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Transfer Opportunities
For information about transferring credits to RTC, please visit the Credits section of the Academic Information page.
Transfer from RTC
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There are many ways for students to continue their education after taking classes at Renton Technical College! Career-Training Transfer (AAS-T degrees)
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University Transfer (DTA/MRP degrees)
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Class by Class Transfer (individual courses)
Career-Training Transfer | Associate of Applied Science- Transfer
Associate of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degrees include both technical courses and general education courses. An AAS-T degree prepares students with the technical skills and knowledge necessary for their chosen profession, while also offering transfer pathways to Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) programs for further education. BAS degrees emphasize hands-on, real-world work, and they are available at community and technical colleges across Washington State. BAS programs typically accept more technical credits in transfer, allowing students to continue their education after an AAS-T degree and pursue advanced studies aligned with their career goals.
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) programs are offered at Washington State Community & Technical Colleges. It’s important to note that the receiving institution, or the school where a student intends to transfer, will ultimately decide how credits from RTC transfer to them, and an AAS-T degree may not fully satisfy prerequisite class requirements. Therefore, students are encouraged to start transfer planning early in their program by seeking guidance from their RTC adviser and consulting directly with the BAS program. An AAS-T degree will generally not fully transfer to a four-year university Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program; these traditional academic degrees often will accept general education courses and not technical classes in transfer. If a student’s goal is to transfer to a four-year university, the best plan is to pursue a DTA/MRP associate degree:
University Transfer | Direct Transfer Agreement
Direct Transfer Agreement/ Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) associate degrees are for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university after graduating from Renton Technical College. These degrees are statewide transfer agreements developed in cooperation with Washington universities to transfer to specific, high-demand bachelor degree programs. RTC offers the following DTA/MRP degrees:
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Associate in Business DTA/MRP
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Associate in Computer Science DTA/MRP
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Associate in Pre-Nursing DTA/MRP
While earning a DTA degree prepares students to transfer to most Washington State colleges and universities, completion of a DTA/MRP degree does not guarantee admission to any university. Universities often have specific application requirements or GPA expectations, that are more than the classes required for the transfer associate degree. The 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA needed to graduate from RTC may not be high enough to meet university entrance requirements. In addition, admission to university programs in business, computer science, and nursing can be highly competitive, which means that only a small percentage of qualified students may be invited to enroll.
The transfer institution will decide how to accept RTC transfer credits. Therefore, students should choose classes thoughtfully to meet both graduation requirements at RTC and university admission requirements for their major. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their RTC adviser and an adviser from their desired transfer institution to verify their class choices and plan their transfer early.
Class-by-Class Transfer
Individual classes from RTC may transfer to another college or university on a class-by-class basis. The institution a student is transferring to will decide which courses they will accept for credit, generally by reviewing each class to see if they offer the same (or a similar) course. Many universities require a grade of “C” (2.0) or better for a class to transfer. Different types of classes will usually transfer differently:
- General Education courses will usually be accepted by other colleges & universities offering the same (or similar) courses. They are the foundation of college education common across many colleges and universities. General Education classes are offered in subjects such as English, math, social science, natural science and humanities.
- Technical courses can be challenging to transfer, because they are specialized at RTC to prepare students with industry-specific skills and knowledge for their future careers. These classes are generally different from what is taught at other institutions, especially four-year universities where they focus on general education. Many four-year universities will award transfer credit for general education classes but usually not for technical classes. If transferring to another college that offers a similar professional or technical program, students are advised to talk with an adviser at both institutions about how their technical credit could transfer.
It’s important not to assume that a class will transfer. Students should consult with their RTC adviser and future college/university early on to plan for transfer. The RTC Student Success Center can help with transfer questions. Many four-year universities have a transfer equivalency guide that lists all the RTC classes which are accepted automatically.
If a class isn’t listed in a university transfer guide, students can ask for a review to see if it matches a course at the new school. They will need to provide the class syllabus and some assignments. This process can take time, so it’s best to plan ahead. For help, talk to the RTC transfer counselor or the Dean of General Education and Transfer.
Many four-year universities have a transfer equivalency guide that lists all of the classes that are accepted automatically:
If a class is not included in a transfer equivalency guide, students may be able to request a review of class materials to see if the RTC course is equivalent to a course at the receiving institution. Students should be prepared to present the class syllabus and samples of major assignments for the review. The process can take time, so advance planning is key. For assistance, please contact the college’s transfer counselor or the Dean of General Education and Transfer.
Technical classes are the hardest to transfer. Many four-year universities will award credit for general education classes in math or English or psychology, but not for program classes. There is an innovative program, however, at Evergreen State College, which offers an Upside Down Transfer Option for a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. They will accept up to 90 credits of a technical AAS or AAS-T. Students then complete 90 credits at Evergreen, mostly in general education.
Transfer Degrees
RTC offers two types of associate transfer degrees. The first is the career-focused Associate of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degree. Students with an AAS-T degree also have many options for the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS). These programs accept more technical classes, sometimes an entire program. BAS degrees emphasize hands-on, real-world work, and they are available at community and technical colleges across Washington state. Popular BAS choices include management, information technology, and education.
The second type of associate transfer degree is the Direct Transfer Agreement / Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) degree. These are statewide transfer agreements developed in cooperation with Washington universities to transfer to specific, high-demand baccalaureate or four-year programs. RTC offers the following DTA/MRP degrees:
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Associate in Business DTA/MRP
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Associate in Computer Science DTA/MRP
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Associate in Pre-Nursing DTA/MRP
Completion of a DTA/MRP degree does not guarantee admission to a university. Universities may have specific requirements or minimum GPA expectations, and admission to these programs can be highly competitive.
The receiving institution (the college or university you want to transfer to) decides whether or not to accept your credits Choose your classes carefully, and let your adviser or counselor know about your plans to transfer. They can help you understand how different receiving institutions might evaluate your classes and credits. You also should think about reaching out to the admissions department at your transfer college or university for guidance.
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