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Do college credits expire? What transfers years later

Degree Sources Editorial Updated 6 min read
Source-reviewed Editorial standards
Jump to a section 6 sections
  1. Seven schools’ limits run from five years to none
  2. Limits fall where a field changes fast
  3. Your program decides which old courses count
  4. Get the most from old credits in four steps
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. Your next step is a finish date

College credits typically don’t expire, SNHU says. Source · SNHU What changes is whether a new school applies them to your degree, and some subjects come with a clock, such as a five-year limit on anatomy and physiology for Texas State’s fall 2027 BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A bachelor’s degree in nursing. Registered nurses can earn it in an RN-to-BSN program.. Source · Texas State

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SNHU, for one, accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward a bachelor’s degree no matter when you took the courses. “College credits do not expire,” an SNHU transfer credit specialist says. “We can accept transfer credits from other accredited colleges regardless of when a student attended the school.” Source · SNHU

90
Transfer credits SNHU accepts toward a bachelor's
No age limit on the courses
10 years
Age limit on transfer work at the University of Miami
Undergraduate policy
5 years
Limit on anatomy and physiology for Texas State's BSN
Fall 2027 entry
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What you're working toward

Seven schools’ limits run from five years to none

These are published rules from each school’s own pages. They show the range you’ll find when you shop around.

Time limits on old credits, from each school's published policy
School Time limit Applies to
Southern New Hampshire University None. Up to 90 credits toward a bachelor's, 45 toward an associate Undergraduate courses with a C- or higher
Lackawanna College Credit over 20 years old reviewed by the registrar; information systems courses over 5 years old generally don't transfer Undergraduate transfer credit
University of Miami Within 10 years of first enrolling in a bachelor's program there; some departments want newer courses All undergraduate transfer work
Western Governors University Earned within the last 5 years Industry certifications for course credit
Texas State University Completed within the past 5 years Anatomy and physiology I and II for the BSN
University of Rochester Preferably within 5 years, with a B or above Anatomy, physiology and microbiology for the accelerated BSN
Southern Connecticut State University Completed within 6 years at the time you graduate Graduate transfer courses, B or higher
School Southern New Hampshire University
Time limit None. Up to 90 credits toward a bachelor's, 45 toward an associate
Applies to Undergraduate courses with a C- or higher
School Lackawanna College
Time limit Credit over 20 years old reviewed by the registrar; information systems courses over 5 years old generally don't transfer
Applies to Undergraduate transfer credit
School University of Miami
Time limit Within 10 years of first enrolling in a bachelor's program there; some departments want newer courses
Applies to All undergraduate transfer work
School Western Governors University
Time limit Earned within the last 5 years
Applies to Industry certifications for course credit
School Texas State University
Time limit Completed within the past 5 years
Applies to Anatomy and physiology I and II for the BSN
School University of Rochester
Time limit Preferably within 5 years, with a B or above
Applies to Anatomy, physiology and microbiology for the accelerated BSN
School Southern Connecticut State University
Time limit Completed within 6 years at the time you graduate
Applies to Graduate transfer courses, B or higher

Each rule comes from the school’s own page: Source · SNHU Source · Lackawanna Source · Miami Source · WGU Source · Texas State Source · Rochester Source · Southern Connecticut

Limits fall where a field changes fast

The University of Miami says some departments “may require more recent course enrollment” when a field sees frequent advances. Source · University of Miami

Lackawanna says information systems courses older than five years generally don’t transfer “because the field changes quickly enough that older coursework no longer reflects current practice.” Source · Lackawanna College

Across these seven policies, the subject limits fall on science prerequisites for health programs, computing courses and graduate credits. Those are the old courses to check first.

Your program decides which old courses count

Interactive decision tree

Check your old credits

What kind of program are you going back for?

Get the most from old credits in four steps

  1. Gather every transcript

    Order transcripts from every school you attended. If one is held over an unpaid balance, see what a school must release.

  2. Ask for an evaluation before you apply

    Ask two or three schools what they’d accept and whether any course is too old for your program. Get it in writing.

  3. Ask about the time limit for your major

    General transfer rules and program rules can differ. Ask the program, not just admissions.

  4. Replace an old course for less

    If a course is too old, an exam such as CLEP may cover it. Our guide to credit by exam and prior learning shows the costs.

Frequently asked questions

Do my credits disappear after a certain number of years?

No. They stay on your transcript. A new school decides whether to apply them to your degree, and some set time limits for certain subjects.

Is it worth shopping schools for credit?

Yes. An 11-year-old course could count at SNHU, which sets no age limit, and miss the University of Miami’s 10-year rule. Compare evaluations before you pay an application fee.

What about credits from 20 years ago?

Some schools still take them. Lackawanna reviews credit over 20 years old case by case, while SNHU sets no age limit. Source · Lackawanna College

Your next step is a finish date

Once a school tells you which credits count, the Time-to-Degree Calculator shows how many terms are left and how fast you could finish.

Turn your old credits into a finish date

The Time-to-Degree Calculator turns your old credits and weekly hours into a finish month. Confirm transfer credit with each school.

Estimate my finish date

Want your finish-line plan by email? Go to the quick check

Sources

Every figure in this guide comes from one of these pages. How we check sources

  1. Southern New Hampshire University, Transferring credits
  2. University of Miami, Transfer credit policy for undergraduate students
  3. Lackawanna College, How college transfer credits work
  4. Texas State University School of Nursing, BSN prerequisites (fall 2027)
  5. University of Rochester School of Nursing, ABSN prerequisite requirements
  6. Western Governors University, Transferable certifications
  7. Southern Connecticut State University, Graduate transfer course policy (2026-27 catalog)

Related Resources

Finish your degree: where to go back after stopping out

43.1 million Americans have some college and no degree, and only 28% of those who stopped out would return to the same school. How to pick where to finish.

Transcript hold for an unpaid balance: your rights (2026)

Since July 2024, schools must release transcripts for terms paid with federal aid, even on a payment plan. What they can still hold and how to get credits out.

Prior learning assessment: CLEP, DSST and military credit

Prior learning assessment turns exams, training and work into college credit. In 2026 a CLEP exam costs $97 and most passing scores earn 3 credits.