Key Takeaway

• If you are thinking about transferring, start by checking out this list of 50 transfer-friendly schools to get an idea of where you have the best chances of being accepted.
• Make sure the school offers your major, has a good credit transfer policy, and feels like a place where you’ll be happy.
• Look into financial aid options available specifically for transfer students to help offset the cost.

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The 50 Best Colleges To Transfer to in 2024

There are many reasons you might decide to transfer, but regardless of why, you’ll want to make sure your new school checks your boxes. While location might be a big factor, you’ll also want to consider if the transfer school offers your major, is affordable, and feels like a good personal fit.

Many transfer students feel uncertain about where to start and which schools are transfer-friendly. To help make your search easier, we’ve rounded up 50 of the best colleges to transfer to that are known for their high acceptance rate.

50 of the Best Colleges To Transfer to in the US

When transferring schools, it’s a good idea to look at the transfer acceptance rate to see what your percentage of being accepted will be. Start your research here by looking through 50 of the most transfer-friendly schools, ranked by their 2023 acceptance rates.

*Data sourced from College Transitions.

Ranking	College/University	Transfer Acceptance Rate	Freshman Acceptance Rate	Location
1	Olin College of Engineering	100%	19%	Needham, MA
2	Whittier College	100%	94%	Whittier, CA
3	Yeshiva University	100%	63%	New York, NY
4	Clarkson University	94%	78%	Potsdam, NY
5	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	94%	71%	Greensboro, NC
6	University of North Carolina at Asheville	94%	74%	Asheville, NC
7	Stetson University	93%	94%	DeLand, FL
8	Siena College	92%	71%	Loudonville, NY
9	Maine Maritime Academy	91%	62%	Castine, ME
10	Drew University	91%	73%	Madison, NJ
11	University of North Carolina Wilmington	90%	69%	Wilmington, NC
12	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	90%	80%	Charlotte, NC
13	University of Mississippi	90%	97%	Oxford, MS
14	Mercer University	90%	75%	Macon, GA
15	West Chester University of Pennsylvania	89%	88%	West Chester, PA
16	University of Portland	89%	93%	Portland, OR
17	Arizona State University	89%	90%	Tempe, AZ
18	Baylor University	89%	46%	Waco, TX
19	George Mason University	88%	90%	Fairfax, VA
20	University of Massachusetts Lowell	88%	86%	Lowell, MA
21	Ohio State University	88%	53%	Columbus, OH
22	University of Houston	88%	66%	Houston, TX
23	Florida Atlantic University	87%	81%	Boca Raton, FL
24	Georgia College & State University	87%	80%	Milledgeville, GA
25	College of Charleston	87%	76%	Charleston, SC
26	Appalachian State University	87%	83%	Boone, NC
27	Kansas State University	86%	95%	Manhattan, KS
28	University of Maine	86%	94%	Orono, ME
29	University of Kansas	86%	88%	Lawrence, KS
30	Virginia Commonwealth University	85%	91%	Richmond, VA
31	University of Mary Washington	85%	86%	Fredericksburg, VA
32	University of Maryland Baltimore County	85%	81%	Baltimore, MD
33	Ursinus College	85%	82%	Collegeville, PA
34	Towson University	83%	79%	Towson, MD
35	Wheaton College	82%	89%	Wheaton, IL
36	University of Alabama at Birmingham	82%	87%	Birmingham, AL
37	Texas Christian University	82%	56%	Fort Worth, TX
38	Missouri University of Science and Technology	82%	81%	Rolla, MO
39	California State University Fresno	82%	95%	Fresno, CA
40	Boise State University	82%	84%	Boise, ID
41	University of Kentucky	81%	95%	Lexington, KY
42	The University of Texas at Dallas	81%	85%	Richardson, TX
43	Iowa State University	81%	90%	Ames, IA
44	University of Nevada Reno	80%	86%	Reno, NV
45	University of Massachusetts Boston	80%	81%	Boston, MA
46	SUNY at Purchase College	80%	78%	Purchase, NY
47	Ramapo College of New Jersey	79%	70%	Mahwah, NJ
48	Miami University-Oxford	79%	88%	Oxford, OH
49	University of New Hampshire	78%	87%	Durham, NH
50	The University of Montana	78%	95%	Missoula, MT

How To Choose a College To Transfer To

When choosing a college as a transfer student, you should consider the following factors before applying:

• Transfer Acceptance Rate: As listed in the table above, this is one of the first things you should look at. A higher transfer acceptance rate increases your chances of getting in; however, it doesn’t guarantee it. Schools with lower acceptance rates may have more competitive admission processes. Balance your options among safety, match, and reach schools.
• Transfer Credit Policy: Some colleges make it easier to transfer existing credits than others. Be sure to research if the credits from your current college will be accepted. If not, you may have to take certain classes over, which could delay your graduation.
• Available Majors: Not all schools offer every major, so double-check that your major is available and that you’ll be allowed to transfer.
• Financial Aid: Look into what financial aid options are available to you so that you can plan well. For instance, some schools offer scholarships specifically for transfer students. And of course, you can always use a free scholarship search tool to find transfer-specific scholarships.
• Campus Life: Some students transfer because their first school wasn’t a great fit for them. If possible, visit the campuses you’re considering to get a real feel for the environment, student life, and available resources. This can help you decide if the school will be a better fit for you.

Deciding to transfer is a big step, and it’s important to find a school that fits you both academically and personally. Start by checking the transfer acceptance rate to evaluate the possibilities, but don’t let that be the only factor. Make sure that you research carefully and weigh all the factors that matter most to you so that you feel confident in your decision to transfer!