Transferring Credit to Montana State University
If you have earned college-level credit prior to attending Montana State University, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit! Montana State University and the Office of Admissions evaluates transfer credit with the goal of providing fair and appropriate recognition of your prior academic accomplishments while ensuring you are prepared for success in your future coursework.
Please review the sections below for more information on MSU's transfer credit evaluation policies, processes, and resources to help you understand how your prior learning can help you earn a degree at MSU.
Transferable Credit
All college-level coursework from institutionally recognized colleges and universities is transferable to Montana State University, including credit earned during high school through dual enrollment, early college, and Running Start programs. Montana State University also recognizes credit earned for military training and qualifying Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores.
Montana State University accepts college-level undergraduate coursework from institutionally recognized colleges and universities, including credits earned while in high-school through dual enrollment, early college, and Running Start programs.
Before your credits can be evaluated, the Office of Admissions must receive your official college transcripts showing final grades posted. Please request to have official college transcripts sent directly from all institutions you have previously attended.
Official transcripts must be requested and sent either:
- By mail from the institution where the credit was earned
- Through a secure electronic transcript service (Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.)
If you choose to send by mail, use the following address:
MSU Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 172190
Bozeman, MT 59717-2190
Transcripts faxed directly from another Montana University System in-state institution with a MACRAO-fax stamp are accepted as official. All other faxed or emailed out-of-state transcripts are considered unofficial.
If you are currently a student at a Montana University System campus, you may instead fill out a Transmittal of Application Materials request form and submit it to the Registrar's Office at your current institution to have your official transcripts and other application documents sent to Montana State University.
MSU accepts qualifying scores on approved Advanced Placement (AP) exams. To receive credit for AP exam scores, official scores must be sent directly from College Board to MSU (MSU school code is 4488) to receive credit.
If your AP scores are not available before your Orientation session, your advisor can help you take AP credit into account when registering for classes and you may send your test scores once they become available.
Below, you will find a list of Advanced Placement courses and their equivalencies at Montana State University. Approved equivalency determinations for AP exams were made by the relevant academic departments. Most exams require a score of 3 or better to count toward college credit. Please note that some courses require a score of 4 or better. In addition, more credit may be earned in some cases for higher exam scores.
MSU accepts qualifying scores on approved International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. To receive credit for IB exam scores, official scores must be sent directly from International Baccalaureate Organization to MSU to receive credit.
If your IB scores are not available before your Orientation session, your advisor can help you take IB credit into account when registering for classes and you may send your test scores once they become available.
Below, you will find a list of IB exams and their equivalencies at Montana State University. Approved equivalency determinations for IB exams were made by the relevant academic departments. Most exams require a score of 4 or better to count toward college credit. Please note that some courses may be brought in at the "Standard Level" (SL) while others require the "High Level" (HL) exam. In addition, more credit may be earned in some cases for higher exam scores.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit may be awarded by the academic department for successful performance in certain subject exams. Students should reach out directly to MSU Testing Services for more information on what credit is available through CLEP, how to submit CLEP exam scores, and how to schedule to take a CLEP exam at Montana State University.
MSU accepts military training and coursework documented through the Joint Services Transcript (JST). A maximum of 30 elective credits from military experience may be applied toward your degree.
To receive credit for military training, request your official JST be sent directly to MSU.
For questions about military credit evaluation, please contact the Office of Admissions: admissions@montana.edu or 406-994-2452.
Transfer Credit Evaluations
Initial Evaluations
The Office of Admissions completes transfer credit evaluations for newly admitted students based on official final transcripts and exam scores. During the initial evaluation, the Office of Admissions determines the appropriate course level, grading, and credit conversions on the transfer work. Additionally, all lower level coursework (equivalent to 100-200 level at MSU) is reviewed for possible equivalence to courses currently offered at MSU and applicability toward the MSU CORE curriculum general education requirements.
A course must be taken within 15 years of attending MSU, at least two semester credits, and have a grade of C- or higher (with no pass/fail grading) to count towards MSU's CORE curriculum general education requirements. For more detailed information about MSU's CORE curriculum categories and requirements, please visit the CORE curriculum website.
Completed evaluations result in the following determinations:- Direct equivalents: Credits that match specific courses currently offered at MSU.
- Elective credit with CORE: Credits that are approved to fulfill one of MSU's CORE curriculum requirements and do not match a specific course currently offered at MSU.
- Elective credit without CORE: All other transferable credits.
Students are notified by email when their transfer credit evaluation is complete for each official transcript received and can view their completed transfer credit evaluations on their Transfer Equivalency Worksheet in MyMSU.
Montana State University participates in the Montana University System's Common Course Numbering agreement. If you have attended an MUS institutions within 15 years of attending MSU and completed a course with the same subject code, course number, and course title as a class currently offered by Montana State University, the course will transfer as a direct equivalent.
Outdated Coursework
The Office of Admissions does not evaluate individual courses for credit earned more than 15 years before attending MSU. Instead, coursework earned more than 15 years before attending MSU will receive a single "block" of credit equivalent to the total hours of credit earned.
Students who have earned outdated coursework can then work with their advisor to determine whether and how their prior coursework can be applied to their current academic program and goals.
Post-Baccalaureate Evaluations
The Office of Admissions does not evaluate individual courses for students who have already earned a Bachelor's degree. Instead, post-Baccalaureate students receive a single "block" of credit equivalent to the hours of credit they have already earned and their CORE curriculum is considered complete.
Post-Baccalaureate students can then work with their advisor to determine whether and how their prior coursework can be applied to their current academic program and goals.
Additional Review and Appeals
There are many situations in which additional review may be appropriate after an initial transfer credit evaluation is complete.
Even when a transfer course isn't equivalent to a specific MSU course, it may still fulfill prerequisites or degree-specific requirements for your program. Please work with your academic advisor and the relevant academic department to substitute transfer courses for curriculum requirements in specific degree programs.
Additional review will be required for any of the following coursework categories for consideration towards degree-specific curriculum requirements or direct equivalency to a course currently offered at MSU:
- Anatomy and Physiology courses
- Anthropology courses
- Economics courses
- Engineering courses
- All upper level (300-400, junior and senior) courses
- All courses completed more than 5 years prior to attending MSU
Once your initial evaluation is complete, you can work with your academic advisor to discuss whether additional review of any of your coursework is appropriate.
Formal appeals regarding transfer credit are processed by the Core Equivalency Review Committee (CERC) and the Graduation and Admission Requirements Committee (GARC) and must be coordinated with your academic advisor. For more information, please visit the Registrar's Office website.
Transfer Equivalency Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Before your credits can be evaluated, the Office of Admissions must receive your official transcripts showing final grades posted. Please request to have official transcripts sent directly from all institutions you have previously attended.
Official transcripts must be requested and sent either:
- By mail from the institution
- By a secure electronic transcript service (Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.)
If you choose to send by mail, use the following address:
MSU Office of Admissions
201 Strand Union Building (SUB)
P.O. Box 172190
Bozeman, MT 59717-2190
Transcripts faxed directly from another Montana University System in-state institution with a MACRAO-fax stamp are accepted as official. All other faxed or emailed out-of-state transcripts are considered unofficial.
If you are currently a student at a Montana University System campus, you may instead fill out a Transmittal of Application Materials request form and submit it to the Registrar's Office at your current institution to have your official transcripts and other application documents sent to Montana State University.
You can see whether MSU has received your transcript on your Admissions Checklist
in MyMSU.
- If you see a check mark next to the institution listed on your Admissions Checklist, we have received your final, official transcript for that school.
- If you do not see a check mark, then we have not received an official, final transcript for that institution.
If you have any questions about the status of your transcript, please contact the MSU Office of Admissions: admissions@montana.edu or 406-994-2452.
If you have any questions about how your past colleges are showing in your Admissions Checklist, please contact your please contact your Admissions Evaluator.
MSU requires official transcripts for all institutions you have previously attended. If you withdrew or dropped your classes before completing any credit, you will still need to have an official transcript sent to MSU to verify you are in good academic and administrative standing with the institution. If you are unable to order a transcript, please contact please contact your Admissions Evaluator.
MSU requires all degree-seeking students to submit official transcripts from all institutions you have attended previously, including those who have already earned degrees.
The Office of Admissions only evaluates transfer credit for admitted students. The completion of transfer credit evaluations are prioritized by on the date the official transcripts are received as well as other steps students have taken towards enrolling at Montana State University, such as registering for orientation and submitting required immunization documentation.
If you have questions about the status of your application or transfer credit evaluation, please contact your Admissions Evaluator.
You will receive an email notification when your transfer credit evaluation is complete.
You will also be able to see if your transfer credit evaluation is complete in the Transcript Evaluation section of your Admissions Checklist in MyMSU.
You can see your completed evaluations on your Transfer Equivalency Worksheet in MyMSU. You can access your Transfer Equivalency Worksheet under Admissions Applications or through a link at the bottom of the Transfer Evaluation section of your Admissions Checklist.
Please contact your Admissions Evaluator if you believe coursework is missing from your evaluation.
You can discuss your coursework with your advisor to determine whether preparing a CERC appeal may be appropriate. Please bring a syllabus of the course or courses to your advising appointment.
You can discuss your coursework with your advisor to determine whether it can fulfill any program-specific prerequisites or degree requirements. Please bring a syllabus of the relevant courses to your advising appointment.
The Office of Admissions does not evaluate individual courses for students who have already earned a Bachelor's degree. Instead, post-Bachelor's students receive a single "block" of credit equivalent to the hours of credit they have already earned and their CORE curriculum is considered complete.
Students who have already earned a Bachelor's degree can then work with their advisor to determine whether and how their prior coursework can be applied to their current academic program and goals.
If the college or university you are looking for is not listed on the Transfer Equivalency Guide, it may mean that Montana State University-Bozeman has not yet added the institution to our database.
Montana State University accepts college-level undergraduate coursework from institutionally recognized colleges and universities.
Please contact transfercredit@montana.edu to verify that credits from your institution are eligible for transfer to MSU-Bozeman.
Courses only appear on the Transfer Equivalency Guide after they have been reviewed as part of an official transfer credit evaluation. The Office of Admissions only performs official transfer credit evaluations on college-level credit listed on an official college transcript from the institution that originally awarded the credit.
Please contact transfercredit@montana.edu if you have concerns about whether your credit is college-level.
Courses transferring as elective credit have the subject prefix "ELEC" on the right side of the Transfer Equivalency Guide, followed by a three digit number indicating the equivalent level (100/200 for lower level, 300/400 for upper level) of the coursework.
Coursework may be evaluated as elective credit if it is not clearly equivalent to a course currently offered at MSU.
You can discuss your elective credit with your advisor to see if additional evaluation is appropriate. Please keep a copy of your course syllabi in the event additional evaluation is necessary.
If you completed coursework currently receiving elective credit that you believe should fulfill one of MSU's Core curriculum requirements or is equivalent to a course currently offered at MSU, please retain a copy of your course syllabi to review with your program advisor during orientation.
If you believe a course listed on the guide features an error, please contact transfercredit@montana.edu.