The Purdue Global Alternative Credit Center provides opportunities for both degree-seeking and nondegree-seeking students. We accept eligible credits through portfolio development, open learning courses, course assessments, and work/life experience.
Want to use your work experience or life experience for college credit? You could earn your degree faster and save nearly $11,000 on tuition for undergraduate programs.*
You can earn credits by passing standardized exams that require you to demonstrate your prior knowledge in a Purdue Global course.
Enroll in free and low-cost open learning courses. Purdue Global students can earn credit for some courses by enrolling in an Assessment of Skills and Knowledge and earning a passing score.
Servicemembers and veterans could earn up to 135 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree through military training, transfer credit, portfolio development, and course assessment opportunities.†
As a Purdue Global student, you may qualify for credit through external exams, which test skills and knowledge you’ve acquired on the job, from life experiences, or from military training.
If you have completed a professional certification or training, you may be eligible for credit toward your degree.
1M Prior-Learning Credits Awarded Last Year‡
$370 Million in Student Savings‡
50% Tuition Savings for Bachelor's Graduates with Prior Credits§
Externally assessed credits count toward a maximum of 75% of an undergraduate credential. This includes transfer credit, military training, work and life experience, professional certifications and training, external exams and assessments, and credit from our open course partners.
Program and state-specific exceptions may apply. Refer to the University Catalog for more information.
At Purdue Global, our Alternative Credit Center offers an opportunity to earn credit for prior learning. Prior learning can include, but is not limited to, career and job training, military training, college courses, and continuing education classes.
If you have prior learning experience, you may be a great candidate to submit a portfolio for experiential learning credit, and you are strongly encouraged to enroll in a credit for work experience course in your first two terms.
To apply credits for prior learning toward your Purdue Global degree from a college or university you previously attended, you will need to request an official transcript from each school.
A Purdue Global Admissions or Student Advisor can provide you with the College and University Transcript Request Form. Official transcripts must be sent to the Office of the Registrar at the following address:
Purdue Global
Office of the Registrar
2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Transcripts must arrive sealed and be sent directly from the registrar of the academic institution that awarded the credits.
Learn more about transferring prior learning credits to Purdue Global.
If you are a graduate of a community college, you may combine your associate's degree with other externally assessed prior learning to fulfill up to 75% of the credits needed for a Purdue Global bachelor's degree.
Indiana’s Transfer Single Articulation Pathway (TSAP) jump-starts your bachelor’s with custom articulation pathways to ensure smooth transfer and recognition of your TSAP-approved associate’s degree.
Courses from our partners have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®), which Purdue Global accepts.
*Experiential Learning Savings: In 2021–2022, incoming Purdue Global students who passed EL206 and submitted a portfolio for evaluation earned an average of 33 quarter credit hours toward their Purdue Global undergraduate degrees. Based on these experiential learning credits, tuition savings for nonmilitary students were on average $10,743.00. Tuition savings calculated as 33 quarter credit hours x standard tuition rate of $371.00 = $12,243.00 - $1,500.00 course fee = $10,743.00. Savings for students vary depending on the student's individual prior learning experience. Savings for 2021–2022 incoming Indiana students who passed EL206 and submitted a portfolio for review were $9,700.00. Savings for 2021–2022 incoming military students who passed EL206 and submitted a portfolio for review ranged from $3,945.00 to $6,090.00. Eligible college credits articulate into Purdue Global undergraduate degree plans. Savings dependent on credit awards, which are dependent on individual circumstances. See University Catalog for Prior Learning policy. See www.purdueglobal.edu/tuition-financial-aid/undergraduate-graduate-tuition-and-fees/ for course fee refund policy. Source: Purdue Global School of General Studies, October 2022. 2021–2022 academic year.
†Average Military College Credit Award: Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, September 2021. 2020–2021 academic year. Includes all types of prior learning (military and other articulations, transfer credit from prior institutions) as well as experiential portfolio credit. Credit earned in an associate’s degree program through Purdue Global applied earlier as part of a pool of prior degree credit is not included in this calculation. The actual percentage may be slightly higher for students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs. Individual experiences will vary. Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit from any of these sources. See University Catalog for Prior Learning policy. Speak to an Admissions Advisor to find out how many credits may be eligible to transfer.
‡Prior Learning Credits Awarded: Source: Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2022. 2021–2022 academic year. Includes transfer, experiential, challenge exam, and assessment credits. Savings calculation is based on the standard cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits awarded in the period: 1,000,000 quarter credit hours x $371 = $371,000,000.
§Prior Learning Credit Savings—Bachelor's: Purdue Global online bachelor’s degree students who graduated in 2021–2022 and applied eligible prior learning (transfer, experiential, or credit by exam) credits saved an average of $34,000 toward the total degree. Campus tuition and prior learning savings vary by location. Savings based on overall cost of completion without prior learning credit. Calculation based on total prior learning credit times standard cost per credit in student's program of study. Individual savings will vary. Calculation includes campus and military students. Purdue Global does not guarantee transferability of credit. See University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy. Source: Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2022. 2021–2022 academic year.
