Transfer Students
Lewis & Clark welcomes transfer students for the perspective and experience they bring to the college—so much so that we purposefully reserve places in the incoming class for you. Whether you are coming from a two- or a four-year institution, our top priority is to make sure you will succeed in the classroom.
Your New Chapter Starts Here
We look for transfer students who have been successful in rigorous courses that match up well with Lewis & Clark’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum. Our challenging academics, Pacific Northwest location, and friendly community await you!
Emily Davis BA ’19More about EmilyI transferred to Lewis & Clark because it offered me everything I wanted and needed in a college experience at 18 years old, except by then I was 23 and ready to make full use of it!
Greta Burton BA ’22More about GretaUltimately, I let fear guide me and I chose a different institution, going against my instinct. That instinct brought me back to L&C, and now I cannot imagine having attended school anywhere else.
Gabriel Lucich BA ’27More about GabrielI chose Lewis & Clark because it offers one of the best educational experiences in the Northwest, with what might be the single most beautiful campus you can imagine.
Transfer Student Requirements
You are considered a transfer applicant if you have completed 12 or more semester credits (18 quarter credits) of college-level coursework after graduating from high school or earning a GED. If you have completed fewer than 12 semester credits, you will be considered a first-year applicant.
Transfer admission is selective; each year around 50 transfer applicants enroll. While there are no GPA or credit distribution requirements, we look for academic success in a well-rounded course load that should include college-level math, natural science, world language, and writing-intensive classes, and be balanced by additional courses in the social sciences and humanities.
Lewis & Clark accepts the Common Application, and there is no application fee. A leader in test-optional admissions since 1991, we will be adopting a test-free admissions policy beginning with the fall 2025 entering class.
Transfer Application Checklist
Here’s what you need for your application.
Optional Submissions
Transfer Application Deadlines
There is no set deadline by which fall applications must be completed; however, to ensure full consideration of your application, we strongly recommend you submit all credentials by April 1. Transfer applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and review of applications for fall semester begins after January 15. We will notify you of our admission decision approximately three weeks after your application is completed.
Transferring Your Credits
We evaluate transfer credit on a course-by-course basis. Credit will not be granted for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), life experience, credit by examination, repeated courses, or for coursework completed over 20 years ago. No more than 68 semester credits transferred from other institutions may be applied toward your Lewis & Clark degree. (If you are transferring from an institution that is on a quarter system, one quarter credit equals 0.67 semester credits.)
Your class standing upon enrollment at Lewis & Clark is determined by the total number of credits transferred.
| 0-28 semester credits |
First-year standing |
| 29-60 semester credits |
Sophomore standing |
| 61-68 semester credits |
Junior standing |
Innovative Learning, Exceptional Results
Lewis & Clark’s rigorous liberal arts curriculum allows you to choose from 29 majors and 33 minors across a variety of academic disciplines. Our small classes allow for deep and engaging discussions with your peers and one-on-one mentorship by your professors. Our commitment to creating global citizens is evident in our unique approach to overseas study. Here, you will have many leadership and experiential learning opportunities right at your fingertips, and direct pathways to careers or advanced degrees (perhaps through our Graduate School of Education and Counseling or School of Law!).
Academic Programs Overseas and Off-Campus Programs
Find Your PNW Home
Transfer students are just one component of the Lewis & Clark diverse student body. You will engage with a community that represents a wide array of ages, cultures, backgrounds, gender identities, nationalities, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, and beliefs. We embrace them all.
There is never a shortage of activity on campus, and you will find new and exciting ways to get involved through our 110+ student clubs and organizations. Discover new passions and make lifelong friendships at Lewis & Clark!
Your Pacific Northwest Home Student Life
Plan Your Visit
There’s no better way to get to know us than by visiting. When you step foot on the nation’s most beautiful college campus, you won’t want to leave!
Already Applied? Next Steps
Check Your Application Status
Your L&C Portal gives you access to the most up-to-date information about your application credentials. The first time you log in, use the temporary PIN provided in the email sent upon receipt of your application.
L&C Portal for Transfer Students
Explore Financial Aid
The number you see—the total cost of tuition, room, board, travel, and personal expenses—is not usually what you will pay. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. You should complete the FAFSA by the March 1 priority deadline, even if your Common Application is not yet complete. Our federal school code is 003197, and our Office of Financial Aid is here to help.
Transfer students are eligible for need- and merit-based scholarships, and all applicants who complete their applications for admission within our preferred time frame are considered for aid. If you are a member of Phi Theta Kappa, you may be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship.
For Admitted Students
We’re excited to have you join our community of scholars, athletes, artists, and adventurers this fall, but we know you still may have a tough decision ahead of you. That’s why we’ve created this page: to help you explore why you should say YES to L&C and what happens next.
Get Support From Admissions Counselors
We are here to support you and answer any questions you may have as you navigate the college application process.