For Transfer Students

Transferring made simple.

Whether you’re transferring from a two-year or community college or a four-year institution, we appreciate your interest in Mercyhurst! As a Mercyhurst Laker, you’ll be part of a vibrant, lifelong academic community of scholars and alumni who are making a difference everywhere in the world.

Our transfer process is easy and straightforward, and we’ll work with you at every step of the way. Mercyhurst’s flexible core curriculum means we’ll accept the vast majority of academic credits that you’ve already earned. This ensures that transferring won’t set you back in your pursuit of a bachelor’s—you’ll graduate on schedule without spending extra time or money on your degree. 

Will my Credits Transfer?

As an accredited institution, Mercyhurst accepts most credits from other accredited institutions. In general, the credits you’ve earned for courses in which you received a grade of “C” or higher will transfer to Mercyhurst. For students transferring from a community or junior college, Mercyhurst can accept a maximum of 60 credits, while students enrolling from four-year colleges or universities can transfer up to 80 credits. Credits earned for orientation, practicum experiences, internships, and student teaching do not transfer. Please note that while course credits transfer to Mercyhurst, grade point averages do not.

Core Coursework

While the thought of transferring credits can seem daunting, here at Mercyhurst, we have made the process as seamless as possible. Thanks to our flexible REACH Curriculum, the majority of the credits you’ve already earned will fulfill core requirements for your Mercyhurst degree, helping to ensure you won’t fall behind. 

In an effort to increase diverse academic interests and collaboration across fields of study, REACH includes a broad set of core disciplines with dozens of options to satisfy each course. As a transfer student, you’ll benefit from this approach—most of your courses will be accepted as part of REACH and you can still graduate on time.

Read about REACH Curriculum.

Major Courses and Electives

Mercyhurst’s department chairs help accommodate the transfer of major coursework. When reviewing transcripts, chairs consider whether the completed coursework applies to that program’s curriculum. Coursework is frequently accepted when students transfer to compatible programs. To see which courses have been accepted from various schools in the past, please click on the link below to access the Transfer Evaluation System tool.

Evaluate Your Credits

Applying to Mercyhurst

There’s a place for you here! We welcome transfer applications from bright, engaging students looking for an enriching undergraduate experience. Our online application is free and easy, and you can apply for Fall or Spring semester entry.

Admissions Requirements

All transfer applicants must submit the following:

• A completed free online application
• Official high school transcripts, if you have completed fewer than 24 college credits.
• Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Once admitted and confirmed, students must submit official transcripts) 
• Letters of recommendation are optional.

Please note: While not required at the time of application review, the Transfer Evaluation form must be submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to the start of enrollment at Mercyhurst University. Failure to do so may result in the termination of financial aid and/or removal from courses.

All transfer application documents should be directed to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions 
Mercyhurst University 
501 East 38th Street 
Erie, PA 16546

Apply Online

International Transfer Students

For international students ready to transfer to Mercyhurst, we can help with the necessary immigration paperwork, too. Our International Student Office is a full-service resource for you, ready to guide you through everything from transferring your F-1 status to getting settled and engaging with campus life. If you’re an international student and would like to transfer to Mercyhurst, contact the International Student Office at iso@mercyhurst.edu.

Scholarships and Aid

As you explore your higher education options, we’re confident that when you consider affordability and availability of financial aid, Mercyhurst will stand out among our peers. We commit considerable institutional resources to mitigate college expenses for our families, giving us one of the lowest net tuitions in the region. To be considered for financial aid, you must re-file or submit a correction to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include Mercyhurst University as a recipient. Our school code is 003297.

Transfer Scholarships

In addition to the donor-based scholarships offered at Mercyhurst, students transferring from other colleges or universities are eligible to receive merit-based transfer scholarships. The scholarships are awarded by the Committee on Academic Excellence during the admissions process. Candidates must meet certain academic requirements. Transfer scholarships include: 

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship — A student must be an active member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, be enrolled full-time, and have a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Egan Scholarship — This merit-based scholarship starts at $10,000 for qualified students.

Apply to FAFSA