Frequently Asked Questions
Admission Requirements
How does William & Mary define a transfer student?A transfer student is anyone who wishes to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at William & Mary and has already enrolled at another college or university after graduating from high school, regardless of the transferability of credits (this includes many gap year programs that offer courses). If you have earned advanced placement credit or dual enrollment college credit while attending high school, you are not considered a transfer student (although you may still receive credit). |
If I already have a bachelor's degree, can I earn a second bachelor's degree from William & Mary?University policy prohibits the awarding of a second baccalaureate degree. Applicants who already hold a bachelor's degree are encouraged to pursue any of our graduate programs. |
Can I apply to be a part-time student ("Flex Track")?Transfer applicants may potentially be approved for admission as Flex Track students if they live within 30 miles of our Williamsburg campus, meet the strong admission standards of the university and can show compelling reasons why full-time status is not feasible. Flex Track approval is not guaranteed with admission. A Flex Track student must earn a minimum of 12 hours each year (over the span of two semesters and a summer term) and is limited to 10 credit hours the first semester at the university. More information on Flexible Degree Track status. |
As a veteran, what do I need to know about applying or becoming a student at William & Mary?William & Mary is pleased to waive the application fee for anyone who has served honorably in the armed forces of the United States. Please select the applicable fee waiver on the Common App. The Student Veterans of William & Mary is a good resource providing information about admission, financial aid, housing, and more. As questions arise about using your VA benefits, contact the Office of the University Registrar. |
Admission Process
When are the important dates & deadlines for transfer applicants?Please refer to our Transfer Application Dates & Deadlines page. |
How many students enroll to William & Mary as transfer students?The number varies each year; however, we enroll approximately 175 transfer students for the fall and 75 transfer students for the spring (not including our Spring Pathway students). For both semesters of entry, we accept approximately 50% of our regular transfer applicants. We do offer guaranteed admission options for our Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Richard Bland College (RBC) transfer students. |
How do I add your institution to the Common App for Transfer?To add our institution ("program") to the Common App, please search for "William & Mary" (with the ampersand symbol). The spring transfer application is available from Aug. 1 to Oct. 2, and the fall transfer application is available from Aug. 1 to March 1. |
Are high school transcripts required to apply to W&M?If you have completed fewer than 24 semester post-secondary school college credits (not including current semester coursework, dual/concurrent enrollment courses or AP/IB scores) by the time you are applying for transfer admission, you are required to submit an official high school transcript and, if applicable, an official copy of the GED certificate with scores, in addition to your college transcript(s). The transcripts can arrive after the Common App deadline, but must arrive by Oct. 28 for spring consideration and by March 28 for fall. If you have completed more than 24 post-secondary college credits (or at least 36 quarter hours), then high school transcripts are optional for you during the application review. Please note that for admitted students, an official secondary school transcript will be required for enrollment. |
Are the mid-term and/or college reports required?The mid-term report is requested from all currently enrolled students and can strengthen a transfer application. While some universities have official midterm grades, an official report is not required. Any estimate of your current semester grades can be sent around mid-semester and after submitting the Common App. Applicants may upload the mid-term report form directly to their application portal or email it to transfer@wm.edu. Alternatively, students may submit a screenshot reflecting their current grade standing from their online learning platforms, such as Blackboard or Canvas Dashboard. The college report is not required to apply or receive an admission decision. It is only required for admitted students who plan to enroll. The college report must be completed by a college official at your current or most recent institution, confirming your satisfactory academic standing and eligibility to return. Examples of appropriate offices to contact for assistance include the Registrar, Enrollment Services or the Dean of Students at your institution. |
Do you require test scores?William & Mary is test-optional. Learn more about standardized testing. |
Do you have a minimum GPA requirement?There is not an absolute GPA requirement. However, the admission committee generally finds that our traditional transfer applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (and with at least one year of college coursework) tend to be the most competitive for transfer admission. Each applicant is reviewed in context to the applicant pool as well as the information they share in their application. All submitted materials and supplemental materials (mid-semester grade estimates and optional letters of recommendation) are taken into consideration. Each application is reviewed multiple times by the transfer dean and admission committee. For students in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) or from Richard Bland College (RBC), we do offer guaranteed admission with a transfer-oriented associate degree and cumulative 3.4 GPA. |
How do you determine a student's GPA if they have attended more than one college or university?The admission committee will review each individual cumulative GPA from each institution attended and in context to the amount of credits they earned at each institution. The admission committee will look at factors such as dates of attendance and grade trends when reviewing multiple college transcripts, and will honor grade forgiveness if a course is retaken. |
Is a letter of recommendation required from a professor?Although not required for the completion of your file, we welcome applicants to have a professor write a letter on your behalf. The Common App allows you to enter a recommender's information, or you can have one emailed to us at transfer@wm.edu. There is no deadline for the recommendation as it is not a requirement. |
What else is considered during the transfer admission review process?The committee employs a holistic review and considers multiple factors in addition to the applicant's GPA, such as the strength of the curriculum, preparation for the intended major, full-time academic status, recent coursework and the total number of potential transfer credits. The committee will also consider anything the applicant shares in their application to best understand any unique circumstances. The personal statement responses in the Common App should reflect an applicant's reasoning for transfer and why they are interested in William & Mary specifically. |
Tuition & Aid
Are transfer students considered for need-based financial aid?Yes, transfer students are eligible for need-based financial aid. We generally meet up to 100% of demonstrated financial need for Virginia residents, and up to $20,000 for out-of-state residents. We cover at least the cost of tuition & fees for all in-state, undergraduate Pell Grant-eligible students. To be considered, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile. The Office of Financial Aid uses this information to assess your eligibility upon admission for various forms of assistance. |
Are transfer students considered for merit-based financial aid?No, transfer students are not eligible for William & Mary's merit-based scholarships. We encourage students to pursue any external scholarship opportunities. |
Coursework & Credits
Are there any transfer guides to help with major-specific course planning before applying?Yes! Prospective students are encouraged to explore the TransferVA website, which offers helpful transfer guides outlining recommended coursework by major. While these guides are designed for students in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), the course suggestions can still be useful for students at other institutions. Please note that these guides are advisory only; students pursuing guaranteed admission may need to complete additional requirements. If you have questions about your specific path, we encourage you to contact our dean working with transfer students. |
What type of college classes are you looking for from your applicants?William & Mary recommends that students interested in transferring to the university take challenging courses in the liberal arts and sciences. The admission committee also looks closely at the strength of the curriculum. View examples of strong semester curricula. |
Does William & Mary offer undergraduate distance learning/online coursework?For the fall and spring semesters, all of our undergraduate courses are only offered in-person. There are some limited online course options during the summer and winter breaks for current students, but there would not be enough to complete an undergraduate degree. Students would be expected to take classes on-campus during the academic year. |
When will my credits be evaluated from my transcripts and who will evaluate the credits?The Office of the Registrar will complete transfer credit evaluations after a student is admitted to William & Mary. We do not evaluate transfer credits before a student is admitted. Most credit evaluations will be completed after students submit an enrollment deposit. Study abroad coursework will be evaluated through the Global Education Office located in the Reves Center for International Studies. For students in the Virginia Community College System (pdf) or Richard Bland College (pdf), we have equivalency guides available that reflect how those credits will transfer to W&M. |
Does William & Mary accept credits earned in high school, such as dual enrollment and AP/IB credits?Yes. Please submit official transcripts from your dual enrollment institution and official score reports to receive potential transfer credit. Students may view how AP/IB/CLEP/Cambridge scores transfer by referencing our Pre-Matriculation Test Table (pdf). |
Is there a limit to the number of credits that can be transferred?While there is no limit to the number of courses that may be transferred, William & Mary requires that at least 60-semester credits, including a minimum of 15 credits in the major, must be earned at William & Mary. |
Admitted Transfer Students
If I am admitted as a transfer student, am I automatically admitted into my major?All students are admitted as undeclared and do not transfer with a major. Students officially declare after enrolling at William & Mary and reaching junior status. The Raymond A. Mason School of Business, W&M's Batten School & VIMS and the School of Education will have additional steps after admission for their programs. Please contact them directly once admitted if you are at junior academic status and interested in their programs: Raymond A. Mason School of Business W&M's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS |
Can transfer students defer their admission?Yes, approved transfer students can request a semester deferral if they have submitted their enrollment. Students interested in a semester deferral should contact us at transfer@wm.edu with their request and reasoning. Transfer students approved for deferral are not permitted to take additional college coursework during their deferral period. Students intending to take additional coursework would need to withdraw their application but are welcome to reapply for a future semester. Please note, Spring Pathway transfer students are not eligible for a deferral. |
Is housing required for transfer students?While housing is not required nor guaranteed for transfer students, we welcome transfer students interested in living on campus to submit a housing application by the posted deadlines once they have submitted their enrollment deposit for any potential opportunities to live on campus. Questions regarding housing policies or off-campus housing resources can be directed to Residence Life at living@wm.edu. |