Undergraduate Application Requirements: Transfer Students

Office: Admissions

Application Deadlines

Applications for Fall 2025 are now open.

Transfer applications for spring should be submitted by October 1 for priority
consideration for admission and scholarship. Transfer decisions will be issued
after November 1 on an ongoing basis as applications are completed until programs
are full.

Transfer applications for fall should be submitted by February 15 for priority consideration for admission and scholarship. We also offer additional transfer deadlines of March 15, and again on April 15 as space remains available in programs. Transfer decisions will be issued after February 15 on an ongoing basis as applications are completed until programs are full.

See Complete Application Deadlines and Timelines

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Who is a Transfer Applicant?

If you have attended a university or college full time (twelve semester hours or the equivalent) for at least one semester or term or will do so prior to enrollment, you are considered a transfer student.
If you have or will accumulate at least twelve semester hours (or the equivalent) after graduating from high school and prior to enrollment, you are also considered a transfer student.
If you earned college credit while still enrolled in high school (summer school, pre-college programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment between your high school and a university or community college, etc.), you are a freshman applicant.
If you are currently enrolled in Pratt’s Associate degree program (AAS only) and wish to continue into the BFA, you will also apply as a transfer student. Please find specific information about applying towards the bottom of this page.

If you are a transfer student, it is important to use the appropriate application. Transfers who apply as freshmen may have their offer of admission rescinded, because of different criteria for acceptance. The applicant will be reconsidered for both admission and a transfer scholarship.

If you already hold a college degree, we recommend applying as a graduate student. Find our program offerings here, and our graduate application process online.

Apply Now

Transfer Placement

Please be advised that transfer placement at an advanced level is limited. Applications will be reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis to assess placement level. Depending on this individual review and assessment, admissions outcomes will range between admitted, waitlisted, deferred, and denied.

In order to place out of foundation year you must submit a portfolio of work from courses similar to Pratt’s first year program. For example, in Art and Design: to place as a sophomore, you must have taken classes similar to the foundation year curriculum to receive credit, and you must submit work from each studio course taken. To receive credit for the sophomore year, you must include examples from your major if you took major classes that reflect Pratt’s second-year. The curriculum for each major is available online. The level of work in the transfer portfolio in addition to credits in courses taken are used to determine placement (freshman first semester, sophomore second semester, etc.) in Pratt’s programs. Failure to show work from particular classes will affect the level of placement. Pratt has very limited space for transfer applicants, much of which is dependent on placement.

If you are hesitant to apply without knowing your placement, admissions can review your unofficial transcript and a brief portfolio to provide context as to how you may be placed. Admissions is unable to guarentee placement after reviewing your materials, as the full scope of your application is used to officially make that determination.

Questions about placement and transfer credit should be directed only to the Admissions Office at admissions@pratt.edu.

Transfer Admissions Requirements

Application form with fee (online)
Official transcripts from each high school attended or official GED scores (if less than 48 college credits have been earned or college GPA is below 3.0)
An unofficial transcript from each college attended
Test Scores (*optional)
Optional letters of recommendation
Pratt Essay
English Proficiency Scores
Visual or Writing Portfolio (Not required for Construction Management)

Detailed descriptions of each material can be found below.

Pratt asks that materials are uploaded to the online application whenever possible. Portfolios are submitted exclusively at pratt.slideroom.com. Anything that must be mailed can be sent to:

Pratt Institute
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11205

All supporting documents, including portfolio if required, should be submitted by the application deadline.

1. APPLICATION FORM WITH FEE

Transfer applicants apply online ($50 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; $90 for international applicants) through the Pratt online application.

Fee waivers are available in some instances based on financial need or outside organization participation. International students are not eligible based on financial hardship. Questions about fee waivers can be directed to admissions@pratt.edu.

2. OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS

A high school diploma or the equivalent is required for enrollment to Pratt Institute’s undergraduate program if at the time of applying less than 48 college credits were earned or the combined college GPA from all institutions attended is below 3.0. Transcripts from all high schools attended are required.

Applicants who have received high school equivalency diplomas are required to have official High School Equivalency Examination (GED) scores sent to the Admissions Office in addition to official transcripts from all high schools attended.

Pratt receives documents through SCOIR, Naviance, Parchment, BridgeU, EScript, Scrib, National Student Clearing House, or CIALFO.

International applicants must submit official transcripts (academic records) of all secondary school studies as well as any postsecondary studies. Applicants also must submit official results of all external examinations, for example General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), Hong Kong School Certificate of Education, Israeli matriculation or Bagrut, Secondary School Certificates, and Baccalaureate Part I and Part II. All transcripts must be translated into English.

Credential Evaluations for International Students

While we do not require credential evaluations for transfer applicants for their international high school transcripts specifically, Pratt strongly recommends it. These credential evaluations must be completed by a NACES member. Options for evaluation services include The Evaluation Company (TEC) for Pratt, WES, ECE, IEE, Global Credential Evaluators, or another acceptable service, e.g.: your embassy. Credential evaluations do not typically include translations, so documents must first be officially translated into English by a certified translation service. Pratt asks for a course-by-course evaluation.

3. UNOFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS

Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded when you complete your online application. Official transcripts should later be sent directly to Pratt from each college/university attended if you are admitted and decide to enroll. They may be sent through services like the National Student Clearinghouse or by mail to Pratt’s Office of Admissions. Students who are in their first semester of college and applying for spring should upload their student schedule instead.

Request an unofficial student copy from your school’s registrar, either digitally or physically, scan it, and upload it. It must have your name and the name of the school on the transcript. An unofficial transcript from each institution attended should be uploaded when you complete the application. If you are admitted and decide to enroll, you will need to send final official transcripts to Pratt Institute.

Students who have enrolled in other institutions of higher education should upload mid-year transcripts from each college or university showing in progress coursework. Students who have completed a four-year degree and are applying as an undergraduate for another program must submit their final official transcript with the degree and date of degree noted.

Students attending an institution with a pass/fail, credit/no credit, or similar grading scale must submit an official high school transcript in addition to their college/university transcript(s) with their application regardless of the number of credits earned.

Students with a college GPA below 3.0, must submit an official high school transcript in addition to their college/university transcript(s) with their application regardless of the number of credits earned.

Credential Evaluations for International StudentsCollege transfer students who have studied outside the US are required to submit a credential evaluation of their transcripts. These credential evaluations must be completed by a NACES member. Options for evaluation services include Span Tran for Pratt, WES, ECE, IEE, Global Credential Evaluators, or another acceptable service, e.g.: your embassy. Credential evaluations do not typically include translations, so documents must first be officially translated into English by a certified translation service. Pratt asks for a course-by-course evaluation.

4. TEST SCORES: PRATT IS TEST-OPTIONAL

Pratt is test-optional for transfer applicants (US citizens and permanent residents only); we do not require the SAT or ACT tests. Applicants who do not submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage in the admissions process.

International students and those for whom English is a second language must submit proof of English proficiency. They may choose to submit one of our accepted English proficiency exams (see #7 below), or may submit either the SAT or ACT instead.

To ensure that we receive scores by our posted deadlines, students should take the tests as early as possible but no later than one month before the application deadline. Please be sure to have your scores sent directly to Pratt.

SAT code is 2669

CLEP code is 2669

AP code is 2669

ACT code is 2862

TOEFL code is 2669

5. OPTIONAL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

We do not require letter of recommendation, but for those who would like to submit letters, we encourage that you choose recommenders who have first-hand knowledge of your academic or creative preparedness for study at Pratt. If you do not submit letters, you will not be at a disadvantage in the review process. Letters should be submitted through the Common App for high school applicants and through the Pratt application for transfer applicants, and a maximum of three recommendations can be submitted.

6. PRATT ESSAY

All Programs (Except Construction Management)

Write about a piece of work (visual art, musical performance, piece of writing, architecture, or design) that has influenced you and describe the impact it has had on your perspective OR write about a piece of your own work and the impact that creating it has had on you. The essay should be 250-500 words or two pages maximum. Make sure your essay is complete before uploading because you will not be able to make changes after you submit your application.

Construction Management Only

Write about a construction project (building, home, stadium, structure, resort, or environment) or a piece of art or design that has inspired you and describe the impact it has had on your decision to study Construction Management. The essay should be 250-500 words or two pages maximum. Make sure your essay is complete before uploading because you will not be able to make changes after you submit your application.

7. TESTS OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

All students for whom English is a second language must submit one of the following accepted exams:

TOEFL and TOEFL Home Edition (the minimum score is 92 for 4-year programs or 71 for 2-year programs)
PTE (minimum 62 for 4-year programs or 48 for 2-year programs)
IELTS Academic (minimum 7.0 for 4-year programs or 6.0 for 2-year programs)
Cambridge English diploma (the minimum score is 183 for 4-year programs and 175 for 2-year programs)
SAT or ACT (no minimum)

Please have official scores sent by the testing company. Pratt accepts the TOEFL My Best Score and super scores SAT and ACT tests. Scores must be received by our deadlines.Any test scores must have been taken within one year of submitting an application in order to be considered valid. Pratt no longer accepts Duolingo test scores as of August 1, 2022.

English Proficiency Waivers: Applicants who have earned a four-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the US are exempt from submitting the English proficiency exam. Pratt will waive the test requirements for international transfer students whose first language is English. You must have studied your most recent four years in a high school, college and or university in the U.S. or other nations where English is the official language. Please note that Pratt does NOT waive the English proficiency test requirement for students who have attended an English-speaking school in a non-English speaking country.

If you intend to waive your score requirement, select the reason for waiver on the application, and you will be reviewed for eligibility after submission. Waivers are issued at the discretion of the admissions office. Questions should be directed to the transfer counselor at transadm@pratt.edu.

8. PORTFOLIO

Portfolio requirements vary by program:

The visual portfolio at Pratt should be 20 to 45 pieces of your most recent artwork. Please organize these pieces in a way that makes it easy for you to share your visual story with us in a clear and meaningful way. Though not required, we recommend that you include examples of work made from the direct observation of objects or people. While working from photographic reference or from your imagination can offer valuable insights as to your technical and creative skills, the ways in which you used line, value, texture and/or composition to capture real life forms and spaces onto the 2-dimensional picture plane can offer a deeper understanding of your creative problem-solving process. We welcome examples of work done in a range of media, which can include pencil, charcoal, paint, collage, clay, wood, stone, photography and film. Design and computer-generated pieces are also acceptable but please make sure this type of work offers insights as to your own creative process and not just the capabilities of software and programs. Be careful not to submit a wide range of work or media unless you have found success or satisfaction working in those subjects and mediums. The most important thing to include in a portfolio is you. Make sure that what you share is work that you like, that is meaningful to you, that shares your voice, your perspective, your interests, your sensibilities, and your story. (Should be submitted on SlideRoom at pratt.slideroom.com.)
Applicants to Film, Writing, Critical and Visual Studies, BA in History of Art and Design, and the AOS in Game Design and Interactive Media should see specific portfolio requirements below.

PORTFOLIO FOR FILM APPLICANTS

There are two parts to the film portfolio at Pratt:

Visual Component: Select Option A or Option B or Option C
Writing Component: Select Option 1 or Option 2

Find details below:

Visual Component (Choose Option A, B, or C)

Option A

Visual Portfolio: Film students should submit 20 to 45 pieces of their most recent artwork. Please organize these pieces in a way that makes it easy for you to share your visual story with us in a clear and meaningful way. Though not required, we recommend that you include examples of work made from the direct observation of objects or people. While working from photographic reference or from your imagination can offer valuable insights as to your technical and creative skills, the ways in which you used line, value, texture and/or composition to capture real life forms and spaces onto the 2-dimensional picture plane can offer a deeper understanding of your creative problem-solving process. We welcome examples of work done in a range of media, which can include pencil, charcoal, paint, collage, clay, wood, stone, photography and film. Design and computer-generated pieces are also acceptable but please make sure this type of work offers insights as to your own creative process and not just the capabilities of software and programs. Be careful not to submit a wide range of work or media unless you have found success or satisfaction working in those subjects and mediums. The most important thing to include in a portfolio is you. Make sure that what you share is work that you like, that is meaningful to you, that shares your voice, your perspective, your interests, your sensibilities, and your story.

Should be submitted on SlideRoom at pratt.slideroom.com.

Option B

Video: A three- to five-minute video in which you had primary creative control. This may be fiction, documentary, or experimental in approach, and it may be silent or include sound, but it must reflect your aesthetic, intellectual, and emotional interests.

(Because Pratt’s foundation year utilizes life drawing as one of the ways to explore and create within the picture plane, we also encourage you to submit some 2D pieces in your portfolio. We welcome examples of work done in a range of media, which can include pencil, charcoal, paint, collage, clay, wood, stone, photography and film. Design and computer-generated pieces are also acceptable but please make sure this type of work offers insights as to your own creative process and not just the capabilities of software and programs. Be careful not to submit a wide range of work or media unless you have found success or satisfaction working in those subjects and mediums. The most important thing to include in a portfolio is you. Make sure that what you share is work that you like, that is meaningful to you, that shares your voice, your perspective, your interests, your sensibilities, and your story.)

Should be submitted on SlideRoom at pratt.slideroom.com.

Option C

Storyboard : A series of photographs you have taken or drawings you have made that, when viewed in a sequence, tell a simple story or portray an original character or place. Include a brief written narrative (less than one page) about the character, place, or story you’ve created.

Should be submitted on SlideRoom at pratt.slideroom.com.

Writing Component (Choose Option 1 or 2)

Option 1

Write a one-page complete synopsis for an original film idea.

Option 2

Write a two-page film scene from an original idea. This should be as descriptive as possible, relying heavily on character interactions and visual storytelling, and should not include dialogue.

Please upload the writing sample to either the media section of SlideRoom in PDF format or to the attachments section as a Word document.

At this time, feedback on writing portfolios is not available through the Admissions Office.

PORTFOLIO FOR WRITING APPLICANTS

Applicants are required to submit a creative writing portfolio of recent writing (no more than 10 pages). Writing applicants may submit poetry, short stories, and excerpts from novels, articles, and essays. While you may include one sample of analytical writing (essay, term paper, or article), the portfolio should mainly include creative work. We encourage you to submit several examples of your writing in different genres. If you submit poetry, you must also submit some prose.

Please upload the writing sample to either the media section of SlideRoom in PDF format or to the attachments section as a Word document.

At this time, feedback on writing portfolios is not available through the Admissions Office.

PORTFOLIO FOR CRITICAL AND VISUAL STUDIES & BA IN HISTORY OF ART AND DESIGN APPLICANTS

Applicants should submit examples of analytical writing (no more than 10 pages) at pratt.slideroom.com.

Please upload the writing sample to either the media section of SlideRoom in PDF format or to the attachments section as a Word document.

At this time, feedback on writing portfolios is not available through the Admissions Office.

PORTFOLIO FOR AOS IN GAME DESIGN AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA APPLICANTS

There are two parts to the AOS in Game Design and Interactive Media portfolio at Pratt:

Creative Component: Select Option A or Option B
Writing Sample: Complete the required writing sample

Find details below:

Creative Component

Option A

Applicants to the AOS in game design should submit 20 to 45 pieces of their most recent artwork. Please organize these pieces in a way that makes it easy for you to share your visual story with us in a clear and meaningful way. Though not required, we recommend that you include examples of work made from the direct observation of objects or people. While working from photographic reference or from your imagination can offer valuable insights as to your technical and creative skills, the ways in which you used line, value, texture and/or composition to capture real life forms and spaces onto the 2-dimensional picture plane can offer a deeper understanding of your creative problem-solving process. We welcome examples of work done in a range of media, which can include pencil, charcoal, paint, collage, clay, wood, stone, photography and film. Design and computer-generated pieces are also acceptable but please make sure this type of work offers insights as to your own creative process and not just the capabilities of software and programs. Be careful not to submit a wide range of work or media unless you have found success or satisfaction working in those subjects and mediums. The most important thing to include in a portfolio is you. Make sure that what you share is work that you like, that is meaningful to you, that shares your voice, your perspective, your interests, your sensibilities, and your story. (Should be submitted on SlideRoom at pratt.slideroom.com.)

Option B

Game Proposal: Applicants may submit an original game proposal including at least 3 of the following 5 elements. The proposal can be for any sort of game.

Characters
Narrative
Strategy
Rules
World/Visual Descriptions

Writing Sample

Describe in detail the impact that a game has made on you. Applicants may write about any aspect of the game that impacted them the most. What effect did it have on you? How has it influenced you? What techniques do you feel the game developers use to achieve this impact?

Please upload the writing sample to either the media section of SlideRoom in a PDF format or to the attachments section as a Word document.

Current Pratt Associate’s Degree Students Applying to the B.F.A. Programs

Entrance to the B.F.A. is for fall only.

Students in their second year of the associate degree who expect to complete by the end of the spring semester must submit a brief application to Pratt’s admissions office to be confirmed for entrance to the B.F.A. The priority deadline for applications is February 15.

A cumulative Pratt GPA of 2.7 by the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year is required. Your acceptance is contingent on you maintaining your grades in your final semester and completing the requirements/courses for the degree.

See AAS transfer scholarship information.

Current AAS students who do not meet the minimum 2.7 GPA require; OR are changing their major; OR students in the AOS program applying to the BFA: You are required to complete the transfer student application as outlined at the top of this page and will be considered for admission among the general application pool. Please email transadm@pratt.edu to request a fee waiver code for the application or if you have any questions.

Students in the AAS program who decide to change their major upon entering the BFA or students applying to the BFA from the AOS program will need to take at least an additional year’s worth of coursework to make up the coursework they missed in the sophomore year. Students in the program who wish to change their major in the second year of the program would have to take additional coursework to make up the classes missed in the new major. We do not encourage AAS students to change majors either in the program or after transferring to the BFA because of the additional time needed to make up the sophomore required courses in the new major.

Transfer of Credits

Residency Requirement:
Every undergraduate must complete at least 50% of credits required for graduation—including the final 30 credits—at Pratt. Credits earned through approved study abroad programs will be considered to be earned in residence.

Evaluation of Credit

Transfer credit is granted for coursework that is comparable to Pratt’s coursework and is completed at a school accredited by an accrediting agency or state approval agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the international equivalent. Only courses with a grade of C or better will be considered acceptable for transfer to the Pratt record. Credit will not be awarded for courses with grades lower than C (including C-). Credits may be awarded for courses that meet the following:

Credit evaluations will be completed at the time of acceptance. Accepted students who seek AP, IB, or CLEP credit must submit official copies of score reports to the Admissions Office prior to enrollment.

Prior to the deposit deadline, the transfer student receives a credit evaluation for work done at previous college(s). Additional documents may be requested (bulletin, course hours, syllabi, etc.) in order to complete the evaluation. Final official transcripts are required to ultimately award any credits.

Questions about placement and transfer credit should be directed only to the Admissions Office at admissions@pratt.edu.

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Get to know Pratt from anywhere in the world with our virtual campus tour. We’ll show you the dorms, dining halls, studios, and more in a journey that’s both immersive and informative.

TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR