Anonymous
Post 12/01/2025 08:46     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
2-3 months max. Not years!!
Anonymous
Post 12/01/2025 06:56     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
Totally school dependent. I seem to recall that a friend who dropped out two or three credits short of graduation has seven years to go back and finish, but that may just have been without having to reapply. (He never did and has a thriving career anyway.)
Anonymous
Post 12/01/2025 06:46     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
It's not that the credits expire, but sometimes a potential college won't accept a specific class that you took a decade ago. So...depends on the class and college.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 22:37     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
If you go back to the same university, they might not expire. I went back to my university to finish my masters about 12 years after I had taken classes. I only had to write my thesis. They took all my credits but the course requirements had changed to I had to take a couple of classes and then write my thesis. The classes were online. I got it done in about six months.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:39     Subject: Re:How many years for College credits to expire?
Anonymous wrote:For some reason 7 is stuck in my head. But colleges right now are desperate for tuition dollars, so bring your trascript into an admissions office and ask what you can keep. Let thrm know you are looking around for a college that lets ypu keep the most credits toward the required 120 or the required degree. Even if they cone in as elective credit, that might be ok for you depending on how many you have.


Although they are desperate, if it is for graduate credit most won't take them after the cut off point of 10 years I think. I tried really hard to find a program that would accept my graduate credits from 1991-1992 and absolutely none would take them. So I assume it must be an accreditation issue because I was checking all the online colleges.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:35     Subject: Re:How many years for College credits to expire?
If you are talking about graduate credit, usually between 7 and 10 years, from what I have seen, even at most diploma mill schools.

Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:32     Subject: Re:How many years for College credits to expire?
For an undergraduate degree, colleges will usually be more lenient than if you are trying to complete a graduate degree using old graduate level coursework.

Generally the most important thing is that the classes are from a legitimate, accredited college.


Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:32     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
Anonymous wrote:Typically undergrad credits never expire. My father dropped out of U of Maryland in 1936. He went back to a different college in 1990 and his previous credits still counted. He graduated in 1996.


That's so cool!!!
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:26     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
They'd only expire at scam colleges that just want you to repeat classes for that overpriced tuition.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:25     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
Typically undergrad credits never expire. My father dropped out of U of Maryland in 1936. He went back to a different college in 1990 and his previous credits still counted. He graduated in 1996.

Graduate credits typically expire after about 5-7 years, depending on the college and the subject.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 21:17     Subject: Re:How many years for College credits to expire?
Anonymous wrote:For some reason 7 is stuck in my head. But colleges right now are desperate for tuition dollars, so bring your trascript into an admissions office and ask what you can keep. Let thrm know you are looking around for a college that lets ypu keep the most credits toward the required 120 or the required degree. Even if they cone in as elective credit, that might be ok for you depending on how many you have.


I think that’s certain courses for eligibility to apply into graduate programs. And/or how long you’re supposed to save your tax records.

Op, go directly to the institution you want to study at and negotiate per the advice here. You will not have to start over no matter what unless you’re starting over to do a very different, very specialized degree.

Proud of you! Go get it done. You’ve got this.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 18:45     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
There's a trend of universities offering more degree completion programs for older students, and it should become even more common as demographic trends lead to fewer tradional-age students. I'd check in with institutions convenient to you to see what sorts of options they have for non-traditional students who have done some college in the past.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 18:40     Subject: Re:How many years for College credits to expire?
For some reason 7 is stuck in my head. But colleges right now are desperate for tuition dollars, so bring your trascript into an admissions office and ask what you can keep. Let thrm know you are looking around for a college that lets ypu keep the most credits toward the required 120 or the required degree. Even if they cone in as elective credit, that might be ok for you depending on how many you have.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 12:58     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
It depends on your college entirely.

And...you might even be able to appeal for an exception. Talk to a Dean/senior person...

It will likely be simplest to resume at your original school. Transferring credits usually results in some loss of credit at the new school.

Look for scholarships for returning students. There are some, especially for women.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2025 12:49     Subject: How many years for College credits to expire?
In 2005 I completed many college courses towards a degree I never completed. Are these college credits now expired?