Skip to content

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Clark considers credit from select advanced examinations with qualifying marks and college-level coursework completed at regionally accredited higher education institutions with grades of C or higher.


Most semester-length courses at Clark have the value of one Clark unit, equivalent to four semester hours (credit hours) of credit. A minimum of 32 Clark units is needed for completion of the Clark degree. To earn a bachelor’s degree at Clark, a student must earn at least 16 units in residence at Clark. The maximum number of external credits that may be awarded to an undergraduate transfer student is 16 units.

The amount of transfer credit that can be applied to a bachelor’s degree at Clark is limited by category, depending on the application type submitted (first-year or transfer) and type of credit (college-level coursework or advanced examination credit).

College-level coursework

Students transferring to Clark from another higher education institution as a transfer applicant may transfer no more than 16 units of course credit. Clark does not pre-evaluate courses for transfer credit. Evaluation of credits for college coursework is made at the time of admission and is used in planning a program of study. Transfer credit is not guaranteed. Outside seminars, internships, and remedial or vocational coursework are not transferable to Clark’s curriculum. Online courses will be considered for credit if taken through a regionally accredited higher education institution and only with a grade of C or higher.

Clark participates in transfer articulation agreements with Mount Wachusett Community College and Quinsigamond Community College. These articulation agreements offer guidelines to make transferring course credit between select programs and Clark’s four-year B.A. program a straightforward process. If you meet these and all other Clark admissions criteria, you have a general guarantee of admission. To qualify, you must:

  • Attend Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA or Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA
  • Earn an associate’s degree in liberal arts (all options) or interactive media – game design from Quinsigamond Community College or an associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Mount Wachusett Community College
  • Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Have taken several courses above 100-level or equivalent
  • Complete a transfer application to Clark by May 1 for the fall semester or Nov. 1 for the spring semester

Clark also considers college-level coursework completed while enrolled in high school, prior to matriculation, if that credit is in a content area deemed academically acceptable to Clark and is from a regionally accredited college or university. No more than two semesters (eight units) is granted for college-level coursework, or a combination of college-level coursework and advanced examination credit, completed while enrolled in high school.

International college-level coursework

Students transferring to Clark from a higher education institution outside of the United States as a transfer applicant may transfer no more than 16 units of course credit in accordance with Clark policies and procedures for transferring credit from higher education institutions in the United States. College-level coursework will only be considered for credit upon receipt of a foreign credential evaluation which has a course-by-course analysis and confirms the institution is accredited in US terms.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams

Clark accepts up to two semesters (eight Clark units) of advanced examination credit for qualifying Advanced Placement (AP) exams with scores of 4 or 5 as reported from CollegeBoard. Official AP scores can be sent to CEEB code 3279.

International Baccalaureate (IB) exams

Students who present an IB Diploma and also earn a minimum of 36 composite points with a score of 5 or higher in all six of their IB examinations will receive eight Clark units (one full year) of advanced examination credit. Students who present an IB Diploma (a minimum of 24 composite points) will receive four Clark units (one semester) of advanced examination credit. Students who do not complete the full IB Diploma will receive one Clark unit of advanced examination credit for each Higher Level examination with a score of 5 or higher, up to a maximum of three Clark units. Official IB results can be sent through IBO.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level) exams

Clark accepts up to two semesters (eight Clark units) of advanced examination credit for qualifying General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level) exams with marks of C or higher as reported on official final results certificates. Clark does not award credit for provisional results.

Other international exams

Other international examinations may qualify for advanced standing credit from Clark and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, including the Ontario 13th Year, the Quebec CEGEP, the German Abitur, the Swiss Matura and Italian Maturita, the French or Moroccan Baccalaureate, and the CAPE Diploma. A complete list of approved programs and required minimum grades/scores is maintained by the Academic Advising Center.

Take the next step

Experience what it’s like to study at a small research university with a strong liberal arts core.

Not ready yet? Contact us to request more information.

Contact Information

Undergraduate Admissions

Office Location

3 Maywood Street
Worcester, MA 01610

1-508-793-7431