This information is for students who took college courses before they graduated from high school. If you are entering Northwestern as a transfer student, consult our information for transfer students. If you are considering taking courses at another U.S. institution once you've begun your studies here, you should consult our policy on study away from Northwestern.
Each year Northwestern admits some students who have earned credit for courses taken at post-secondary institutions prior to graduation from high school. The award of Northwestern credit for this work is the decision of the appropriate undergraduate school: All liberal arts credit is evaluated by Weinberg College, and professional credit is referred to the Schools of Education and Social Policy, Communication, Journalism, Music, and the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, irrespective of the school in which the student enrolls.
Weinberg College will give you credit for liberal arts courses provided that all of the following conditions are met:
- the courses were taken at a fully accredited 4-year or junior college in the United States or Canada,
- the courses are not included in your high school record and were not used for fulfillment of any high school diploma requirement,
- the courses were taken primarily by college students rather than high school students, and
- the courses were similar to courses offered for credit at Northwestern (e.g., American history, but not physical education).
Entering freshman who took college courses prior to being admitted to Northwestern need to do three things during the summer before freshman year:
- Indicate that fact on the Freshman Information form you are asked to submit during the summer.
- Have an official transcript sent to Northwestern by the College or University where you took the course.
- Download the High School Credit Form, obtain the necessary signatures from high school and college personnel, and return it to the address indicated on the form as soon as possible.
If you submit the paperwork before you begin your studies at Northwestern, the appropriate credit should be posted on your transcript during late summer. You should be able to view your transcript online and check on the credit once you can log into CAESAR to view your record.
Credits accepted by Northwestern and earned through work you did at a post-secondary institution while you were still in high school are viewed as transfer credits for purposes of the Undergraduate Residence Requirement. Up to four total credits from other US institutions may count toward the 45 courses required for a Weinberg degree. (Rules differ for transfer students.) These credits may NOT be used to satisfy distribution requirements. With department consent, students may use these credits to satisfy major or minor requirements.
