faculty review committee.

Do repeated courses count twice?

No. If you have repeated a course, only the last enrollment for the course will transfer.

Do study abroad courses count?

Maybe. Study abroad courses may or may not transfer, depending on the international institution offering the courses and other variables. We use the same transfer review guidelines for study abroad coursework as we do for domestic college coursework. Prior approval from UMN Morris is always recommended to ensure that you can transfer the credits earned to UMN Morris. Contact Admissions with questions.

Do independent studies, workshops, field experience, or internships transfer?

Maybe. A special review will determine if the work was college level and meets our liberal arts requirements. We use the same transfer review guidelines for independent and applied coursework as we do for domestic college coursework.

What courses don’t transfer?

Courses that are not from regionally accredited institutions or those not designed for college credit, such as vocational, remedial, or developmental courses, do not transfer. Additionally, college-level courses with a W or F grade do not transfer.

What about credits earned under quarters vs. semesters?

We are on a semester system and will convert your quarter credits to semesters. To convert quarters to semesters, multiply the number of quarter credits by two-thirds. For example, 15 quarter credits equals 10 semester credits.

Virtual Tour

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Launch Experience