A useful place to beginHow a 2.0 GPA Works in Transfer Admission
Lower thresholds matter most if you left after a semester or two. With 15 credits and a 2.0, you can apply as a transfer student at some schools here, while others want 24 to 36 credits first. Every program is offered online, and each card shows the admission rule in the school’s own terms.
Transfer GPA rules usually change with the number of credits you have earned. Below a school’s threshold, you may need to send a high school transcript or meet first-year standards as well. Admission to the university is also separate from entry to some majors, which can set a higher GPA. Read both before you apply.
This shortlist includes 13 online degree offerings at 13 colleges. Compare transfer credit policies with the requirements of your chosen major. Check each program’s schedule and any laboratory, fieldwork, or campus commitments before enrolling.
How this list is rankedEvery program here has a published transfer admission rule that a 2.0 cumulative college GPA satisfies. We rank them by the credit count at which that rule applies on your college record alone, from the fewest credits to the most. Programs with equal thresholds appear alphabetically. The ranking describes admission rules, not your chance of acceptance or how your credits will transfer.
Read our program selection method ↗ Compare Online Colleges That Accept a 2.0 GPA
The programs, with context
Online Colleges Ranked by the Credits Needed With a 2.0 GPA
#1Guaranteed Admission at 12 Hours and a 2.0Angelo State University
BSS in Border and Homeland Security
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #1 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 12 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
Angelo State guarantees transfer admission once you have 12 transferable hours and a 2.0 GPA, counted across every school you attended, including dual credit. That low threshold helps someone who left after one semester with uneven grades. Once admitted, you would study border security online, including international trafficking, federal immigration law, and chemical or biological threats.
Before you apply: With fewer than 12 hours, you also need to meet freshman requirements. Ask how earlier criminal justice or government courses apply to the security major.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer applicants with at least 12 transferable hours need a 2.0 GPA for guaranteed admission; applicants with fewer hours also meet freshman criteria.
#2A 2.0 GPA With as Few as 12 CreditsUniversity of Massachusetts Global
BA in Organizational Leadership
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #2 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 12 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
For the organizational leadership BA, UMass Global’s usual transfer standard is a 2.0 GPA once you hold 12 or more college credits. Students who arrive with fewer credits or a GPA below 2.0 take a student success course in their first session, which gives people whose earlier grades slipped a structured way back. Each eight-week online session is led by an instructor and has set deadlines.
Before you apply: Applicants with fewer than 12 credits have separate documentation requirements. Plan for the success course in your first session if your GPA sits below 2.0.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Standard transfer entry: at least 12 college credits and a 2.0 GPA; fewer-credit applicants have separate documentation requirements.
- Degree Requirements
- 120 total credits
- Study Schedule
- Online, instructor-led eight-week sessions with deadlines
#3Transfer Status at 12 Credits With a 2.00 AverageUniversity of Montana
BA in Anthropology
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #3 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 12 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
The University of Montana treats you as a transfer applicant once you have 12 college-level credits, and admission requires a 2.00 cumulative average on all college work attempted. For a returning student drawn to anthropology, the BA can be completed online through a plan built with the department, covering biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural study, and linguistics.
Before you apply: Your GPA includes every college course you attempted, not only the ones that transfer. Ask the department to map earlier social science courses into the core.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Students entering with at least 12 college-level credits apply as transfers; admission requires a 2.0 cumulative college GPA.
#4Transfer Admission From 13 Credits and a 2.0Arkansas State University
BS in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #4 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 13 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list ask for fewer credits.
Arkansas State admits transfer students with 13 or more transferable credit hours and a 2.0 cumulative GPA on that coursework. Below 13 credits you apply as a first-time freshman, which brings ACT or SAT scores into the picture, so those extra credits matter. The online disaster preparedness degree builds a 60-credit major around emergency planning and a problem-solving capstone.
Before you apply: Up to 90 transfer hours may apply after evaluation, but the 60-credit major is large. Ask how many emergency management courses remain for you.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer applicants with at least 13 college credits follow A-State’s transfer route and need a minimum 2.0 GPA.
#5A 2.0 GPA and College Transcripts From 15 CreditsStevenson University
BS in Legal Studies
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #5 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 15 transferable credits. 2 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
Stevenson asks transfer applicants for a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and from 15 college credits upward only your college transcripts are needed. The online legal studies BS covers torts, contracts, estates, and civil litigation, with live instruction in legal-specialty courses. Stevenson also offers credit for prior learning, which can help if your work history includes time in a law office.
Before you apply: With fewer than 15 credits, add your high school transcript or GED results. Transfer credit may include up to 70 community college credits.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer applicants submit prior college transcripts and need a 2.0 cumulative GPA; fewer than 15 college credits also require high school documentation.
#615 Hours and a 2.0 on Transferable CreditUniversity of Houston-Downtown
BBA in Management Information Systems
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #6 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 15 transferable credits. 2 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
The University of Houston-Downtown accepts transfer applicants with at least 15 college-level semester hours and a 2.0 GPA on transferable credit. When a course was taken more than once, UHD uses the highest grade, which can lift a GPA pulled down by an early failed attempt. The online MIS degree covers systems analysis, data management, SAP enterprise systems, and security.
Before you apply: Applicants with fewer than 15 hours must also meet freshman requirements. Developmental coursework stays out of the transfer GPA.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer entry normally requires at least 15 college-level semester hours and a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
#7The 2.0 Standard Begins at 18 Transfer HoursSam Houston State University
BS in Homeland Security Studies
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #7 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 18 transferable credits. 6 programs on this list ask for fewer credits.
Sam Houston State ties its transfer GPA to the hours you have completed: 18 or more transferable hours need a 2.0, while 12 to 17 hours need a 2.5. If you sit just under 18, one more course can lower the bar. The online degree, housed in the College of Criminal Justice, mixes counterterrorism and cyber defense with disaster response and communication.
Before you apply: Fewer than 12 hours means freshman requirements plus a 2.5 GPA. Use the university’s equivalency tools to check courses before you apply.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer applicants with at least 18 hours need a 2.0 transferable GPA; applicants with 12–17 hours need a 2.5 GPA.
#8Your College Record Stands Alone at 20 CreditsOhio University
Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #8 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 20 transferable credits. 7 programs on this list ask for fewer credits.
Ohio University considers transfer applicants with a cumulative 2.0 GPA from every institution attended. Once you have 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours, your college record stands on its own. The online Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services welcomes earlier college credit and builds leadership and problem-solving skills for public outreach and service work.
Before you apply: Below 20 semester hours, send your high school transcript too. The GPA counts all previous institutions, so gather every transcript first.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer applicants need a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0; those with fewer than 20 semester credits also submit a high school transcript.
#9A 2.0 GPA With Individual Review as a BackstopPark University
Bachelor of Public Administration
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #9 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 24 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
Park asks transfer applicants for a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all previous college study, and at 24 credits your college record is enough. Applicants who miss the standards may be considered individually, which matters if one hard semester pulled your average down. The online public administration degree covers budgeting, personnel, administrative law, and research, with concentrations including fire service and homeland security.
Before you apply: Below 24 credits, add a high school transcript or GED. The degree itself asks for a 2.5 major GPA and a senior project.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer applicants generally need a cumulative 2.0 college GPA. Applicants with fewer than 24 credits also submit high school or GED documentation; individual review provisions apply.
- Transfer Credits
- Park evaluates previous college records as part of transfer admission. Request placement against the public administration major and chosen concentration.
- Degree Requirements
- 120 total credits, including a 45-credit major, 36 upper-level credits, and at least 30 graded Park credits with 15 in the major.
- Study Schedule
- The degree is available online.
#10Transfer Standing at 24 Hours With a 2.00Troy University
Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Sciences
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #10 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 24 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
Troy considers you a transfer student after 24 attempted hours of non-developmental coursework and admits transfers in good standing with at least a 2.00 overall GPA. At that point you skip high school transcripts and test scores. The online geographic information sciences degree teaches cartography, remote sensing, spatial modeling, and web GIS, ending with an internship or senior project.
Before you apply: Technical and remedial work is left out of Troy’s GPA calculation. Up to 75% of the degree may transfer, subject to evaluation.
#11A 2.0 College GPA Once You Reach 24 CreditsUniversity of Cincinnati
BA in Organizational Leadership
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #11 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 24 transferable credits. 3 programs on this list share that credit threshold, so they appear in alphabetical order.
The University of Cincinnati reviews transfer applicants with 24 or more college credits on a 2.0 cumulative college GPA. When you fall within a reasonable range of a standard, admissions may weigh work experience or leadership, which helps adults whose grades predate their careers. The online organizational leadership BA ends with an internship or service project under a faculty learning contract.
Before you apply: With 23 or fewer credits, a high school GPA standard also applies. Talk with an enrollment advisor first if you are just short.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Applicants with at least 24 transfer credits need a 2.0 college GPA; those with fewer credits also meet high-school criteria.
- Study Schedule
- Online, asynchronous coursework; an applied capstone experience is required
#12A Recalculated 2.0 at 30 Semester HoursKennesaw State University
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #12 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 30 transferable credits. 11 programs on this list ask for fewer credits.
Kennesaw State admits transfer students with 30 semester or 50 quarter hours of transferable credit, good academic standing, and a 2.0 GPA as recalculated by KSU. The recalculation follows KSU’s rules, so your number may differ from the one on your old transcript. The online cybersecurity degree blends information security, information technology, and criminal justice.
Before you apply: Below 30 hours, a different admission category applies. Ask admissions to recalculate your GPA before you rely on the 2.0 standard.
- Transfer Admission Standard
- Transfer entry requires 30 semester or 50 quarter hours, a recalculated 2.0 GPA and good academic standing; fewer credits follow another admission category.
#13A Completion University That Asks for 36 CreditsAthens State University
Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #13 of 13 because a 2.0 college GPA meets its published transfer standard once you have 36 transferable credits. 12 programs on this list ask for fewer credits.
Athens State is organized around transfer students finishing degrees, and its degree-seeking entry asks for 36 transferable semester credits, a 2.0 transfer GPA, and 15 general education credits. You also need to be eligible to return to your previous colleges. The online logistics and supply chain degree covers demand forecasting, disruptions, and planning projects with faculty.
Before you apply: If a previous college would not let you re-enroll, resolve that standing first. Confirm which 15 general education credits count before you apply.
Build a Plan Around Your Transfer Credits.
Organize your previous college credits in the degree planner, then take your course list and questions to a school’s transfer advisor. The school’s evaluation determines which credits count toward your degree.
Build your degree plan ↗If You Have Fewer Credits Than the Threshold
Below the credit threshold, most schools add high school records to the review. Angelo State asks applicants with fewer than 12 hours to meet freshman requirements as well as the 2.0. Ohio University and Park ask only for the high school transcript, while Cincinnati applies a high school GPA standard to applicants with 23 or fewer college credits.
If you are a few credits short, one or two more courses at a community college can move you past the line. Ask the admissions office first, since Park and Cincinnati both describe individual or holistic review for applicants near a standard.
Read the official guidance: University Admission and Major Requirements Can Use Different GPAs
Meeting the university’s transfer standard does not settle every GPA rule. Park requires a 2.5 major GPA for its public administration degree, and Kennesaw State recalculates your GPA under its own rules before applying the 2.0 standard.
Sam Houston State shows how the credit count can change the GPA itself: applicants with 12 to 17 hours need a 2.5, and the 2.0 standard begins at 18 hours. Count your transferable hours carefully before you choose a start term.
Read the official guidance: Ways to Strengthen a Low GPA Before You Transfer
Recent grades carry weight. A term of strong community college courses raises your cumulative average and shows an admissions office how you study now. Some schools also give a structured start to students below the standard: UMass Global places students below a 2.0 GPA in a student success course during their first session.
Ask how a school handles repeated courses. UHD uses the highest grade when a course was taken more than once, so retaking an early failed class can change the GPA used for admission.
Read the official guidance: Before your next conversationQuestions About Online Colleges That Accept a 2.0 GPA
Which College on This List Needs the Fewest Credits With a 2.0 GPA?+
Angelo State University, University of Massachusetts Global, and University of Montana share the #1 position on this list, because each applies its 2.0 GPA transfer standard at 12 transferable credits. The next program, Arkansas State University, applies the 2.0 standard at 13 transferable credits. Your own evaluation decides what applies to you.
Can I Transfer to a University With a 2.0 GPA?+
Yes. Many universities publish a 2.0 cumulative GPA as their transfer standard once you have earned a set number of college credits, and every program on this list does. The credit threshold differs by school, so count your transferable credits before you apply.
Do Colleges Accept Transfer Students With a GPA Below 2.0?+
Some do, usually with conditions. UMass Global places students below a 2.0 in a student success course during their first session, and Park can consider applicants individually when they fall short of its standards. Ask about conditional admission before you rule a school out.
Read the official guidance: Does My Old GPA Follow Me to a New College?+
Your cumulative GPA from earlier colleges is used for transfer admission, and some schools recalculate it under their own rules, as Kennesaw State does. Montana counts all college-level work you attempted. Ask how the school treats repeated courses, since UHD uses the highest grade for a course taken more than once.
Read the official guidance: Are These Rankings Based on Payments From Colleges?+
No. The order comes from the published number described in the ranking method, sorted the same way for every school. Separate sponsored listings are labeled advertisements, and DegreeCompletion.com may receive compensation from them or their referrals. Sponsored placements do not change the order of this list.
