Transfer Student Admissions

We have a few tools that can be helpful to you, whether you are starting out at a community college or if you are returning to finish a four year degree after a break.

See how your college-level classes transfer to over 400 schools across the country.

Check out Transferology

Take note of these policies when determining how your credits will transfer to Luther College:

• All college-level credits with a grade of C- or higher are transferable from regionally accredited colleges or accredited foreign institutions.
• Developmental courses (e.g., mathematics, English, and learning skills) will not transfer.
• Credits do not expire.
• Grades earned at other institutions are entered on the student’s record; however, they are not included in the Luther GPA.
• Only courses with a value of at least 3 semester hours will be evaluated to meet general education, major, or minor requirements.
• Transfer students will enter as a first-year, sophomore, junior, or senior student based on the number of post-high school credits accepted for transfer. A transfer student who matriculates as a sophomore or above may fulfill the Paideia requirement with one course each in the disciplines of English and history.
• Luther must receive an official transcript from your transfer institution before any transfer credit will be given.

Learn more about Luther credit transfer policies

The decision to transfer requires a great deal of thought and deliberation. Therefore, we don’t have an application deadline for transfer students at Luther. We do our best to work with you in a timely and efficient manner in order to make your transition as simple and as smooth as possible.

Note: There is no application fee at Luther.

If you have applied to Luther in the past two years:

1. Submit the Transfer Application Supplement.
2. Request that your final, official high school and college transcript(s) be sent to us.
3. Complete the Transfer Eligibility form.
   • You will complete the top half and have your current or most recently attended
     college/university complete the bottom half and remit back to us.

   Congratulations! You’ve applied.

OR

If you have not applied to Luther in the past two years,

1. Complete our online application (preferred method)
   or
   Complete The Common Application
2. Ask a teacher or counselor to fill out the Educator’s Reference form and send it to us.
   • A letter of reference via mail or email is also acceptable.
3. Request your final, official high school and college transcript(s) be sent to us.
4. Complete the Transfer Eligibility form.
   • You will complete the top half and have your current or most recently attended
     college/university complete the bottom half and remit back to us.

   Congratulations! You’ve applied.

• Athletic release form
  • If you intend to transfer from another NCAA Division III institution, you should complete and sign a NCAA DIII Athletics Self-Release form and send it to Luther College’s director of intercollegiate athletics, Renae Hartl, at hartre01@luther.edu.
  • If you are not currently at an NCAA Division III institution, you should contact your current school’s athletic director or compliance officer, or you may contact Luther College’s compliance officer, Amanda Bailey, at 563-387-1584 or necham01@luther.edu.
• GED final record
• Official AP or IB score reports for subject area scores of 4 or higher
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if applying for need-based aid

Each applicant is considered on an individual basis when the application is complete. If you are eligible for academic scholarships, we will notify you at the time of admission.

Eligibility is determined by academic performance in college, or by high school GPA. Eligibility criteria is determined by the number of college credits completed.

In addition to completing the requirements for the Luther degree (found in the online course catalog), each student must complete one major. The specific requirements for the various majors are listed under each department in the catalog.

In most cases, students who transfer to Luther as juniors or seniors will be required to complete a minimum of two courses in the major at Luther. It is recommended that all transfer students contact the college to determine the requirements for completing each specific major at Luther prior to making a final decision to attend. Students may contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@luther.edu.