Transfer-Friendly Admissions at Nichols College
Nichols College welcomes transfer students from Anna Maria College.
We look forward to working with you to ensure a smooth transfer to Nichols, including guaranteed admission to Anna Maria students in good standing, an application fee waiver, guaranteed housing and other accommodations. For more information go to the Anna Maria transfer page.
Nichols College is one of the most transfer-friendly colleges in New England.
Our team is here to make the transfer process as easy as possible, with no application fees, a 48-hour turnaround on admissions decisions, and dedicated student success coaches ready to address all your questions.
Nichols is a small, private, non-profit Massachusetts college focused on professional development and personal empowerment.
Why Study at Nichols College?
Nichols College is not only where you study, it’s where you gain the tools and support to thrive professionally and personally.
- Certified Transfer-Friendly college
- Nationally ranked for mid-career salary
- A constantly evolving curriculum to suit our students
- Opportunities for economic mobility
My stomach dropped when I learned that my old college was closing. It didn’t feel real. A friend recommended Nichols, so I came to tour campus and I immediately knew deep down that this was going to be the best decision. When I started, all the professors reached out to make sure I was OK, even the president asked if I needed anything. Nichols was a perfect fit for me, and I feel like I accomplished more in a year here than in the rest of my college career.”
—Oscar Chavez, on finding his new home on the hill after his old college suddenly closed.
Key Dates for Transfer Students
- Application Deadlines: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Credit Evaluation Timeline: Admissions/registrar reviews your prior coursework and evaluates which credits are valid for transfer within 48 hours.
- Hear Back from Us: Within 48 hours of submitting your application.
- Orientation and Registration
- Transition Support: Meet regularly with advisors to stay on track.
Application Requirements for Transfer Students:
We accept applications throughout the year and there is no fee to apply. Applicants will need to submit the following information:
- A completed Transfer Common Application to Nichols College
- Official final high school transcript with the date of graduation on it (waived for students with 24 or more college credits)
- Official college transcript(s) from all institutions attended
- Essay or personal statement regarding your desire to transfer (waived for students transferring from a partner institution)
- One letter of recommendation (waived for students transferring from a partner institution)
Send your official transcripts from all previous institutions you attended. All admission documents and correspondence should be emailed to admissions@nichols.edu or mailed to:
Nichols College Office of Admissions
121 Center Road
Dudley, MA 01571
How to Apply: Transferring to Nichols College
We accept applications throughout the year and there is no fee to apply. Applicants will need to submit the following information:
- Submit your application via the Nichols application or the Common App.
- Check your status: log into your Nichols applicant portal to track your progress.
- Receive your decision and take your next step toward becoming a Bison!
How to Transfer Your Credits
Transfer up to 90 credits from your prior college experience. No matter where you’re coming from, our talented staff is here to help you get organized and make a positive change in your life without sacrificing any of the hard work you’ve already put in.
This guide is for informational purposes only. Final decisions about acceptance of course credit will be made by the Registrar’s Office.
Courses for transfer credit are evaluated according to the following guidelines:
- You must have earned a grade of a “C” or higher in each course
- Courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university
- Courses taken must be comparable to those offered at Nichols
- Courses taken must also be applicable to one of our degree programs
- Mathematics and accounting courses must have been taken within the last 10 years
- Computer courses must have been taken within the last five years
- The maximum number of transfer credits allowed is 90 credits
- Only six (6) credits are permitted toward a junior or senior specialization
- Only three (3) credits are permitted for transfer credit toward a minor
- A maximum of 30 credits may be transferred from DANTES or CLEP
- The capstone course (MGMT 485) is ineligible for transfer credit and must be taken at Nichols College
- Nichols College evaluates non-traditional credit according to the recommendations of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and courses must be American Council on Education (ACE) approved
- Once enrolled at Nichols, you must receive approval from the Registrar before registering for course(s) at another institution for transfer credit to Nichols College
- All transfer students must take at least 30 semester hours at Nichols College, immediately preceding graduation and complete all degree requirements for graduation.
- 30 of the final 36 credits must be taken at Nichols College
- In order to be eligible for commencement honors, a student must take 30 credit-hours at Nichols College and must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.20
Nichols does not accept ESL, remedial and pass or fail courses.
Students will have credits from their associate’s degree transferred in as bulk credits. In total, students who enter under this agreement can transfer up to 90 credits, starting them in their junior year. Additional credits may be reviewed on an individual basis.
The General Education Foundation (formerly known as the MassTransfer Block or MTB) refers to a set of general education, core, or distribution requirements, consisting of 34 college-level credits. These credits, when completed together with a 2.0 or higher GPA, fully transfer and will satisfy the general education/core requirements at Nichols.
Take Command of Your Education
Our Community College Transfer Programs
If you’re a student at one of our partner community colleges in Central Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we’ve made your transfer process even easier–and completely seamless.
Through our ABLE Initiative, we offer community college transfer programs that create a pathway for you to earn a business degree in high-demand fields from a leading private college at an affordable rate. If you’re a student at one of our partner schools, you can seamlessly transfer your entire associate’s degree (or even up to 90 credits) and finish your bachelor’s degree by earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree at Nichols.
Our partners:
- Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)
- Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC)
- Quinsigamond Community College (QCC)
- Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC)
Read more for full partnership details and concentrations, and contact your college’s transfer representative.
Nichols College is an active member of the Massachusetts Independent College Transfer Guarantee. The MA Guarantee is a transfer partnership between MA community colleges and participating four-year colleges and universities. Eligible community college graduates are able to transfer seamlessly to the following programs – admission guaranteed!
Qualified Mass Guarantee students are eligible for all Nichols College’s Academic Programs.
The Massachusetts Independent College Transfer Guarantee (Massachusetts Guarantee) builds upon existing Massachusetts’ transfer policy for public institutions of higher education, with the intention of creating a seamless system of transfer in the state and expanding transfer options for Massachusetts community college students. The Massachusetts Guarantee will ensure acceptance at a participating independent Guarantee institution for associate degree holding students who have met a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5. At the core of the Massachusetts Guarantee is an unwavering commitment to equity, opportunity and access for all students in higher education.
Final decisions about acceptance of course credit will be made by the Registrar’s Office.
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
Nearly all Nichols students receive financial support, let our financial aid advisors help you discover the right options for you.
Transfer students may be eligible for our full range of scholarships and grants.
- Students applying for need-based financial aid who are filling out the FAFSA may also qualify for a transfer grant between $2,000 and $4,000, depending on need
- Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours of college work to qualify for the transfer grant.
Step Onto a Campus Designed for Business Leaders.
It’s our community that truly makes Nichols home. You’ll know it when you feel it, so join us for a tour of our beautiful 200+ acre campus in Dudley, MA.
