Transferring Credit

Pre-College Credit

Students may earn college-level credit through a variety of programs while still in high school: AP (Advanced Placement), CLEP (College-Level Examination Program), IB (International Baccalaureate), A-Levels (Advanced Level Examinations), and post-secondary enrollment options. Official transcripts are required before any credit will be given.

Advanced Placement

Luther College participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Through enrollment in special courses in a participating high school, a qualified high school senior or junior may take achievement examinations in one or more academic subjects at the college level. Scores of 4 or 5 are accepted for credit. Four semester hours of credit are awarded for each exam.

CLEP

A student may obtain credit through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examinations based on a review by the appropriate academic department. Luther college does not accept credit based on the CLEP General Examination. The subject examinations provide a method by which Luther can evaluate education gained outside the formal class structure and grant college credit for satisfactory work as demonstrated in test performance. Normally, four semester hours of credit may be earned for each CLEP Subject Examination computer-based test with a score of 60 or higher. The examinations must be taken before the beginning of the sophomore year in college and before beginning a college course in the discipline of the test.

International Baccalaureate

Luther College will grant up to four semester hours of credit for scores of 4 or above on the Higher Level examinations of the International Baccalaureate Program. Exams taken at the subsidiary level will not be considered for credit.

A-Levels

Students who successfully complete Advanced Level Examinations (such as the GCE Oxford or Cambridge exam) should submit a transcript for evaluation and acceptability for transfer. A maximum of 32 semester hours of credit will be allowed for A-Levels. Normally, each subject exam with a D or higher will receive 8 semester hours of credit.

French Baccalaureate

Students who successfully complete French Baccalaureate examinations should submit a transcript for evaluation and acceptability for transfer. A maximum of 32 semester hours of credit (4 credits per exam) will be allowed for  grades of 12 or above and coefficients of 5 or above.

College Courses taken while in High School

College credits earned by high school students at a regionally accredited post-secondary institution may be considered for transfer and may be applied toward a degree at Luther in accordance with college policy.

Transfer Students and College Transfer Credit

Transfer students (those who matriculated and attended another college or university after completing high school and before coming to Luther College) will enter as a first-year, sophomore, junior, or senior student based on the number of post high-school credits accepted for transfer to Luther College. 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.

Current Students and College Transfer Credit

Students interested in completing a class at another institution to be used toward a Luther degree must complete the Transfer Credit Approval Form before taking the course.  A link to the form is given below.

Refer to the Transfer Credit Policy and note that any courses to be used in a General Education requirement must be approved by the Registrar’s Office. If the course is intended to be used in a major or minor, the course must be approved by the appropriate Department Head. Laboratory courses that are taken online will not be accepted for transfer as a natural world lab course.

After completing coursework at another institution, students must have an official transcript sent directly to the Luther College Registrar’s Office.