Transfer Students

Bring Your Journey to Otis College—Where Transfers Thrive

At Otis College of Art and Design, we know that creative journeys don’t all start in the same place—and we welcome transfer students who are ready to take the next step toward earning their BFA. About 30% of new students are transfers, bringing diverse experiences and fresh perspectives that energize our community.

Whether you're looking to maximize your transfer credits, craft a standout portfolio, or explore pathways into your chosen major, our Admissions team is here to support you every step of the way. Plus, transfer applicants are eligible for generous merit scholarships and financial aid. Your future in art and design is waiting—let’s make it happen at Otis.

Meet with a Counselor

Transfer Credits

Applicants who have earned college-level credit can be considered for transfer credits. These include courses taken at another college with appropriate accreditation (see list of accrediting agencies below), participation in dual-enrollment, or having earned AP, IB, or A Level credit. Taking the right classes before transferring is an important step for a smooth transition into the College's art and design programs. If your portfolio of artwork demonstrates necessary creative thinking skills, and you’ve taken an appropriate number of studio art courses, you may be admitted at the sophomore or junior level. We also admit students into 2nd Semester Foundation in the Spring semester which begins in January.

Please note a maximum of 63 transfer credits can be awarded to undergraduate applicants.

All transfers for Fashion and Toy Design cannot enter higher than sophomore level.

Students must have earned a grade of “C” or better in each class in order to receive credit. All units must be earned at an institution accredited by one of the following six accrediting agencies:

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (formerly North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement - NCA)
• Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA)
• Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU)

International institutions must be recognized by the country's national ministry of education.

Courses completed at unaccredited institutions or institutions that are not regionally accredited may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Dual Enrollment for High School Students

We encourage high school students to take college courses if dual enrollment courses are available to them. We evaluate dual enrollment credits for transfer to Otis if you submit unofficial transcripts during the application process.

The advantage of taking dual enrollment credits includes:

• More flexibility to enroll in electives and/or complete a minor, having fulfilled some of Otis’s required coursework.
• Flexibility to take a slightly lighter courseload in certain semesters.
• The added preparation of studying at the College level to help ease your transition to Otis College.

For students taking a significant amount of Dual Enrollment courses in both studio art, and liberal arts and sciences, you may be able to enter at the sophomore level. Make an appointment with us to discuss further.

If you have any questions about taking college credits while in high school and what would transfer, reach out to us at admissions@otis.edu.

Credit by Examination

Applicants who have taken AP, IB, A-Level or AS-Level exams are eligible to receive transfer credit. Official results must be submitted by your school or the testing body in order to receive transfer credit. See our transfer credit awarding chart here.

Credit for Prior Learning

Otis College recognizes that students may acquire college-level learning through experiences outside formal academic coursework. The Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) policy provides students with an opportunity to earn transfer credit for verifiable college-level learning gained through professional work, teaching, industry certifications, military training, creative or professional portfolios, or other educational experiences. Students must apply for Credit for Prior Learning before enrolling at the College. Learn more about the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) process below.

Process for pursuing Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Transfer Credit:

1. If you are interested in pursuing CPL, schedule an appointment with the Transfer Admissions Counselor to discuss the nature of your prior learning and determine potential areas where credit may apply. Schedule an appointment here.
2. When submitting the Admissions application, you will see a question asking if you would like to apply for Credit for Prior Learning with a list of suggested activities and documentation required. 
3. You will be prompted to provide your portfolio, resume, credentials, exhibition records, client projects, writing samples, certificates, exams or demo reels. (Admissions will advise on what to submit based on your prior conversation.)
4. You will be asked to meet with an advisor for support in identifying which courses and associated course learning outcomes your prior learning may fulfil. Advisors will access and share relevant course learning outcomes with you. Credit is awarded for demonstrated learning outcomes, not just experience.
5. If relevant Course Learning Outcomes are identified as potential matches for your prior learning, you will be asked to submit a CPL application with a written explanation of how your experience applies to specific Course Learning Outcomes. You can access support for your written explanation of how your experience applies to specific Course Learning Outcomes through Otis’s Student Learning Center.
6. Relevant department chair(s) will review your application for Credit for Prior Learning. Admissions will communicate if your CPL credit has been approved or not. If approved, the transfer credit will be included in your Transfer Credit Evaluation provided by Admissions.

International Students

International transfer students who have studied outside the US (other than Japan and Korea) are required to submit an evaluation of their post-secondary (college or university) transcript(s).  This evaluation may be done by any evaluation agency recommended by NACES.org. Options for evaluation services include Span Tran, WES, Josef Silny & Associates, IEE, ECE, and Global Credential Evaluators. The document must be officially translated into English by a certified translation service before submitting to any evaluation agency recommended by NACES or any other reputable education evaluation service, e.g., your embassy. Otis asks for a course-by-course evaluation.

More information on the I-20 and Visa process

Graduate Transfer Credits

Graduate applicants can transfer credits dependent on review of coursework completed at the graduate level and approval by the Department Chair.