Transferring to Otterbein
Students who are interested in transferring to Otterbein University may contact Adult and Transfer Admission Counselor’s through text and email. Virtual meetings can also be scheduled upon request. Transfer students can go to visit.otterbein.edu to schedule a campus tour and meet with an admission counselor.
Otterbein Transfer Scholarship Awards!
In continuing its institutional commitment to access and affordability, the University is proud to announce that students transferring to Otterbein will now be eligible for bigger transfer scholarship awards. The awards and their eligibility are detailed below and apply to students starting as early as the fall of 2025. The Transfer Team is here to help make it easy for you to find success here.
Associate Degree Scholarship
$19,000
Typically awarded to students who have already:
Earned their Associate’s Degree
with a GPA of 2.75 or higher*
Provost Scholarship
$15,000
Typically awarded to students who have:
An accumulative GPA of 2.71 – 3.4
of college-level work
Presidential Scholarship
$17,000
Typically awarded to students who have:
An accumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
of college-level work
Alumni Scholarship
$12,000
Typically awarded to students who have:
An accumulative GPA of 2.0 – 2.7
of college-level work
Otterbein Advantage Partnership Scholarship $20,000
Awarded to new first-year or transfer students at time of admission for students under the age of 23 whose parent or guardian is a qualified employee of an Otterbein Advantage Partner. Awarded in lieu of other merit awards unless student qualifies for the President’s or Provost’s Scholarship. Highest scholarship amount honored. View a complete list of qualifying partners.
Last Dollar Scholarship
These opportunities are possible just by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
To receive any consideration for need-based aid, your family must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. This application is used to determine what type of federal, state, or Otterbein need-based aid your family is eligible to receive. Otterbein’s FAFSA code is 003110.
Otterbein’s OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP GAP AWARD is a statewide, full-need program that covers the direct cost of tuition, up to the student’s full financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Awarded to:
- Ohio residents whose families earn $60,000 or less, or
- Ohio residents who are federal Pell grant recipient
The scholarship applies after all federal and state aid has been applied, including the federal Direct Student loan. The Opportunity Scholarship does not cover room and board or books.
Students receiving the OHIO COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY GRANT are awarded to tuition without calculating the value of the federal direct student loan into the scholarship.
Awarded to:
- Ohio residents who are federal Pell grant recipients and who receive the Ohio College Opportunity Grant.
This NO LOAN TO TUITION program allows students to graduate debt-free, or allows the student loan to support other expenses such as room and board or text books.
Last Dollar Scholarship
These opportunities are possible just by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
To receive any consideration for need-based aid, your family must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. This application is used to determine what type of federal, state, or Otterbein need-based aid your family is eligible to receive. Otterbein’s FAFSA code is 003110.
Otterbein’s OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP is a statewide, full-need program that covers the direct cost of tuition, up to the student’s full financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Awarded to:
- Ohio residents whose families earn $60,000 or less, or
- Ohio residents who are federal Pell grant recipient
The scholarship applies after all federal and state aid has been applied, including the federal Direct Student loan. The Opportunity Scholarship does not cover room and board or books.
Students receiving the OHIO COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY GRANT are awarded to tuition without calculating the value of the federal direct student loan into the scholarship.
Awarded to:
- Ohio residents who are federal Pell grant recipients and who receive the Ohio College Opportunity Grant.
This NO LOAN TO TUITION program allows students to graduate debt-free, or allows the student loan to support other expenses such as room and board or text books.
Note: A 2.75 Otterbein GPA is required by the end of your second year for renewal. Students must remain in full-time status. Scholarships only apply to the first degree earned.
Transfer Tuesday Virtual Overview
We will be hosting a Virtual transfer overview every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
Transfer Friday Overview with tour
Come to campus on selected Fridays for the transfer overview and optional tour.
Admission criteria, special enrollment, and auditions
AdmissionAdmission to Otterbein is based on a student’s overall potential for academic success. Decisions are made after a holistic review. Students are reviewed based upon cumulative GPA of all post-secondary transcripts.
Transfer students maybe asked to support their application with a final high school transcript.
Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary attended. Send all official transcripts directly from previously attended to Otterbein. Otterbein prefers to receive all official transcripts electronically. Transcripts go to enrollmentservices@otterbein.edu.
With the availability of the ACT and SAT scores being disrupted by COVID-19, Otterbein has adopted a test optional admission policy. Students will be able to select if they would or would not like test scores to be used in the evaluation of their admission application. Students with high school GPA of 2.75 or lower are encouraged to submit a test score if available. Students will not be disadvantaged for the submission of test scores, so, if available, we would recommend submitting official score.
Special Enrollment
Enrollment in the Athletic Training, Education, Engineering, Honors, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine Early Assurance and Zoo and Conservation Science programs have additional academic requirements. Details are available from the Office of Admission. Otterbein University is committed to providing a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination. Otterbein does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or veteran status in admissions, in access to, or in treatment within its educational programs or activities, in employment, recruiting, or policy administration.
Auditions
Some departments require an audition or portfolio review for admission. Theatre and Music require an audition. Art requires a portfolio review. Additional details are available from the Office of Admission. Each department coordinates the process a little differently, so read carefully and do not hesitate to call the Office of Admission at 614-823-1500, or any of the individual departments if you have questions.
Transfer credit policy
RequirementsOtterbein accepts credits from two and four-year institutions that are fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agencies. Students applying for transfer to Otterbein University will receive an official evaluation of their prior college credits when official transcripts have been received from all previously attended institutions. Only courses in which the student has received a grade of “C-“or higher will be considered for transfer credits. Official transcripts come directly from the issuing school to Otterbein.
There is no limit to the number of credits transferred from two-year and four-year institutions.
Community College partners
Transfer CreditsCourse Equivalency Guides
Otterbein University accepts all non-remedial credits earned at any regionally accredited institution with a grade C- or better. Otterbein also accepts credits for military coursework listed on a military transcript with ACE recommendations. Credits are evaluated by the registrar in consultation with academic departments. Credits that do not align with specific Otterbein courses will be awarded general elective credit. Actual grades are not transferred and thus are not included in the Otterbein grade point average. If academic credentials are submitted in a non-English language, a World Education Services, Inc. (WES) course-by-course evaluation might be required. Visit the WES website for details and instructions.
Select a school name below to see a list of courses which will transfer to Otterbein University from that institution. Courses which are not listed have not yet been evaluated for course credit. Equivalency guides will be updated periodically as courses are reviewed.
Once outside coursework is complete, students must send an official transcript from the institution to the Otterbein Office of the Registrar in order for credit to be applied to their degree.
Community College Agreements
To better serve students in community colleges, Otterbein has articulation agreements with the institutions listed below. These agreements guarantee admission to graduates from two-year institutions with the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree with a 2.0 or higher GPA who transfer directly to Otterbein. Individual departments’ minimum grade requirements may vary.
- Central Ohio Technical College, Newark, Ohio
- Clark State Community College, Springfield, Ohio
- Columbus State Community College (Pathway Programs), Columbus, Ohio
- Hocking College, Logan, Ohio
- Marion Technical College, Marion, Ohio
- North Central State College, Mansfield, Ohio
- Southern State Community College, Hillsboro, Ohio
- Zane State College, Zanesville, Ohio
Meet Our Transfer Counselors
