Do College Credits Expire?

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With an increasing number of adult students going back to college, one question students may ask is, “Do college credits expire?” College credits generally do not expire or disappear from the transcript where they were earned. If you earned credit for a course, it generally remains recorded on the transcript maintained by that institution. What can change is whether another institution will accept those credits and apply them toward a new degree program.

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Credits vs. Transferability

College credits generally remain recorded on the transcript issued by the institution where they were earned. However, that does not necessarily mean another institution will always apply them toward a new degree. Each receiving institution establishes its own transfer-credit policies. Therefore, it should be noted that course credits are not guaranteed to transfer to other schools and transferability of credits is at the sole discretion of the receiving institution.

Why Worry About Whether College Credits Expire?

In fall 2023, approximately 6.3 million students age 25 and over were enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions, representing nearly one-third of total enrollment.¹

Many adult learners return to college after years away. Whether earlier credits apply depends on the receiving institution's policies and the new program's requirements.

What Affects Whether Old Credits Transfer?

Every institution has its own transfer credit rules and policies, and the receiving institution determines whether previously completed coursework is eligible. However, several factors may be considered at each institution. Here are a few factors that may be considered:

Relevance of Existing Credits: Are the completed courses applicable to the new degree program? Courses may not apply if they do not align with the new field or degree requirements.
Length of Time Since the Credit Was Earned: Some institutions may place a maximum timeframe on the age of credits completed. Older coursework may receive closer review when subject matter has changed significantly. Recency policies may vary by institution and program.
College Accreditation: Accreditation may be considered when evaluating transfer credit, but accreditation alone does not guarantee acceptance.²
Minimum Grade Requirements: At AIU, undergraduate transfer courses generally require a grade of C or equivalent, while graduate transfer courses generally require a grade of B or equivalent.
General Education vs. STEM and Professional Credits Depending on the institution and program, general education courses may remain applicable longer because their foundational content may change less rapidly. Credits in technical, IT, scientific, nursing, engineering and other professional fields may receive additional scrutiny. There is no universal period after which these credits expire.

How Many Credits Can You Transfer?

At AIU, associate degree students may transfer-in up to 67.5 quarter credits, or 75% of the program. Bachelor's degree students up to 135 quarter credits, or 75% of the program, may be applied as transfer credit. Master's degree students may have up to 18 quarter credits, or 40% of the program, applied as transfer credit. All transferred coursework remains subject to Academic Affairs review and approval. Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis and not all credits are eligible for transfer.

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Graduate Credits and Revalidation

Graduate transfer credits are subject to graduate-level grade, relevance and course-comparability requirements. Students with older graduate coursework should ask the receiving institution whether revalidation or another demonstration of current knowledge is available.

How to Check If Your Credits Will Transfer

Each school handles transfer credit differently. Keep the following points in mind:

Send Transcripts to Your New School: AIU may use unofficial transcripts for an initial evaluation, but official transcripts are required before transfer credit is finalized and applied.
Placement Tests May Be Required: A new program may use placement testing to assess current knowledge.
Information on Previous Courses May Be Requested: An advisor may request syllabi or course materials to evaluate equivalency.
Old Credits May Be Applied as Electives: Some accepted credits may be applied as electives, depending on the institution and program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do college credits expire?

Generally, no. Credits remain on the transcript where they were earned, but another institution may decide not to apply them toward a new degree program.

How long are college credits good for?

There is no single time limit. Policies vary by institution, program, subject and recency.

What affects whether old credits transfer?

Factors may include subject area, course age, accreditation, program relevance, grades and residency requirements.

Do credits from an unaccredited school transfer?

Credits from an unaccredited school may be difficult or impossible to transfer. However, the receiving institution makes the final decision on whether or not these will be accepted.

How many college credits can you transfer?

At AIU, up to 75% of an associate or bachelor's degree program and up to 40% of a master's degree program may be applied as institutional transfer credit. Residency requirements may vary at other institutions.

Can expired or old graduate credits be used?

Older graduate credits may still be considered, but graduate programs may apply grade, relevance, comparability or recency requirements. Students should ask the receiving institution about its policy.

Pursue Your Education Today

Are you thinking about returning to school but do not want to start from scratch? View AIU's transfer credit guide to learn how previous college, military or work experience may be evaluated. Transfer credit is evaluated individually, and not all credits are eligible to transfer.

¹ National Center for Education Statistics. “Student Enrollment: How many students ages 25 and over enroll in postsecondary institutions in the fall?” https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trendgenerator/app/answer/2/8 Visited August 14, 2026.
² U.S. Department of Education. “Accreditation in the U.S.” https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation/accreditation-in-the-us Visited August 14, 2026.

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. Programs vary by location.

Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.
REQ2254046 08/2026