What are the Pros and Cons of Transferring Colleges?

Pursuing a college degree takes time, energy and money. Because a college education is an investment, it’s important that you are satisfied with your college experience and feel that it’s the best fit for you. 

Some students understand (or come to realize!) that their current institution does not offer everything they need to reach their academic and professional goals. In this situation, many students decide to transfer colleges. 

It can be hard to know whether or not you should transfer colleges. The choice is personal, but we’ve listed our top pros and cons below for your consideration. 

Download our eBook, Transferring Colleges: A Guide to Finding Your Place and Completing Your Bachelor’s Degree.

Pro: a new campus can bring new networking opportunities and more competitive academics. 

Transferring to a new academic institution can give you a boost academically, whether you’re looking for more intellectual challenges or additional support in your classes. 

Changing colleges can expose you to more competitive programs, and attending a school in order to pursue a competitive program will look good on your resume. So, in short, investing in an institution that challenges you academically will pay dividends for your career. 

Professors at your new school will also have unique industry connections, and every school has its own alumni network. For this reason, transferring schools is a great way to start relationships in your field of work before you even graduate. 

Con: you're applying to college all over again

Deciding to transfer colleges usually means starting the application process all over again. Because it takes time, organization and patience to apply to a new institution, this can overwhelm some students. 

That said, it’s worth putting in the work to find the right higher education environment for your needs, so starting this process again is an essential step. 

Pro: a new college means new potential for financial assistance. 

Many students pursue their associate’s degree at a community college in an effort to save money before transferring to a four-year university. 

But, even if you are transferring from one four-year institution to another, you might actually be eligible for more financial aid options at your new school. This is because many institutions have transfer-specific financial aid opportunities available just for people like you!

Be sure to look into the scholarship opportunities for the school you’re considering and the policies for your location, too, so you can utilize all the benefits available. 

Con: it can be challenging socially to transfer schools.

Finding your place in a new community can be an adjustment, and it is important to recognize that settling in socially at your new school may take some time. 

It can be helpful to look for special groups and clubs on campus for transfer students, and be sure to ask the admission counselors about any support the school offers for transfer students. 

Pro: transferring colleges can give you clarity regarding what you really want in a meaningful career.

As a college student, you are navigating a lot of changes, and for this reason, it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint your long term goals. Transferring to a college that best aligns with your personality and interests can significantly help you gain clarity regarding how best to achieve those goals.

After all, one of the most important reasons to transfer schools is to insert yourself into an environment that will prepare you for success — both during and after college. By doing so, you will kickstart your career success while you’re in college, which is one of the most critical steps to securing a lifelong, meaningful career in your chosen field.

Mount Saint Mary’s University — A Place for Driven Transfer Students Like You

The decision to transfer colleges is personal and involves asking many different questions of yourself and the colleges you’re considering. Still, it can be beneficial in the long run to transfer colleges. 

Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles has many academic programs that would benefit transfer students, and with a generous transfer credit policy and automatic scholarship consideration, we are home to Unstoppable leaders who are all working to make the world a better place.

We encourage you to request more information or attend one of our online information sessions!