Transfer In

At the time of application, transfer students must submit an official transcript of coursework completed at all institutions that are not a part of the Minnesota State system (Minnesota State transcripts can usually be obtained electronically on the student's behalf).

After you’ve been accepted to Lake Superior College, a transfer evaluation will be completed on your prior college credit. This will determine whether your previous coursework is equivalent to that at Lake Superior College. In order to be considered equivalent, a course must be at least 75% comparable in content. After your evaluation is complete, we will mail your acceptance packet containing a Degree Audit Report which outlines how your courses transferred into your declared program(s).

If you had any in-progress coursework at the time you applied for admission or if you take any courses at another non-Minnesota State college or university after your acceptance, please remember to have an updated official copy of your transcript sent to Lake Superior College after grades are posted. NOTE: LSC can access updated grades for Minnesota State colleges and universities. Please email a transfer update request to  if grades need to be updated.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Scores of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement Examination will be awarded lower division course credit if applicable towards the students declared program. LSC will grant equivalent course credit for a specific college course for each AP examination that covers substantially similar material.

To see how AP credits transfer to LSC, visit www.transferology.com and create a free account. Once logged in, click on the “Standardized Exams” tab and select “AP” from the drop-down menu.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is a testing program of the College Board designed to measure prior learning and mastery of introductory (lower division) college course material in particular subject areas.

For more information regarding CLEP and the kind of tests available, please visit College Board’s website.

The Student Services Center at Lake Superior College administers CLEP exams. For information about the administration of CLEP exams only, please contact Chloe Tralle at (218) 733-7651 or .

To have a CLEP exam considered for credit at Lake Superior College, students must have an official score report sent from the College Board. Details regarding how to send your report can be found on the “About Your Score” section of the College Board Website.

LSC will grant college credit to students who earn a score of 50 or higher on CLEP examinations, with the exception of Level 2 foreign-language examinations, for which a minimum score of 60 for German language (effective Spring 2008, 59 for French language (effective Spring 2008, and 63 for Spanish language (effective Fall 2007) is required.

To see how CLEP credits transfer to LSC, visit www.transferology.com and create a free account. Once logged in, click on the “Standardized Exams” tab and select “CLEP” from the drop-down menu.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

The IB program is an internationally recognized program through which a secondary student completes a comprehensive curriculum of rigorous study and demonstrates performance on IB examinations. A student may present a full IB diploma or certificate recognizing specific higher level or standard level examination scores.

Students must provide an official IB certificate or diploma to LSC to receive college credit. Transcripts can be obtained through the International Baccalaureate website.

Student who obtain an IB diploma shall be granted lower division college credit as follows:

IB Diploma

Students who obtain an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma shall be granted six (6) lower division course credits for scores of 4 or higher on Higher Level IB examination and two (2) lower division course credits for scores of 4 or higher on Standard Level IB examinations.

Higher level examinations. A student shall receive three (3) or more course credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual Higher Level IB examinations.

Standard level examinations. A student shall receive two (2) or more credits for scores of 4 or higher on individual Standard Level IB examinations.

LSC will grant lower division elective course credits when an IB examination covers material that is deemed to be college-level but is not substantially similar to an existing course.

To see how IB credits transfer to LSC, visit www.transferology.com and create a free account.  Once logged in, click on the “Standardized Exams”  tab and select “IB” from the drop down menu.

Sophia Learning

Students who have completed courses through Sophia Learning should request an official copy of their transcript to be sent to Lake Superior College for evaluation.

Straighter Line

Students who have completed courses through Sophia Learning should request an official copy of their transcript to be sent to Lake Superior College for evaluation.

Articulated credit enables high school students to obtain college credit for technical courses that are taken in high school. Please note that:

A signed articulation agreement must exist between the high school and the college, indicating how the course will transfer. Check the CTE Credit Minnesota site if you want to verify an agreement exists. Just go to the Schools/Courses tab and search your high school.

Students who enroll at Lake Superior College within five years of when the course was taken will receive credit for the course(s) indicated based on the agreement.

Credit for prior learning is a process in which students get academic credit for learning they have gained through on-the-job experiences, attendance at workshops or conferences, volunteer activities, business ownership, or any prior life experience.  A student able to demonstrate achievement in the content of a college-level course may receive college credit toward a degree. Course specific exams are provided at the discretion of Lake Superior College faculty and may not be available for all courses. Course specific exams designed by the appropriate college faculty member reflect the learning outcomes of the course. Credit for Prior Learning is a way to reduce tuition costs and can shorten the time it takes students to earn a college certificate, diploma or degree.

Credits earned through credit for prior learning have no impact on a student’s GPA.

Eligibility

Students must be enrolled in a declared program major at Lake Superior College to be eligible. Students are unable to receive this assessment if they have previously taken the course or are currently enrolled in it.

Cost

The evaluation is $125.00 per credit. The non-refundable per credit fee must be paid prior to completing the assessment.

Process

Step One:  The student should meet with their advisor to discuss options and review the process. The advisor can be helpful to identify appropriate instructors for various subject areas.

Step Two:  The student should contact the instructor to inquire about the possibility of credit for prior learning.

Step Three: The student and instructor must complete the appropriate sections of the "Credit for Prior Learning/Credit by Exam form" and forward to the appropriate Dean for review.

Step Four: The student pays the non-refundable $125.00 per credit fee at the Student Payment Office.

Step Five: The student and instructor proceed with the assessment/exam.  If the student successfully passes, the instructor will issue a grade of “P” (Pass), and the results will be recorded on the student’s transcript and Degree Audit Report (DARS).

Policy/Procedure

• 3.35 Credit for Prior Learning Policy
• 3.35.1 Credit for Prior Learning Procedure

International Students

Students wishing to transfer credit from a university outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved academic credentialing agency.  International transcripts are not typically required for admission for international students. However, many international students wish to have credits evaluated for prior work that may apply to their program at LSC.

If you are seeking transfer credit, send your official transcripts directly to an international credential evaluation service with NACES accreditation, request a Course-by-Course evaluation and then have the results sent directly to Lake Superior College.

The companies below provide transfer course evaluations for a fee and are used most frequently by our students.  (Order a Course-by-Course Evaluation.)

World Education Services (WES) Chicago Office
P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113
Phone: 1-800-937-3895/ Fax: (212) 739-6100

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: (414) 289-3400/Fax: (414) 289-3411

Students should be prepared to provide LSC with both their course descriptions and their syllabus in order to seek specific credit for a particular course.  The course must have at least 75% overlap with an LSC course to be awarded specific credit.

US Citizens and Permanent Residents

International Post-Secondary transcripts are required of all US citizens and Permanent Residents, UNLESS the transfer courses are documented as “Study Abroad” on a post-secondary transcript from a college/university from the United States. This is required for financial aid to review MN grant eligibility. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable if the applicant is NOT seeking transfer credit.

If you are seeking transfer credit, send your official transcripts directly to an international credential evaluation service with NACES accreditation.(https://www.naces.org/members), request a Course-by-Course evaluation and then have the results sent directly to Lake Superior College.

The companies below provide transfer course evaluations for a fee and are used most frequently by our students.  (Order a Course-by-Course Evaluation.)

World Education Services (WES) Chicago Office
P.O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113
Phone: 1-800-937-3895/ Fax: (212) 739-6100

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: (414) 289-3400/Fax: (414) 289-3411

Students should be prepared to provide LSC with both their course descriptions and their syllabus in order to seek specific credit for a particular course.  The course must have at least 75% overlap with an LSC course to be awarded specific credit.

Military Credits

In accordance with Minnesota Statute 197.775, Subd.2, Recognition of Courses, Lake Superior College will evaluate credit achieved through military training as specified in the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. 

DANTES/DSST and Military Credit

See how DANTES/DSST exams will transfer by visiting Transferology.com and selecting the “Standardized Exams” tab and choosing “DSST program.”

See what credits are available based on your military courses by visiting Transferology.com and selecting the “Military Credits” tab.

When ordering a copy of your DSST scores to be sent to Lake Superior College, the DSST school code is 9383.

Veterans Education Transfer System (VETS)

Find out what academic credit is available from Minnesota State colleges and universities based on your military occupation by visiting the VETS page.

Request your military transcript

For the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard request your Joint Services Transcript.

For the Air Force request your Community College of the Air Force transcript.

LSC VA School Certifying Official

Luke Notman

(218) 733-6921

Military Resources

• Application information for military students
• Veterans Resource Center

3.21 Undergraduate Course Credit Transfer Policy
3.21.1 Undergraduate Course Credit Transfer Procedure
3.39 Transfer Rights and Responsibilities Policy (Minnesota State)

Transfer coursework will be evaluated according to the following standards in accordance with policies established by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State system:

• All college courses in which a student has received a grade of A, B, C, D, or P (Pass) at regionally accredited post-secondary institutions shall be considered for transfer.
• Grades earned for transfer coursework shall not be computed in the student’s GPA on the Lake Superior College transcript, but they will be included in the calculation of the GPA requirement for the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC).
• Duplicate credits cannot be awarded for equivalent courses.
• Credits earned in competency-based education programs will transfer as general electives unless approved for other distribution requirements.
• Transfer decisions are not made solely on the source of accreditation. Non-collegiate work and coursework from non-regionally accredited institutions recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Department of Education will be considered on a course-by-course basis through the Petition-to-Policy process.
• Coursework completed at an international college or university will be considered for transfer if recommended by a professional credential evaluation service that is recognized by the Association of International Educators (AIE) or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Appeal Process

If a student is not satisfied with the college’s transfer decision, the student should first contact the LSC Transfer Specialist with additional information such as the course syllabus. Once the additional information has been reviewed, if the transfer decision is still not satisfactory, the student may be encouraged to contact their program regarding a “Course Substitution.”  If a “Course Substitution” option is neither appropriate nor successful, the student may submit a Petition-to-Policy form (for current student and non-current-student). The petition will be reviewed by an academic dean, and, if appropriate, the academic department. The review of the petition shall be based on course descriptions, outlines, objectives, learning outcomes and/or other relevant information. The student will be notified within 10 days of the decision and rationale for the decision via the student’s email account.

If the student is not satisfied with the results of the Petition-to-Policy, the student may submit a request to the Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs for a Minnesota State level appeal of the college transfer decision. The Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs shall make a final determination regarding the appeal and the decision shall be binding on all system college and university parties.