Student Guides

The sticker price of private college stops a lot of students before they even look at an application. At an average of $45,000 a year in tuition and fees for 2025-26, private universities can seem financially out of reach for most families.

A transcript evaluation is the formal review of your academic record: verifying your coursework, recalculating your GPA, and determining how your credits apply toward a new program or institution. The term is familiar. The process, for most students, is not.

Yes, scholarships exist specifically for transfer students, and many institutions offer substantial financial aid to attract qualified transfers. If you're a community college student or currently enrolled at a four-year college planning to transfer, you're likely concerned about affording your new institution. The good news: thousands of dollars in transfer-specific scholarship opportunities are available for students who know where to look and how to apply.

Your weighted GPA is one of the most important numbers on your transcript — and also one of the most misunderstood. Most students have heard the term, but very few are ever taught exactly how it is calculated, why the formula changes depending on your school and course type, or how colleges actually use the number when reviewing your application.

Here's the honest answer: most transfer students should apply to 5 to 8 colleges. But the right number for you depends on where you're applying, how strong your profile is, and what your priorities are — and those answers look different for transfer students than they do for high school seniors.

The traditional path through education works for a lot of people. But for millions of students and professionals today, it is not always the most practical option. Microcredentials are short, focused credentials that let you build specific skills and prove what you know, in weeks rather than years. Whether you are a community college student, a working professional, or a recent graduate, they offer a faster and more flexible way to move toward your goals.