Transferring, by its very nature, is a complicated process, so let us help you make the experience as smooth a process as is possible.  Come see us early, especially if you plan to stay at your current institution to take coursework for eventual transfer to and use at SVSU.  We're here to help guide you in making informed transfer decisions about the credits you will bring with you to SVSU.

For optimal results, transferring involves arranging a customized evaluation of existing credits and strategic planning of remaining credits, whether those remaining credits are to be completed at the transfer-from institution or eventually at SVSU.  If you would like to arrange a personalized transfer-student visit for this purpose, call the Office of Admissions at 989.964.4200 or 800.968.9500.

For a more in-depth view of SVSU visit svsu.edu/go or explore our virtual tour.

When to Apply:

You can apply to Saginaw Valley State University at any point in the year. However, you may apply up to one year before your intended SVSU start term and we strongly recommend that you apply at least by the time you begin your last semester/quarter at your present college or university. Do not wait until you have completed your last class. The chart below can be used as a guide on when to submit your application.

*Earlier University applications may be necessary for students also applying to professional programs.

Application Submission Instructions:

1. Complete the application for admission online or in paper form and send to the Office of Admissions.
2. Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
3. Have your official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended sent to SVSU.
4. If fewer than 24 academic credit hours have been completed, send a copy of high school transcripts with posted graduation date and ACT/SAT scores to the Office of Admissions.
5. If more than 24 academic credit hours have been completed, send only official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. 

Apply Online: SVSU Transfer Application

If you do not see the institution you are looking for using our lookup tool, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@svsu.edu. Or you can schedule an appointment with an admission office representative to receive an unofficial transcript evaluation. 

Specific requirements and limitations for undergraduate programs:

1. The maximum credits accepted from all sources for an undergraduate degree program is 93 credits (with the exception of the 150-credit hour accounting program where the maximum credits accepted is 119 credits).
2. The maximum credits accepted from all two-year institutions for an undergraduate degree program is 62.
3. The minimum acceptable grade for transfer to an undergraduate degree program is "C-" or its equivalent.

Once a transfer student is admitted to the university, he or she will receive an official Transfer Equivalency Report (TER) from the Office of the Registrar which will detail how each course previously taken will transfer to SVSU.

Learn how your credits transfer to SVSU or find what courses fulfill an SVSU course »

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Policy:

The CLEP testing program gives individuals the chance to earn college credit by examination in a variety of areas of study. Two types of tests are offered—general examinations and subject examinations. Contact the Office of the Registrar at (989) 964-4085 or registrar@svsu.edu for information about the available credit and minimum required scores.

‌‌‌‌‌MACRAO Agreement and the Michigan Transfer Agreement/MTA:

SVSU's commitment to Michigan community college students is reflected through SVSU's participation in both the MACRAO Agreement and the Michigan Transfer Agreement/MTA. If your transfer transcript reflects either MACRAO or MTA completion, then all 30 of your MACRAO/MTA credits will be applied so that you will have met 30 (the majority) of SVSU's general education requirements. If you are planning eventual transfer to SVSU, then contact SVSU's Office of Admission to see if either MACRAO or MTA is right for you. For more information about how to earn either agreement, contact the academic advising office of the school where you will pursue the MACRAO/MTA requirements.

Transfer Guides:

If you are thinking of transferring to Saginaw Valley State University from a two-year community college, our transfer guides are designed to help provide important information about the classes to consider taking prior to initial transfer. You are not required to complete all of the classes listed on the guide before enrolling at SVSU. Changes occasionally take place at SVSU and at other colleges, so the information provided is subject to change. Students intending to transfer to SVSU from another college or university are responsible for planning their courses to meet the requirements at SVSU. Students are STRONGLY encouraged to maintain regular contact with an SVSU pre-admission transfer adviser. Information provided on this site is for incoming transfer students, not for currently enrolled SVSU students.

 * * * To find your appropriate Transfer Guide, please click here. * * *

 Articulation Agreements:

SVSU’s articulation agreements highlight and promote special transfer arrangements made above and beyond the regular transfer path with a number of Michigan community colleges. To determine if your program and/or school falls under one of these special agreements with SVSU, please contact the Office of Admissions at (989) 964-4200 or (800) 968-9500.

Reverse Transfer:

Reverse Transfer is an optional process by which transfer students currently enrolled in a four-year university can transfer university credits back to their former community college in an effort to qualify for an associate degree credential from that community college.  Formal Reverse Transfer arrangements exist between SVSU and each of the following Michigan community college partners:

For more information, please click here. 

A transfer applicant with a 2.0 cumulative G.P.A. or above with a minimum of 24 academic credit hours completed at a former higher education institution will be admitted to Saginaw Valley State University. Courses completed as well as the trend of the most recent grades will be taken into account.

A transfer applicant with a 2.0 cumulative G.P.A. or above with FEWER than 24 academic credit hours completed must also submit high school transcripts and their ACT or SAT score.  Admission evaluation will be made based on both the college record and the high school record, using the freshman admission requirements.

To be considered for admission, you must submit the following:

1. Completed undergraduate application for admission  
2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
3. If fewer than 24 academic credit hours have been completed, send a copy of high school transcripts with posted graduation date and ACT/SAT scores to the Office of Admissions
4. If more than 24 academic credit hours have been completed, send only official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
5. A $30 non-refundable application fee

Transfer Scholarships

The following scholarships are available to transfer students (additional criteria may be required). They are awarded based on merit and/or need. Students are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on an early basis (as early as January 1) for consideration of these awards. In addition to the FAFSA form, a separate scholarship application is required upon admission to the University. 

Exclusive Awards (one per student)

Community College Scholarship

• Type: Competitive
• Amount: $1,500 per year for two years
• Requirements: 
  • New undergraduate transfer student
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • 24 or more transfer credits from a community college
  • Full time student at SVSU

Private Scholarships

• Several SVSU Private Scholarships are also available to incoming transfer students! By completing our Private Scholarship Application, you will be considered for all Private Scholarships for which you meet eligibility criteria. This Private Scholarship Application is available online at www.svsu.edu/apply/scholarships and can be accessed once a student is admitted to the University.

When & How to Apply for Scholarships

• Most scholarship applications are due in early June for the upcoming school year. 
• To apply for the Community College Scholarship, you will need to fill out the private scholarship application.
• To submit a private scholarship application, follow these steps:
  1. Go to http://www.svsu.edu/apply/scholarships/
  2. Click the Newly Admitted link
  3. Sign in using your SVSU username and password
  4. Select the General Application tab on the top left hand side of the screen
  5. Complete the general application and click submit at the bottom of the screen
  6. Review the scholarship opportunities available to you and apply for the ones that interest you

Step 1: Apply for Admission

SVSU operates on a rolling admission basis; however, for best results, application is encouraged by February 15 for Fall, October 1 for Winter, and February 1 for Spring and/or Summer. Earlier university application may be required for students also applying to professional programs.

1. Complete the application for admission online or in paper form and send to the Office of Admissions.
2. Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
3. Have your official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended sent to SVSU.
4. If fewer than 24 academic credit hours have been completed, send a copy of high school transcripts with posted graduation date and ACT/SAT scores to the Office of Admissions.
5. If more than 24 academic credit hours have been completed, send only official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. 

Step 2: Apply for Financial Aid

1. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ( www.fafsa.ed.gov ) form as early as January 1. For best results, complete the online application and do so by February 15 or as soon as possible after that date. 
2. On the FAFSA form, enter SVSU's Federal School Code: 002314.

Step 3: Reserve Orientation Date

Upon admission to SVSU, you will receive in the mail information on how to register for an Express Orientation.

1. Reserve your orientation date (Express Orientation dates begin in April for those starting in Fall and in October for those starting in Winter).
2. At your orientation, you will:
   • Review your transfer evaluation report and discuss your degree program with an academic advisor.
   • Select and register for your first semester courses at SVSU.
   • Complete any necessary placement testing in basic skills math, reading and writing. Each student must satisfy basic skills course requirements for mathematics, reading and writing. Placement into or exemption from the required courses in mathematics, reading and writing will be determined by results of the ACT, SAT, Transfer Evaluation Report (TER), and/or course placement tests.
   • Get your picture taken for your student I.D.
   • Have an opportunity to meet with financial aid and housing staff.

Attendance at a TOP is mandatory for any new transfer student without a bachelor's degree in order to enroll at SVSU.

Step 4: Complete housing packet and pay deposit (if you are interested in living on campus)

1. Take a virtual tour of our Housing Options at www.svsu.edu/livingoncampus.
2. Decide which meal plan (optional) is best for you.
3. Fill out your housing packet and return with a $200 prepayment.

Step 5: Make First Tuition Payment

Payment for each semester is due usually at least three weeks before classes begin.

1. Log into my.svsu.edu, SVSU's web based student access system (login information is given at Orientation)
2. Payment can be made via cash, check, money order, or credit card (American Express, Discover and MasterCard). Information about the Cardinal Payment Plan can be accessed at www.svsu.edu/cpp.

Click HERE to view Express Registration Questions

Housing - Transfer Applicants

Step 1: Apply to SVSU

Before you can apply for on-campus housing at Saginaw Valley State University, you must be admitted to the University. If you have not applied and been admitted to the University, please visit: www.svsu.edu/apply . Undergraduate Canadian students will coordinate their orientation and housing through the Undergraduate Office of Admissions. Other new international students will coordinate their orientation and housing with the Office of International Programs.

Step 2: Reserve Orientation Date

Upon admission to SVSU, you will receive in the mail information on how to register for a Transfer Orientation Program (TOP). TOP dates begin in April for those starting in Fall and in October for those starting in Winter. At your orientation, you will: (1) Review your transfer credit evaluation and discuss your degree program with an academic advisor; (2) Select and register for your first semester courses at SVSU; (3) Complete any necessary placement testing in basic skills math, reading and writing. Each student must satisfy basic skills course requirements for mathematics, reading and writing. Placement into or exemption from the required courses in mathematics, reading and writing will be determined by results of the ACT, SAT, Transfer Evaluation Report (TER), and/or course placement tests; (4) Get your picture taken for your student I.D.; and (5) Have an opportunity to meet with financial aid and housing staff.

Attendance at a TOP is mandatory for any new transfer student without a bachelor's degree in order to enroll at SVSU.

Step 3: Complete Housing Application and Prepayment

Submit housing application and contract materials along with a $200 prepayment. Please make sure you have enough financing to cover the Contract as you are entering into a binding legal contract with the University as long as you are enrolled. You can verify your financial details on your award letter that is generated by filing your FAFSA.

Please see .

Don't Hesitate: Spots Fill Quickly!

Housing is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are hoping to enjoy the benefits of living on campus, you should not waste any time once the applications are available.

• Applications will be distributed beginning in December for the upcoming Fall/Winter academic year.

Meal Plans

Incoming transfer students with 30+ credits may choose any of our meal plan options. Please see .

Each student must satisfy basic skills course requirements for mathematics, reading and writing. Placement into or exemption from the required courses in mathematics, reading and writing will be determined by results of the ACT, SAT, Transfer Equivalency Report (TER), and/or course placement tests. 

Students who feel they have received an inappropriate placement may request additional assessment from Academic Advisement Center and/or the appropriate department chairperson. For transfer students, placement into or exemption from these required courses also may be determined by the results of the Transfer Equivalency Report (TER).

Mathematics:

Basic Math/Algebra is fulfilled via equivalent to SVSU's MATH082 - Beginning Algebra or higher algebra-bases course.

Initial math placement for freshmen will be based on ACT math sub-score, according to the table below.

Students may try to improve their initial placement by taking a mathematics placement test. Students may take this placement test no more than 2 times. If you are interested in taking a mathematics placement test, please contact the Math & Physics Tutoring center to set up an appointment. You can contact them via email at mathtutor@svsu.edu, phone at 989-964-4648, or visit them on the web at http://www.svsu.edu/mathphysicstutoring/.

Students without ACT Math sub-scores must take the mathematics placement test. These students may take the placement test no more than 2 times. Transfer students who do not transfer appropriate coursework to SVSU, but do submit ACT math sub-scores, will follow the usual procedure for students with ACT scores.

The Math Placement Test:

Those students who do not have an ACT Math sub-score, or who wish to exercise the re-test option, will take the math placement test. For the next few years, the math placement test will be a COMPASS (Computer-adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System) test developed by ACT (American College Testing Program). The test is multiple-choice, computer-based, and designed to evaluate students’ ability levels in Pre-algebra, Algebra, College Algebra, and Trigonometry. For more information on the COMPASS Mathematics Placement Test visit www.act.org/compass.

Reading:

Transfer students will be exempt from taking courses for the basic skills reading requirements if they meet either of the following:

1) Students whose overall high school GPA is 3.00 or higher and whose ACT Composite Score is 22 or higher are exempt from reading courses and will not have to take the Reading Test.

2) Transfer Credit/GPA Reading Waiver (source will appear as ‘TER'). A waiver is determined by the number of credits completed and corresponding cumulative transfer GPA:

Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT)

The Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT) consists of 80 vocabulary questions and 38 reading and comprehension questions, for a total of 156 points. Students are allowed 35 minutes to complete the test.

Writing:

Writing is fulfilled via equivalent to SVSU's ENGL111 - Composition I

Transfer students must complete a writing sample. Students pick one of two topics and write an essay, and are allowed 40 minutes.

* Scrap paper is included for constructing a rough draft.

* Students' writing is critiqued on style, grammar, punctuation, spelling, paragraph structure, sentence structure, etc.

Placement: Members of the English Department read and evaluate transfer student essays. Based on their consensus, the student is placed into the appropriate course, English 080 (Writing Skills) and English 111 (Elements of Composition I).

Advance Placement (AP) Policy:

Saginaw Valley State University participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board and grants either advanced credit, advanced placement or both, to freshmen who have completed college-level studies while still in high school and have earned satisfactory scores on the Advanced Placement examinations.

Scores of three, four or five on the following examinations assure the entering student of both advanced placement and credit: American History, Studio Art, Art History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Composition and Literature, English Language and Composition, European History, Music, Physics B and Physics C. Credit and placement are granted for scores of four or five on Biology, French, German, Latin, Psychology and Spanish examinations.

To see how your AP credits can transfer into SVSU, click here .

International Baccalaureate (IB) Policy:

SVSU will grant transfer credit and/or waive requirements according to the following provisions:

1. Credits: Only for HL (Higher Level) examinations, scores of "4" or higher. Only basic skills and general education credits will be awarded. Students may pursue individual course credits by petition through respective departments.
2. Theory of Knowledge, grade of "C" or better: 3 credits, General Education Category 5 or 8.
3. Extended Essay, grade of "C" or better: 3 credits, General Education Category 10.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Policy:

The CLEP testing program gives individuals the chance to earn college credit by examination in a variety of areas of study. Two types of tests are offered—general examinations and subject examinations. Contact the Office of the Registrar at (989) 964-4085 or registrar@svsu.edu for information about the available credit and minimum required scores.

Dual Enrollment Policy:

Many students will take college courses while attending high school.  These courses can be considered for college credit if Saginaw Valley State University receives an official copy of the college transcript.  SVSU cannot give credit for college credit using your high school transcript. It is the student's responsibility to contact the college issuing the credit to have official transcripts sent to SVSU.  

To check how your courses transfer to SVSU or to find what courses fulfill an SVSU course, click here. Or you can schedule an appointment with an admissions office representative to receive an unofficial transcript evaluation.

Below are the answers to commonly asked questions about transferring to SVSU.

• When should I first talk with SVSU?
  • As soon as you know you have an interest. We can help you choose courses at your current institution for eventual transfer.

• What if I'm not sure that I am ready to apply? Can I meet with an admissions representative and tour campus to help me make my decision?
  • Yes, we encourage you to visit with us. Much of the university choice is about finding the right fit, so we want you to know that we are your best choice.

• How do I look up classes to see if they transfer to SVSU?
  • Step 1: Go to transfer.svsu.edu
  • Step 2: Click one of the two search options to see how your community college credits transfer.
  • Step 3: If you have university transfer credits, contact the Office of Admissions: 989-964-4200.

• What is the maximum number of community college credits I can transfer to SVSU?
  • 62 total. 
  • Note: Some special agreements with community colleges allow for additional credits to transfer. Please check with the Office of Admissions for details.

• Is an associate's degree required before I can transfer to SVSU?
  • No, it's a matter of individual choice.

• I want to take more classes at my community college before transferring to SVSU. Where can I find additional information about which classes to choose for transfer credit?
  • You can check out our website at transfer.svsu.edu and/or make an appointment with SVSU's Office of Admissions. Be sure to bring at least a copy of your transcripts from all institutions attended so that the admissions representative will know what you have already taken or are currently taking. 

• I took advanced placement courses and exams in high school and/or dual enrollment. Can I earn credit for these at SVSU?
  • Yes, quite possibly. Have your official dual enrollment college transcript and official AP score report sent when applying to SVSU.

• Does SVSU honor MACRAO and/or MTA, and if so, should I earn either MACRAO or MTA or neither before transferring to SVSU?
  • SVSU honors both MACRAO and MTA. The benefits of MACRAO or MTA can depend largely upon your SVSU major and your individual academic background. Schedule a personal, pre-transfer appointment with SVSU at the earliest possible juncture to see what will work best for your individual situation.