Transfer Applicants FAQs

The admission committee conducts a holistic review and will consider all items of a student’s application including standardized testing (if submitted), grades (both high school, if necessary, and college), essay, work experience, etc. However, the bulk of our focus will be on your collegiate-level work. Visit our Application Process page for more information.

We find that the most successful transfer applicants attended institutions where they took a full slate of challenging general curriculum coursework. We accept transfer students of varied educational experiences including 2-year, 4-year, public, and private institutions.

Yes; however, such students will still need to meet all other transfer requirements and must provide official transcripts of all high school coursework they attempted, in addition to providing an official copy of their GED scores and diploma.

No, interviews are neither required nor recommended.

On-campus visits are available. Visitors who have not preregistered will be directed to take a Self-Guided Walking Tour.

Prospective transfer students and families can also attend a virtual transfer information session. 

The University of Miami is test-optional for applicants through the Spring 2026 semester. If you have fewer than 30 credits since graduating high school then you have the option of submitting SAT/ACT scores OR completing the supplemental essay in the Common Application. If you have more than 30 credits since graduating high school, neither test scores nor the essay are required. 

>>Test optional policy

Please note that if you are currently enrolled in courses, these do not count toward the 30-credit requirement. 

If you have completed fewer than 30 transferable post-secondary college credits, you must submit your high school transcripts with your application. Note that the 30 credits do not include dual enrollment or test credits (AP/IB) or courses currently in-progress

If you are admitted and choose to enroll, you must submit your final high school transcript, regardless of the number of credits earned.

Make sure your high school emails your final transcript to mydocuments@miami.edu.

We give every applicant a full review and consider individual circumstances. While there is no required GPA for admission, we look most favorably upon applicants whose college transcript is a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA as calculated by the Office of Undergraduate Admission. 

The Common Application asks you to write about your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve if admitted to UM.

Transfer applicants are required to provide a College Report through the Common Application for each domestic (US) institution they were enrolled in as a degree-seeking student post high school graduation. The college official who completed the report must send the report to mydocuments@miami.edu. Note, this is NOT the same as a college transcript.

The University does not accept transfer credit hours for courses in which a grade of C- and below (or the equivalent grade) was earned. However, grades of C-, D, and F are used to calculate the transfer admission grade point average. 

The University does not have a coursework forgiveness policy. The grades of any repeated courses will be averaged. A student may not repeat a course in which a grade of C or higher has been earned. This is considered an illegal repeat.

Yes, after being offered admission and enrolling, a student must submit any final college transcripts with grades, AP, IB, AICE, or CLEP examination scores for review by the end of the first semester of enrollment. Any documents listed above which are submitted after this time period will not be reviewed, and credit hours will not be awarded. 

>> Credit Information

Transfer credit evaluations are completed after students are admitted. Transferable courses will post in a student’s CaneLink soon thereafter. Keep in mind, you must receive a C or better in the course in order to receive credit. 

The deadline for the fall is April 1 and the deadline for the spring is November 1. Please note that applications will continue to be accepted until the transfer class is full.

There is no separate application required; applicants are automatically considered for an academic scholarship when they apply for admission to UM. 

The University of Miami is dedicated to maximizing our need-based financial aid awarding for federal aid-eligible transfer students, with the goal of meeting 100% of their demonstrated need.

In order to be considered for all types of need-based financial assistance, transfer students must complete the CSS Profile, the FAFSA, and other required documentation by the respective deadlines. 

Visit our Applying for Aid: Transfer Students page for information about the financial aid application filing deadlines.

Students whose application and supporting documents are complete by the priority deadline can expect a decision starting in late March for Fall admission and starting late November for Spring admission. Transfer students who submit their application and/or supporting documents after the priority dates.

Note: Transfer applicants who apply for need-based financial aid and do not submit the required financial aid documents by the corresponding priority deadline may experience delays in the review of their admission application. 

Financial aid and scholarship information will post within one week of your admission decision release, as long as you have submitted all required financial aid documentation. 

We recommend fully completing the financial aid application, including all supporting documents, at the same time as submitting the Common Application so an aid package can be shared at the time of admission.

Admission decisions are made available via the applicant portal. Access to the portal will be granted once your admission application is received.

Our policy dictates that we cannot reveal an applicant’s admission decision via email or telephone. Admission decisions are made available via the applicant portal.

If you have any trouble logging in, please contact the UMIT Service Desk at help@miami.edu or 305-284-6565. To speak with an admission counselor, call 305-284-6000 or email the counselor for your area directly.

Transfer students are not able to postpone their admission. 

Yes, however, you must wait one full year and we recommend completing ten additional courses or 30 credits at a regionally accredited college or university. 

A student transferring credit hours from a 2-year community or junior college (this being the last school attended) must complete a minimum of 56 credit hours in residence at UM to earn an undergraduate degree. 

A student transferring credit hours from a 4-year college or university (this being the last school attended) must complete a minimum of 45 credit hours in residence at UM to earn an undergraduate degree. At least half of the credit hours required for the chosen major or minor must be completed at UM. 

On-campus housing is not available for Transfer students. For assistance with locating off-campus housing or for more information, contact the Housing & Residential Life (HRL) department at miami.edu/housing.

If you need assistance with locating off-campus housing, contact the Housing & Residential Life (HRL) department at miami.edu/housing/contact.

Transfer students are assigned by their last name. Visit our Meet Our Staff page to find your admission counselor. Please note that admission counselors cannot conduct individual counseling sessions or review transcripts, but they are able to answer specific questions you may have regarding the transfer admission process. Admission Officers do not provide academic advising. If admitted, you will be contacted by your academic school or college in regards to advising and registration.