ITT Tech Credits in Grad School (Transfer Policies)
ITT Tech coursework may be reviewed for graduate admission, prerequisite requirements, or transfer credit, but these are separate decisions. Graduate schools set their own rules, and undergraduate ITT credits do not automatically count toward a graduate degree. Request a written, course-by-course review before enrolling or borrowing, and confirm that your prior credential meets the program’s bachelor’s-degree requirement.
If you are sorting through old transcripts, application forms, and different answers from school staff, it can be hard to know what your ITT education will count for. I have seen how quickly families can mistake an admissions conversation for a promise of credit. The key is to ask each school for three distinct decisions: whether you qualify to apply, whether your courses meet prerequisites, and whether any credits can shorten the graduate degree.
Admissions eligibility and ITT credential review
Graduate admission eligibility means meeting a school’s entry rules, which usually include a completed bachelor’s degree or an accepted equivalent. An ITT credential does not automatically meet that standard. Each university decides what it accepts, so get its answer about your specific credential before paying application fees.
ITT Educational Services closed in 2016. ITT Tech was accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national institutional accreditor. The U.S. Department of Education ended ACICS’s federal recognition in 2022. This history may affect a university’s review, but it does not create a nationwide rule that all ITT coursework is unusable.
Ask whether your credential meets the entry requirement
A graduate program may consider an ITT credential as part of its review, or it may require a bachelor’s degree from an institution it recognizes under its own policy. Do not assume that a diploma or degree title alone settles the question. Ask the graduate admissions office to review the exact credential, dates, and records.
Ask these questions in writing:
- Does this specific ITT credential meet the program’s bachelor’s-degree requirement?
- What accreditation policy applies, and does the school assess accreditation when the coursework was completed, under its current policy, or both?
- If the credential does not qualify, what undergraduate coursework or completed degree would I need before applying?
If the school says you do not meet the entry requirement, ask what undergraduate path could make you eligible. Resolve that issue before paying a graduate application fee or making plans based on a possible transfer.
Separate admission, prerequisites, and degree credit
An admissions review decides whether you may enter the program. A prerequisite review asks whether earlier coursework prepares you for a required class. A transfer-credit review decides whether past coursework can replace a course in the graduate degree. These decisions can have different outcomes, even when they concern the same transcript.
For example, a school might consider an ITT course as evidence of prior study but still require you to take its own course. Or it might find that an ITT credential does not meet the bachelor’s requirement, regardless of individual course matches. Only the receiving university can make these decisions under its rules.
Graduate curriculum, transfer-credit rules, and degree requirements
Graduate transfer credit is coursework a university approves to count toward a graduate degree. There is no nationwide entitlement to transfer ITT credits. Schools set rules for eligible institutions, course level, subject match, grades, age of credit, and the maximum number of credits they will accept.
The main issue is often course level. ITT undergraduate credits should not be assumed to meet graduate-degree requirements. A school may still review them for prerequisites or admissions, but that is not the same as awarding graduate credit. Ask for a course-by-course decision tied to the degree you plan to pursue.
Collect records before requesting a ruling
Gather the materials the school needs to assess both your credential and each course. A transcript alone may not show enough detail to compare learning outcomes or course level.
Request:
- An official ITT transcript and documentation of the credential awarded, if any.
- Course descriptions or syllabi, including learning outcomes and topics.
- Course dates, grades, credit-hour information, and the level of each course.
- The university’s written policy on transfer grades, credit age, accreditation, and credit limits.
If a document is unavailable, ask the receiving university what substitute evidence it will accept. Do not rely on an informal summary of a course if the evaluator needs a syllabus or other official record.
Get a course-by-course decision
Send the records to the offices that control each decision. Graduate admissions can address entry eligibility. The program, registrar, or transfer-credit office may evaluate prerequisites and degree credit. Ask who makes each ruling and whether the review is preliminary or final.
Request a written result for every course. It should say whether the course is accepted, what requirement it meets, how many credits apply, and whether it appears on your degree audit. Also ask what additional courses, milestones, or capstone or thesis work remain. An offer of admission is not proof that credits were accepted.
| What you need to know | What to ask | What the answer can mean |
|---|---|---|
| Entry eligibility | Does my ITT credential meet the bachelor’s requirement? | You may qualify to apply, or need more undergraduate study first. |
| Prerequisite use | Can this course satisfy a named prerequisite? | You may meet preparation requirements without earning graduate credit. |
| Graduate transfer credit | Will this course count toward this degree, and for how many credits? | The school may award credit, decline it, or require more review. |
| Degree completion | Which requirements remain after approved credits are applied? | This helps you estimate time and cost more accurately. |
Academic success, advising, and student experience
Academic success depends on more than gaining admission. You need a clear plan for the courses, academic standards, and milestones that remain. Before committing, confirm how accepted coursework fits the degree sequence and whether you will have access to an adviser who can explain course registration and progress requirements.
An evaluation may affect your schedule in ways that are easy to miss. For instance, a prerequisite might need to be completed before a graduate course, while a transfer credit might replace a degree requirement. Ask how each decision appears in the school’s records, and whether it changes your expected completion plan.
Compare written outcomes before enrolling
Use each school’s written evaluation to compare programs on the same terms. Do not compare one school’s general transfer estimate with another school’s final degree audit. If a decision is pending, mark it as uncertain in your planning.
| Hypothetical situation | What may happen | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| An ITT course appears relevant, but is undergraduate level | It may support prerequisite review but not graduate-degree credit | Ask the program to state its use in writing |
| The school accepts the credential for admission but has not reviewed courses | You may qualify to enter, but could still need the full degree curriculum | Request a separate credit evaluation |
| The school cannot verify a course from the transcript alone | The decision may wait on course-level evidence | Ask which substitute documents it will consider |
| Two programs reach different decisions | Their policies or curriculum needs may differ | Compare the written rules and remaining requirements |
These are planning examples, not predictions of how a particular university will rule. The receiving school’s written decision controls. Before you enroll, confirm the accepted credits on your degree audit and identify all required courses and milestones.
Career pathways, licensure, and employment outcomes
A graduate degree’s value depends on your goals and the requirements of the work you want to do. A school’s acceptance of prior coursework does not confirm that a degree meets licensing rules or employer requirements. Check those requirements separately with the relevant licensing body or employer.
If your intended career requires a license, ask the licensing authority whether the program and your education history meet its rules. If you are seeking a specific role, review current job requirements and ask the program how its curriculum relates to them. Do not treat a transfer-credit decision as a promise of licensure, employment, or a particular career outcome.
Make a cost and completion plan
Once you have written decisions, estimate the remaining degree requirements and total cost. Use the school’s current tuition and fee information, then account for the courses it says you must complete. If credits are not accepted, the program may take longer and cost more than you first expected.
Before committing, confirm:
- How many credits the school will apply to the degree.
- Which required courses and milestones remain, including any capstone or thesis.
- The likely course schedule and expected time to completion.
- The total net price and any aid eligibility you can verify with the school.
- Whether the written credit ruling will appear on your official degree audit.
Do not borrow or enroll based on a verbal transfer promise. Ask for a written answer from the office responsible for the decision, and make sure it applies to your intended program and catalog year.
A practical decision sequence
A decision sequence is a set of steps that helps you avoid paying for an application or program before you know whether your credential qualifies. Start with eligibility, then request separate course reviews, and compare the written results before choosing a school.
- Assemble records. Request transcripts, credential details, syllabi or course descriptions, grades, dates, and credit-hour information.
- Check entry eligibility. Ask each program whether your exact ITT credential meets its bachelor’s-degree requirement.
- Request separate reviews. Ask about admission, prerequisite fulfillment, and graduate transfer credit as distinct questions.
- Confirm the rules. Get the school’s grade, course-age, accreditation, and maximum-credit policies in writing.
- Compare completion plans. Review accepted credits, remaining requirements, cost, aid eligibility, and time to finish.
- Confirm before enrolling. Make sure the credit decision is reflected in the degree audit and that you understand all required coursework.
This order can prevent a costly misunderstanding: admission may be possible even if no ITT courses count toward the graduate degree. Make the final decision using the school’s written evaluation, not an assumption that one approval guarantees the others.
Frequently asked questions
These answers explain the general distinctions involved in an ITT credential review. A receiving university sets its own rules, so use these as questions to take to admissions and the program rather than as a guarantee of a specific outcome.
Can ITT credits transfer to graduate school?
Possibly. Each university decides whether specific coursework meets its rules for transfer credit. No nationwide rule guarantees acceptance.
Do ITT undergraduate credits count toward a graduate degree?
Do not assume they do. Graduate programs generally evaluate transfer toward the graduate degree as graduate-level coursework. Ask whether an undergraduate course can instead meet a prerequisite.
Can an ITT credential meet a graduate program’s bachelor’s requirement?
That depends on the credential and the university’s admissions policy. Ask graduate admissions to review your exact records in writing.
Does ITT’s accreditation history mean its credits are unusable?
No universal rule makes all ITT coursework unusable. The school’s history may affect review, but the receiving university decides under its own policy.
Does getting admitted mean my ITT courses were accepted?
No. Admission and transfer-credit decisions are separate. Request a course-by-course ruling and confirm accepted credits on your degree audit.
What records should I send for a transfer review?
Start with an official transcript, credential details, course descriptions or syllabi, grades, dates, and credit-hour information. Ask what substitute documents are accepted if records are missing.
Who should evaluate the courses?
Ask graduate admissions about entry eligibility and the program, registrar, or transfer-credit office about prerequisites and degree credit. Confirm which office makes each final decision.
Can a course meet a prerequisite without earning degree credit?
Yes, a school may review a course for prerequisite purposes separately from graduate transfer credit. Ask the program to state exactly how it will apply.
Should I enroll while a credit decision is pending?
Avoid making a commitment based on an informal promise. Get the decision in writing and understand what requirements and costs remain before enrolling or borrowing.
What if two universities give different answers?
Their policies, programs, and course needs may differ. Compare each written ruling, the remaining degree requirements, and the total cost of completion.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
