Transfer Student Admissions

McDaniel College will accept up to a maximum of 64 credit hours from a two-year college and a maximum of 96 credit hours from a four-year college or university to be applied towards the McDaniel degree. No more than 96 credit hours will be accepted in total.

You must earn a grade of “C-” or better for the credit to transfer. McDaniel College grants transfer credit for courses that are standard liberal arts courses or that compare to the offerings of the College from institutions accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Transfer students seeking advanced placement should consult with their academic advisor and the Registrar’s Office to determine applicable requirements. View the full transfer credit policy.

Once you have decided to attend McDaniel, completed all transfer work, and sent your final official transcripts, an updated credit evaluation is performed and posted on the McDaniel portal showing how your credits apply to specific degree requirements for graduation. Shortly before school starts, the Academic Affairs Office will contact you to complete registration for your courses. Prior to your arrival at McDaniel, you will meet with your academic advisor to discuss your academic plan for your time at McDaniel.

As a residential college, almost 85% of our enrolled students live in campus housing in a variety of residence halls, special interest houses, and apartments. McDaniel requires on-campus residency for nearly all of our students through their junior year unless the student chooses to live at home and commute.

New transfer students will be housed within our upperclassmen residence facilities, which includes our three traditional residence halls. These are Albert Norman Ward Hall, Blanche Ward Hall, and McDaniel Hall, and they contain single, double, and triple rooms. Daniel MacLea Hall is designed for suite style living with a cluster of bedrooms connected to 1-2 bathrooms and a common lounge area.

Upperclassmen may also live in North Village and Garden Apartments shared by four, five, or six students (some equipped with their own kitchen), or in our Pennsylvania Avenue College-owned houses. All rooms are wired for campus-based cable TV and Ethernet, and are provided with a combination microwave/refrigerator. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in College residences. 

Learn more about living on campus. 

Orientation for transfers is offered at the beginning of each semester, with a multi-day experience provided in the fall and a one-day orientation before the spring term begins. In addition to moving into the residence halls and a welcome event, you’ll attend sessions regarding academic expectations here, meet transfer peer mentors who can help you navigate through your college transition, and take care of all the details such as parking permits, ID photos, and so forth.

View a sample fall orientation brochure

Students are very active and involved at McDaniel, and that’s what makes our community so vibrant. There are over 90 clubs and organizations on campus to suit many interests, and if a club doesn’t exist that fits an interest of yours, it is very easy to start one. Your transfer peer mentor will play a vital role in getting you involved immediately when you transfer. By asking questions and sharing your interests with them, they will help you connect with current campus leaders. There are also a number of department-based organizations, such as the Social Work Club and the Pre-Health Club, that your academic advisor will be able to suggest to you.

A McDaniel College degree and the experiences you have while you are here provide you with a world of possibilities for future employment and schooling. Our graduates work and go to graduate school all over the world and have limitless opportunities.

Learn more about how to get involved at McDaniel

Recent graduates have taken positions working in systems engineering at Northrup Grumman, financial operations at T. Rowe Price, teaching in Honduras, intelligence with FBI, acting with CenterStage (Baltimore) and The National Players, and as a therapist for children with autism. McDaniel graduates go on to become lawyers, doctors, writers, artists, scientists, CEOs, teachers, lobbyists and television producers. McDaniel graduates are also known for giving back to the community, so it’s not surprising that many graduates have participated in Teach for America, the Peace Corps and VISTA. And whether they work for a multinational conglomerate or a nonprofit, our graduates bring the energy, vision, and determination that it takes to make the world a better place.

Visit the Center for Experience and Opportunity to learn more about our career services.