Interested in transferring to a four-year institution after Sandburg?
Typically, you’ll spend your freshman and sophomore years completing general education requirements at most institutions and using your first two years to explore many different subjects before deciding on a major.
Sandburg provides these same quality general educational courses, but at a much lower cost. Individual learning is our No. 1 priority, which is why we offer student-centered classes and programs that provide the academic skills you’ll need to successfully transfer to another institution.
You'll work with your academic advisor to determine your degree path and to establish courses needed for your transfer.
How do I transfer
Guaranteed admissions agreements
Sandburg partnerships
We have several partnerships in place to make transferring even easier. View partnerships.Additional transfer resources
Learn more about transferring with these resources. View additional resources.
How do I transfer?
There’s more than one way to transfer. Work closely with your academic advisor to explore majors and admission requirements to choose the transfer option that fits you best. You can apply up to one year in advance of when you plan to transfer. Most colleges and universities have application deadlines and financial aid application deadlines. Some colleges and universities allow you to apply as late as two to four weeks before the start of the term. Apply early for the best chance of receiving all aid available to you.
Earn an associate degree.
Complete an associate degree, and arrive at your transfer school ready for junior-level coursework. Advisors can help you select courses that meet the requirements for your major at your transfer school. If you're a few courses short of your associate degree before transferring, check out the reverse transfer section below.
Are the requirements for the AA and AS degrees different?
Both degrees are 61 credit hours but the associate of science (AS) degree has additional math and science requirements. Associate of arts (AA) degree completion also fulfills the lower-division general education courses of most transfer schools. Check with your Sandburg advisor to determine if the AA or AS best meets your transfer goals.
Complete the IAI general education core curriculum (IAI GECC).
If you don't plan to stay at Sandburg long enough to complete an associate degree, consider completing the IAI GECC, a set of general education courses that meets lower-division general education requirements at more than 100 public and private two-year and four-year institutions in Illinois. Some out-of-state institutions also accept the IAI GECC as meeting their general education requirements.
Take selected courses required by your transfer school.
This option is useful when you have a specialized major, choose a non-IAI participating school or plan to transfer beyond Illinois. Work closely with your advisor and transfer school.
- Transfer guides & equivalencies
- Transferology
Transferology is a nationwide network that helps you explore your college transfer options. It can save you time and money by providing a quick, intuitive way to get your college transfer credit questions answered.
Transferring to Sandburg
Sandburg welcomes students from other colleges and universities. View our admission information.
Reverse transfer
If you transfer to a four-year institution prior to graduating, consider the reverse transfer option to obtain your degree. If you've completed at least 15 credit hours towards a degree, you can transfer credits from other institutions to meet Sandburg’s degree requirements. Once all degree requirements are met and confirmed by Sandburg's registrar, the degree will be awarded. For more information about reverse transfer, email the registrar, or call 309.341.5233.
- Course equivalencies
- Panther Pledge — guaranteed admission program
- EIU transfer handbook
- EIU transfer guide
- EIU transfer checklist
- Transfer guide
- Foreign language requirement of one year of college
- Course equivalencies
- Art major
- Business administration
- Communication studies major
- Economics major
- Educational studies
- Elementary education
- Exercise science
- History major
- International business major
- Political science major
- Psychology major
- Sociology & anthropology major
OSF St. Francis College of Nursing
Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
- Course equivalencies
- Capstone program for Sandburg AAS dental hygiene and mortuary science students wanting to complete their bachelor's degree
- RN to BSN articulation agreement
- Course equivalencies
- Dual-admission program
- Transfer guide — BSN program
- Foreign language requirement of three years of high school or one year of college
Trinity College of Nursing and Health Science
University of Illinois — Champaign-Urbana
- Transfer guide
- Transfer handbook
- College of ACES curriculum guides
- Illinois majors
- Transfer open & closed programs
- University of Illinois online programs
University of Illinois — Chicago
University of Illinois — Springfield
- Course equivalencies
- Transfer plans for select majors
- Foreign language requirement of four years of high school or four semesters of college
Guaranteed-admission agreements
To help make the process of transferring to a four-year college/university as smooth as possible, Sandburg has guaranteed-admissions agreements with several public and private universities in Illinois and bordering states.
You start at Sandburg and begin connections with the four-year schools through dual advising and communication with the transfer coordinator at your selected institution. When you receive your AA/AS degree from Sandburg, you’re guaranteed admission at your qualifying institution.
Culver Stockton College — Canton, MO
Our partnership involves the articulation of all Sandburg’s classes to a course equivalent at Culver-Stockton. Learn more about Culver Stockton.
Eastern Illinois University — Charleston, IL
Guaranteed admissions to Sandburg students who have completed at least 45 semester hours of college-level course work and have a qualifying GPA. Sandburg students must complete the appropriate paperwork for eligibility. Learn more about EIU.
Illinois College — Jacksonville, IL
You can begin the transfer process during your first year at Sandburg working with academic advisors from both institutions. Guaranteed admissions are available to you when you complete your degree at Sandburg. Learn more about Illinois College.
Illinois State University — Redbird Promise — Normal, IL
The Redbird Promise offers Illinois community college students guaranteed admission to Illinois State University to complete your bachelor’s degrees. Learn more about ISU.
Monmouth College Pipeline/Guaranteed Admission Program — Monmouth, IL
Sandburg students can transfer to Monmouth College while having the opportunity to use some of the Monmouth’s resources while working toward your associate degree. Sandburg graduates are guaranteed junior status upon completing your degree and have access to some of the facilities and activities at Monmouth College while at Sandburg. Learn more about Monmouth.
Northern Illinois University — DeKalb, IL
Guaranteed admissions into more than 60 academic programs offered at the DeKalb-based university. You’ll have the chance to work with NIU advisors throughout your time at Sandburg. Learn more about NIU.
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing — Peoria, IL
Saint Francis College of Nursing offers five guaranteed seats into their BSN program after completing your RN degree at Sandburg. You must meet certain GPA requirements to qualify for the program. Learn more about Sait Francis Medical Center College of Nursing.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale — Mortuary Science — Carbondale, IL
All graduates of Sandburg’s AAS degree in Mortuary Science who meet SIUC entrance requirements receive preferential status when being reviewed for admission to SIUC’s bachelor of science degree in mortuary science and funeral services (MSFS). This partnership guarantees Sandburg’s AAS mortuary science degree recipients can complete SIU’s BS MSFS degree with a total of no more than 60 semester hours of work at SIUC. Learn more about SIU.
St. Ambrose University — Davenport, IA
Our dual-admission-agreement program (DUAPP) offers several benefits, including a scholarship and a guaranteed admissions program. If you transfer from Sandburg and are enrolled in the DUAPP, you’ll receive an additional $1,000 annual scholarship beyond other SAU academic and institutional scholarships and aid. General education graduation requirements are also locked in, you’ll meet regularly with a St. Ambrose advisor while still enrolled at Sandburg, and you can take advantage of the St. Ambrose Career Development Center, library, athletics facilities, free admission to fine arts events and home games, and co-curricular opportunities within your major. Learn more about St. Ambrose.
Arizona State University Online — Tempe, AZ
The MyPath2ASU transfer experience is ASU’S transfer admission guarantee. Through this partnership, you’ll use MyPath2ASU to access personalized benefits to navigate the transfer experience, including guaranteed admission into your major of choice upon completing MyPath2ASU — if all requirements are met. Learn more about ASU.
Bellevue University — Bellevue, NE
If you obtain your associate degree from Sandburg, you’ll enter Bellevue as a junior. Bellevue University offers many online programs including a degree in cyber security and game studies. Learn more about Bellevue.
Knox College Dual Admission — Galesburg, IL
This dual-enrollment program is for students who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Knox upon completing an associate degree at Sandburg. You can apply for the dual-admission program as early as your senior year in high school through the beginning of your sophomore year of college (30 semester hours). If accepted, you must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Learn more about Knox.
Chamberlain College of Nursing — Downers Grove, IL
Chamberlain College of Nursing is a not-for-profit nursing college, offering degrees ranging from bachelor’s degrees through doctoral degrees in nursing. If you receive your RN degree from Sandburg, you can transfer into Chamberlain’s BSN program. Learn more about Chamberlain.
Franklin University — Columbus, OH
You can earn your associate degree plus approximately 24 semester credit hours of “bridge” coursework — all from Sandburg. While taking bridge courses at Sandburg, you also complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of bachelor’s degree courses online from Franklin University. You’ll have access to Sandburg’s computers, advising and library services as well as support services from Franklin via distance modes. Learn more about Franklin.
Illinois Central College Surgical Technologist Program — East Peoria, IL
If you want to complete a certificate or an associate degree as a surgical technologist, you’ll finish your preparatory classes at Sandburg and enroll in all technical and program-specific courses at ICC. Learn more about ICC surgical technology program.
Indiana Wesleyan University — Marion, IN
You can continue your education online at Indiana Wesleyan University Learn more about Indiana Wesleyan.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale — Dental Hygiene — Carbondale, IL
If you graduation from Sandburg with an AAS degree in dental hygiene and meet SIUC entrance requirements will receive preferential status when being reviewed for admission to SIUC’s bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene. Sandburg’s AAS dental hygiene degree recipients will be able to complete SIU’s BS dental hygiene degree with a total of no more than 60 semester hours of work at SIUC. Learn more about SIU Carbondale.
For details about any of these programs, contact your advisor/counselor, or call 309.341.5237.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing — Edwardsville, IL
This accelerated path to a bachelor’s in nursing (BS) allows you to complete your general education courses at Sandburg, earning an associate degree in nursing, and complete your baccalaureate nursing coursework online through SIUE. You can take classes at Sandburg and begin a job in your profession while then working online to obtain your BS from SIUE. Learn more about SIU Edwardsville.
UIC Dual Admissions Pathway for ADN To Online RN To BSN Degree — Chicago, IL
The dual-admissions pathway allows nursing students to earn an associate degree in nursing at Sandburg while at the same time enrolling in identified courses that are part of the online UIC RN to BSN degree completion program and work in your home region. Upon successful completion of Sandburg's ADN program, you’ll be awarded your associate degree and continue your progress in the UIC online RN-to-BSN program as a degree-seeking student. UIC will confer the bachelor's degree in nursing after graduation requirements are met. Learn more about UIC dual admissions pathway.
University of Arkansas Grantham — Lenexa, KS
RN to BSN program available. Learn more about U of A Grantham.
The University of Illinois at Springfield (Peoria Campus) Transfer Agreement — Springfield, IL
If you’re studying accounting and business administration and graduate from Sandburg with your associate degree can make a seamless transfer to the UIS-Peoria Center to complete your bachelor’s in accounting or business administration in just two more years. Learn more about U of I Peoria campus.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) — associate in science degree (emphasis in agriculture) — Urbana, IL
If you complete the prescribed course sequences at Sandburg, meet the stated GPA requirement and submit a full application with supporting documentation, you’ll be admitted to the college of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois. View the complete curriculum guide and the included majors and their concentrations. Acceptance into a specific major and concentration is based on the individual student's meeting of the requirements, conditions and considerations listed for that program, including space in that major or concentration. Learn more about U of I ACES program.
Western Governors University — Millcreek, UT (online)
You have an opportunity to benefit from previous college education credits. WGU uses a competency-based approach to education by using your prior knowledge and skills throughout the duration of your program. Learn more about WGU.
Western Illinois University — associate in general studies — Macomb, IL
If you’re enrolled in Sandburg’s associate in arts, associate in science, associate in fine arts, associate in applied science and associate in general education degree programs, you can transfer to Western Illinois University’s board of trustees bachelor of arts (BOT/BA) degree program. This program is specifically designed for place-bound students allowing them to complete a bachelor of arts degree without relocating. Learn more about WIU.
Additional transfer resources
- View BigFuture’s website to research college majors and careers.
- View the Illinois Postsecondary Profiles (IPP) tool from Illinois' 160 public and private universities and community colleges with institutional profiles, occupational profiles and equity profiles.
- The Illinois Transfer Portal’s transfer admission checklist is a general list of things to consider. It’s not specific to a certain college or university, and it’s not intended to be a comprehensive list. Always work with your current Sandburg advisor when you're planning to transfer.
- View the transfer planning timeline for a helpful checklist you can use.