Equivalency | Records and Registration | Chicago State University

Transfer Equivalencies

Find out if a course is equivalent to Chicago State University by exploring our database of evaluated undergraduate-level transfer college credit from many institutions.

Guide for Transferring Credits

Transfer Student

The Transfer Evaluation System® (TES) is CSU's primary system to manage transfer credit equivalencies. This system will allow you to see how your college courses will be evaluated for transfer credit. If you are searching for a course, or courses, in TES® that have not been evaluated, this does not mean you will not receive credit upon transfer. Rather, it indicates we have not had the opportunity to evaluate the class in question. If you come across a course that has not been evaluated, please send us an email with the name of your institution, the semester in which you took (or will be taking) the course, and the course name and number. We will have the course evaluated, posted to TES®, and send you an email with the results.

General Transfer Credit Policies

Credits are transferred automatically at no charge for students admitted to the university.
CSU grants full credit for most courses completed with a “C” grade or higher from any regionally accredited institution. CSU will accept all General education courses with a “D” or higher.
Only 66 credit hours from all regionally accredited two-year institutions or a maximum of 88 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited four-year institution will be accepted for transfer credit. When transferring credit from a four-year and two-year institution, at most, we accept 88 credit hours.
Students must submit an official transcript with completed coursework before a final determination can be made on credit transfer. To remain official, we require the transcript in its original state (sealed in an institution envelope). If electronic, directly to CSU.

FAQ’s - What is...

Course Equivalency

CSU faculty, administrators, or evaluator determined the applicable course transfer as an elective.

General Education Course

The general education curriculum is foundational knowledge, skills, and competencies to enrich student success that is essential for student success. Courses include composition, oral communication, humanities, physical and life sciences, mathematics, and the social and behavioral sciences. World languages, human diversity, and critical thinking are also embedded within many programs at CSU.

Elective Course

An elective course is primarily a supplement for a student’s major. When an equivalent course does not fulfill a core requirement, CSU may accept the course toward the total credits required to graduate.

Non-equivalent Courses

Non-equivalent courses are from non-regionally accredited institutions and considered developmental, first-year experience, remedial, vocational/technical, study skills, college survival, and undergraduate courses that apply to a graduate-level CSU program. CSU does not accept non-equivalent course.

Regional Accreditation

An independent body monitors institutions that verify that the institution meets rigorous educational quality standards.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

A rigorous evaluation to examine an individual’s non-traditional learning and applies the portfolio submission against learning outcomes and objectives.

If you do not see your college on the list but it is regionally accredited, we will still accept your transfer credit.

Need Guidance? Contact us at:csu-registrar@csu.edu