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Transfer to Bachelor's Degree Programs

Northern Virginia Community College's talented faculty and low cost make it a great place to continue or take that first step toward a bachelor's or advanced degree.

We offer the following degrees to students who plan to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college work at NOVA and then transfer to a four-year college or university to complete their junior and senior years of a bachelor's degree:

  • Associate of Arts (AA)
  • Associate of Science (AS) 

Note: Applied degree programs (AAA and AAS) are not designed to transfer, although in special cases graduates of applied programs may be able to transfer. 

transfer blog

For additional information and answers to your questions use the Transfer Blog.

Transfer Planning

It’s never too early to begin planning for a smooth transfer to another institution. The longer you wait to make a decision, the more you risk delaying degree completion. All students are advised to speak with a counselor before they enroll in classes.

Our counselors will help you to select a program of study, identify schools and understand the transfer requirements for the degree program at your school of choice. In addition, they'll let you know which NOVA courses will transfer and help you to create a schedule based on those courses.

To ensure a successful transfer:

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4 Semesters Before Transferring

  1. Speak to a transfer counselor as soon as possible to assist you with choosing your major.
  2. Review all of the Guaranteed Admissions Agreements. Note: Students must complete a transfer Associate’s degree to be eligible for the benefits that the Agreement provides.
  3. View special Articulation Agreements NOVA has with several four-year colleges and universities.
  4. Investigate Transfer Guides offering your intended program.
  5. Learn about general education requirements and lower-division components in the curriculum at institutions you are considering.
  6. Begin looking for scholarships, discounts and other ways to meet costs. Check out Virginia's Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  7. Start your math (based on your program of study), and writing (composition) sequences as early as possible, as they are common requirements across most programs.
  8. Familiarize yourself with the list of frequently used college terms.
schev transfer guide

The SCHEV Transfer Tool enables students to research options for transferring from a Virginia Community College to a four-year institution in Virginia.

schev transfer guide

The Virginia Education Wizard helps you choose a career, plan how to pay for college, transfer to a four-year college or university, and get answers to your questions about your future.

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3 Semesters Before Transferring

  1. Continue working with your NOVA transfer counselor or academic advisor.
  2. Decide which transfer institution best suits your needs and visit. If George Mason University is your choice, be sure to check out the Transferring to GMU page on this site. 
  3. If required, complete a Letter of Intent for your chosen institution.
  4. Use four-year institution’s transfer guides to assist you with course selection.
  5. Familiarize yourself with your future institution’s academic calendars and deadlines.
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2 Semesters Before Transferring

  1. Continue selecting courses that transfer appropriately within program of study.
  2. Submit your admission application, financial aid application and all official transcripts to the colleges to which you hope to transfer. Click here to request a NOVA transcript. When applying, many institutions now want applicants to use the Common Application.
  3. Once admitted, complete any specific scholarship and housing applications as appropriate.
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1 Semesters Before Transferring

  1. Complete transferable coursework in your program and apply for graduation.
  2. Check your My NOVA account to verify that there are no financial/administrative holds on your student record

After Graduation From NOVA

  • Send final official NOVA transcript after graduation.

For answers to the most commonly asked transfer questions, visit the Transfer FAQ page.