An official transcript from the issuing institution must be received by the Office of the Registrar before any academic work done elsewhere may be accepted for Carleton credit. An official transcript is one that has been authenticated by the issuing institution, usually by applying the official seal to the copy of the academic record along with a facsimile of the signature of the registrar or recorder. The transcript must be mailed directly to the Carleton College Office of the Registrar by the issuing institution.

A matriculated student may apply toward the Carleton degree a total of 54 credits earned while off campus (Carleton faculty-led off-campus seminars are excluded from the 54-credit maximum) unless, as in the case of certain transfer students, this would result in a total number of transfer credits exceeding the 102 overall maximum.

Off-campus credits may be earned in any combination of the following:

1. Consortia and other Carleton-affiliated programs: e.g., ACM, AKP, DIS, ISLE, HECUA, and SEA.
2. Non-Carleton, nonaffiliated programs approved by the Off-Campus Studies Committee.
3. Approved summer study at other institutions.

A student wishing to transfer credit from another institution should secure permission in advance and be prepared to present materials, both before and after taking a course, which can be used for an in-depth preview and review of each course. These materials could include the course description, course outline, instructional contact time, reading list, copies of papers or exams, etc. The student may be expected to present available materials to the corresponding department chair for prior approval before the course is taken. When the course is completed, additional materials (text, tests, syllabus, etc.) may be required for the approval of the chair of the appropriate department who may require additional evaluation before credit is awarded. In this way, departments will be able to recommend the quality and acceptability of a course as a part of the student's program. Determination of the amount of transfer credit is established by the Registrar. No credits are transferred for work in which a grade below "C-" is earned (approved non-Carleton OCS credit excepted). Also, no credits are transferred for work deemed to be equivalent to credits already earned at Carleton. The Academic Standing Committee (ASC) must approve all off-campus study for Carleton credit.

Students who have received college credit from any other institution will be required to forward a transcript for each school attended, as well as the Carleton transcript, if applying to a graduate school or to graduate school service organizations (e.g., the Law School Data Assembly Service). The registrar's office does not record such work on the Carleton transcript except in the case of transfer credit.

For information concerning prior credits and their acceptance toward the degree, see the Academic Catalog or the Office of the Registrar.

See also advanced placement, off-campus study, summer study at other institutions, transcripts, and transfer students.