Understanding Illinois State Transcripts
Your official transcript includes important information about the courses taken at Illinois State. Several programs and policies have changed over the years. Use the information below to get a better understanding of what's included on your transcript.
Accreditation
Illinois State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Learn more about Illinois State accreditation
Authenticity
Altering a transcript is a criminal offense. All Illinois State University transcripts are printed on light red security paper. A raised seal is not required.
Computer-Generated Transcripts
Coursework taken spring 1987 and after will appear on a computer-generated transcript. The University official's signature is printed in white on the front.
Manual Transcripts
Coursework taken prior to spring 1987 will appear on a manual transcript. The University seal and University official’s signature is printed in color on the back.
Course Number Guide
Courses listed on a transcript include a subject abbreviation and course number. The course number indicates the level of the course. Some courses may include a course code or symbol to provide more information about the course.
| Course Level | Description |
|---|---|
| 100-199 | Lower division courses for freshmen and sophomores |
| 200‐299 | Upper division courses for juniors and seniors |
| 300‐399 | Courses for juniors, seniors and graduate students |
| 400‐599 | Graduate courses |
| Course Indication Code | Description |
|---|---|
| E | Extension |
| F | Foreign Exchange |
| G or * | Graduate Credit Only |
| H | Honors |
| M | Major or Minor |
| U or @ | Undergraduate Credit Only |
| X | Not for credit in a degree program |
Repeated Courses
If a course was repeated, a repeat code will appear on the transcript. Multiple repeat policies have been in place during different time periods and each repeat code functions differently depending on the policy in place.
Repeated Course Policies
| Year | Policy |
|---|---|
| Through Spring 1980 | Original grade for repeated course is not computed in the GPA. |
| Summer 1980 - Spring 2003 | All grades earned in repeated course attempts are computed in the GPA. Credit awarded only once. |
| Summer 2003 - Spring 2004 | Repeated grade replaces original grade in the computed GPA. If a course is taken three or more times, the last two graded attempts are averaged into the cumulative GPA. |
| Summer 2004 - Spring 2020 | The last graded attempt for a repeated course taken at ISU is used to calculate the GPA. |
| Summer 2020- Present | The last graded attempt for a repeated course taken at ISU is used to calculate the GPA. An articulated course repeated at another institution for credit may be used to fulfill degree requirements but does not replace the ISU grade and is not calculated in the GPA. |
Repeated Course Codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| RPT | Prior attempt of a course repeated (no credit) |
| RPT2 | Second attempt of a course (credit awarded with passing grade) |
| RPTA | Last attempt of a course taken three or more times (credit awarded with passing grade) |
| RPTW | Prior attempt of a course graded WX (credit awarded with passing grade) |
| RNS | Prior attempt of a course repeated after beginning New Start program (no credit) |
New Start Policy
Transcripts will have a New Start indication.
Undergraduate students who leave Illinois State University in a degree program with less than a 2.00 cumulative GPA may be considered for readmission through the New Start Policy. Students admitted under this policy begin with a new cumulative GPA calculated from the point of their reentry. Students may exercise the New Start policy only once. New Start will affect only the cumulative GPA. All grades earned at Illinois State, regardless of when earned, will show on the transcript, and be used in the calculation of the major GPA, the minor GPA, and graduation honors distinction, and for Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation for financial aid eligibility.
Grade Guide
Grades are used to calculate grade point averages and indicate if a student passed or failed a course. Failing grades are used in grade point average calculations.
Current Grading System
| Letter Grade | Grade Point | Pass/Fail |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | Pass |
| B | 3.0 | Pass |
| C | 2.0 | Pass |
| D | 1.0 | Pass |
| F | 0.0 | Fail |
| Other Grades (not included in GPA) | Description |
|---|---|
| AU | Auditor |
| CR | Credit earned for completed satisfactory work in a course offered as Credit/No Credit Only. The CR grade may be considered equivalent to a C or better grade; however it does not carry grade points nor should it be computed into the calculation of the grade point average. |
| CT | Credit earned for a grade of A, B, or C received in a course taken under the Credit/No Credit (pass/fail) option |
| DE | Deferred (Graduate level only) |
| I | Incomplete |
| NC | No credit earned under the Credit/No Credit (pass/fail) option or in a Credit/No Credit Only course |
| NP | Not Passed; no credit earned under the Pass/No Pass option |
| P | Pass; credit earned under the Pass/No Pass option |
| WF | Fail |
| WX, WP, W | Withdrawal without prejudice |
Previous Grading Systems
Before September 1935, numerical grades were given. 70 was the passing grade.
Between 1935 and Spring 1986, graduate grade‐point averages were not computed or printed.
In Spring 2020, due to COVID-19, the Pass/No Pass policy was temporarily revised. The deadline for a student to switch a class from Graded to Pass/No Pass or from Pass/No Pass to Graded was extended beyond the end of the semester. Additionally, the maximum number of credit hours that could be taken in the Pass/No Pass grading basis was increased.
Unit of Credit
The unit of credit at Illinois State University is the semester hour.
If a transcript was produced before 1980, some credit hours might be circled. This means the course was not used toward graduation.
Hours
A minimum of 120 credit hours is required to graduate with a bachelor's degree from Illinois State.
Total hours earned include:
- Courses with grades of A, B, C, D, CR, CT, or P
- Exam credit
Transfer Credit Hours
Transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions may be applied to hours-earned. Credit for military service is also possible.
Transfer Credit from Two-Year Schools
A maximum of 70 credit hours can be applied to an Illinois State bachelor's degree.
Transfer Credit from Four-Year Schools
A maximum of 90 credit hours can be applied to an Illinois State bachelor's degree.
Credit from a Combination of Institutions
A maximum of 90 credit hours from a combination of two-year schools, military, and four-year institutions can be applied to an Illinois State bachelor's degree.
Hours Earned
Illinois State transcripts show the total number of hours earned from the transfer institution. They do not show individual courses taken at other institutions.
Graduate Courses
What’s excluded from hours earned in graduate work:
- Undergraduate coursework
- Transfer hours
- Courses below the 300 level
- Courses with a grade of CR, CT, P, or DE
- Courses with a grade of D (these are included in your cumulative GPA)
- Some repeated courses
Undergraduate Courses
As of summer 1985, undergraduate total hours earned under the New Start policy include all previous work where credit was earned.
What’s excluded from hours earned in undergraduate work:
- Graduate coursework
- Courses with a grade of CR, CT, or P
- Courses with a grade of WF if the courses were taken from Fall 1976 through Summer 1978
- Some repeated courses
Name and Course Prefix Changes
Some departments and schools at Illinois State have changed their name and/or prefix over the years.
| Academic Area | Change Description | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) | Changed name to School of Teaching and Learning (TCH) | January 14, 2013 |
| Department of Foreign Languages (FOR) | Changed name to Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LAN) | July 1, 2006 |
| Department of Geography-Geology | Changed name to Department of Geography, Geology and the Environment (GEO) | January 1, 2017 |
| Industrial Technology (IT) | Changed name to Department of Technology (TEC) | July 1, 2002 |
| School of Information Technology | Changed departmental abbreviation from ITK to IT | January 18, 2011 |
| Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LAN) | Broke out into subjects specific to each language:
|
August 17, 2015 |
| Management and Quantitative Methods (MQM) | Changed name to Management (MGT) | May 22, 2023 |
| Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology (PAS) | Changed name to Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) | July 1, 2007 |
| School of Theatre | Changed name to School of Theatre and Dance (THD) | April 12, 2012 |
| Women's Studies (WS) | Changed name to Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) | July 1, 2006 |
As of these dates, all courses will be listed with the new prefixes regardless of the semester taken. The one exception will be on manual transcripts where the prefix in use during the semester will appear.
View a complete listing of current prefixes in the University Catalog.
Mennonite College of Nursing
Illinois State University acquired Mennonite College of Nursing on July 1, 1999.
All transcripts from Mennonite College of Nursing will be processed as a regular Illinois State transcript.