Community college transfer requirements to University of Memphis

University of Memphis is a major receiving institution for community college transfer students in Tennessee. This page summarizes the published minimum GPA, application deadline, credit cap, and articulation framework you need to plan the transfer.

Transfer-admission profile

University of Memphis publishes a transfer-admission policy distinct from its freshman policy. The minimum cumulative community college GPA for transfer applicants is approximately 2; competitive majors — particularly engineering, nursing, computer science, and the business school — typically require a higher GPA, often 3.2 or above, plus specific grades in named lower-division prerequisite courses. The university accepts up to 60 semester hours of community college credit toward the bachelor's; anything earned beyond that cap will appear on the transcript but will not reduce the credits required for graduation.

The application window is Jul 1 (fall), and applicants should plan to have an official transcript from every previously attended college, the FAFSA submitted by the priority deadline, and (where required) a brief transfer essay or major-specific supplement. Some University of Memphis programs admit only for the fall term; others admit for both fall and spring. Confirm with the receiving department before you commit to a transfer term.

Articulation framework

Because University of Memphis is part of Independent in Tennessee, transfer students from in-state community colleges benefit from the following articulation programs:

• Tennessee Transfer Pathways — State-approved 60-credit Transfer Pathway degrees in 50+ majors guarantee junior standing and full course transfer to any Tennessee public university.

Following the relevant articulation program is the cleanest way to ensure a credit-for-credit move into University of Memphis. Out-of-state transfers and applicants who skip the program are evaluated course-by-course by the registrar, which usually loses some credit at the margin.

Step-by-step transfer plan

1. Decide your target major. Read the University of Memphis department's transfer guide for that major, which lists every required and recommended lower-division course.
2. Pick a feeder community college in Tennessee that offers the matching transfer-track associate degree (AA, AS, or the state's transfer-associate variant).
3. Map every semester against the University of Memphis articulation table. Confirm with both your community college advisor and the receiving department that the courses you plan to take will count.
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA above 2 — and well above for the competitive majors. Aim for at least 3.2 if you're targeting an oversubscribed program.
5. File the FAFSA before the priority deadline, request an official transcript from every prior college, and submit your application before Jul 1 (fall).
6. After admission, attend the transfer orientation, lock in your major declaration with the receiving department, and request a final credit evaluation in writing.

Common feeder community colleges

The community colleges below are the largest in Tennessee by enrollment, and they each maintain established transfer pipelines into University of Memphis. Each profile lists the college's transfer rate, costs, and program offerings:

Popular majors for transfer-in

Each program-area page below outlines the typical two-year coursework, prerequisites, and recommended sequence for transferring into the corresponding bachelor's program at University of Memphis:

• Business Administration at University of Memphis
• Nursing (RN) at University of Memphis
• Computer Science at University of Memphis
• Information Technology at University of Memphis
• Engineering Transfer at University of Memphis
• Early Childhood Education at University of Memphis
• Criminal Justice at University of Memphis
• Psychology at University of Memphis
• Biology / Pre-Health at University of Memphis
• Communications & Media at University of Memphis
• Liberal Arts (General Studies) at University of Memphis
• Hospitality & Culinary at University of Memphis