Credit for Prior Learning

There are two main ways you may earn credit for your previous experience—academic and non-academic:

Transfer your academic credits. JIU students are welcome to transfer relevant college credits from any college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Up to nine credits can be transferred in our master’s programs, and up to 90 credits can be transferred in our bachelor programs.

Transfer non-academic experience into credits. Credit for Prior Learning is the process by which admitted students may transfer non-academic experience and training into academic credit. Students receive credit by developing a portfolio that documents how they have acquired knowledge and skills that match the learning objectives in a specific undergraduate or graduate-level JIU course.

Students may transfer up to nine credits at the graduate level (equivalent to three courses) through Credit for Prior Learning evaluation. Students are encouraged to work closely with the Academic Chair/Dean of their degree program to determine which specific course requirement(s) they would like to fulfill through this option. Students will be charged a per credit hour tuition rate of $140 for approved portfolios.

Students may develop a Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio on their own, which they submit to the Academic Chair of their degree program. If the portfolio is approved as equivalent to a JIU course, students will then be awarded credit for the equivalent course.

Credit for Prior Learning is not applicable to our doctorate programs.