You can now graduate faster with SNHU's credit transfer system.

Understand the credit system so you are able to transfer relevant credits from university subjects you’ve taken previously towards your degree with SNHU.

What are “credit hours”?

Most U.S. universities measure how many credits a subject is worth based on how many hours they expect you to devote to a subject each week, this is where we get the term “credit hours”. Most subjects you’ll take are worth 3 credits, which generally means you’ll be expected to be in class 1 hour per week and put in 2 hours per week of study time. However, the actual time necessary to succeed in a subject varies by student and study method.

How do credit hours work in an online program?

There is no traditional classroom where the learner and instructor meet in an online program, so the traditional measurement of time spent in “class” doesn’t apply. Online subjects are asynchronous and self-paced, meaning that subject syllabi are different from those used for in-person classes.

The amount of time students are expected to spend going through the different elements of online subjects determines credit hours for online subjects. We consider how long is spent participating in discussions, completing assignments and reading or watching digital class material instead of a “class period”. Therefore, the more elements that are built into a subject, the more credits that subject is worth. 

How many credits do I need to earn my degree?

Every online undergraduate or postgraduate program requires a certain number of subjects that are usually worth 3 credits. When you successfully pass a subject, you earn those 3 credits toward the total number of credits required for your degree.

A bachelor’s program requires 120 credits (or 40 subjects) to graduate, while a master’s degree usually requires between 30-40 credits (but can go up to 60, depending on the institution). See your program’s curriculum for more information on the number of subjects you’ll be required to take. 

How long will it take to complete my degree?

Each institution divides credit hours across terms in unique ways, so how many credits you take per term depends on your goals and availability. Some institutions require you to take 12 credits per semester to be considered a full-time student but you may consider taking 6 credits if you are working full-time so you can better manage your time. 

The length of time it takes to complete your degree depends on the amount of credits you take each semester. The more subjects you can take, the sooner you will be done with your degree. 

What does it mean to transfer credits?

Transfer credits are credits that you have already received from taking subjects at another university. SNHU may accept the credits you earned in the past and let you use them toward your degree. We will evaluate your transcripts and determine which subjects taken previously can be applied toward your SNHU degree program.

SNHU accepts up to 90 eligible credits for our undergraduate degrees and up to 12 eligible credits for our postgraduate degrees. Upon acceptance to SNHU, we will review your credit evaluations. Generally, applicants with at least a C- or higher in a subject will be able to use the credits. So, if you have previously taken subjects elsewhere, you can complete your SNHU degree sooner. 

How can transfer credits benefit me?

1. As a universal measure of work completed and knowledge gained among US university systems, credits make it possible to transfer between universities easily.
2. Credits are used to keep track of your progress and determine when you have met your degree requirements.
3. In some instances, you can change your specialization without losing credit on previous subjects, specifically general education or core subjects.

Learn more about how you can transfer credits to complete your degree sooner by reaching out to one of our enrollment advisors at students@in.snhu.edu or on WhatsApp at +1 603 507 6516