Each year, more than 100 students transfer to Olivet Nazarene University to complete their college education. The Office of Admissions has a dedicated team of professionals who work exclusively with prospective transfer students to provide a smooth transition from one college experience to the next. Olivet offers competitive transfer scholarships, and students find that most of their credits transfer to the University.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Noëlle Fitzpatrick
Hometown: Crete, Illinois
Major: Studio Arts
“I attended Prairie State College to get my associate degree and had planned to transfer to Governors State University. I hadn’t investigated many other universities, because that school was close and affordable. But after I graduated from PSC, I received a letter from Olivet. After talking about the possibility with my parents, the only thing I knew for sure was that I want God as the foundation of my life. I knew He could work through me anywhere I went, but I also wanted my schooling to reflect that.”
“I enrolled at Olivet right before Christmas break and needed some technological help with finalizing the details. When campus opened up, my mom and I met with the ladies from the Admissions team the same weekend as the new-student Orientation event. I toured campus and heard about the cool events and activities that happen at Olivet. I left that day with peace and excitement for the semester to start that next week.
“I’ve enjoyed the environment at Olivet — there are so many great people. The weather was brutal over the winter. But then there was a week in the spring that the temperature got to around 60 degrees, and it felt like summer. One of my professors sent our class outside to draw. When we came inside for our art critique, two of the other students had drawn me and my other friend in their artwork. We all laughed about all the familiar scenes we spotted that day. I felt that we all got to know each other better because of it.
“My advice to other students considering transferring is that sometimes God opens a door that you didn’t even consider to be a possibility, but still the decision is yours whether you walk through it or not. If you are willing to put in the work, you will do well wherever you go.”
Mia Messer
Hometown: Chebanse, Illinois
Majors: Family and Consumer Science; Minor: Business
“I originally decided to move back to California for college after spending the last two years of my high school education in Illinois. I attended California Lutheran University, where I majored in international business, but I eventually decided to move back to Illinois to see my family more. I attended Kankakee Community College and graduated with an associatedegree. I then decided to apply to Olivet Nazarene University to study family and consumer science.
“My transfer experience to Olivet was smooth and simple. My transfer adviser, Lauren Rybolt, helped answer all my questions about the transfer process. I knew Olivet was the right fit because the University had the major I wanted to study, and it is relatively close to where I live. I’ve been able to integrate more into the Olivet community by making many different friendships with some of the girls that have the same major as me.
“When I changed my major to family and consumer science, I wanted to major in hospitality. But classes with professors Alyssa Phelps and Michael Watson helped me realize I wanted to go into a more business-focused industry versus hospitality.
“I would suggest to anyone wanting to transfer colleges that they should do it, because it is very easy and most of your college credits tend to transfer over. I would also like to point out that even after transferring twice, I am set to have finished my entire college education in three years instead of four.”
Josiah Johnson
Hometown: North Palm Beach, Florida
Majors: Economics/Finance-Applied Economics and Marketing-Management
“My college journey was a little unique, to say the least. I previously attended Trinity International University for two years. In February 2023, TIU announced they would be closing their undergraduate in-person program. I had two years left and knew that I wanted my years to be in person for the full college experience. I knew that I also wanted to find a school where I could add finance as a major. My soccer coach at Trinity recommended I look into Olivet.
“Olivet made the transfer process so easy. They made sure transfer students knew the important things from both an academic and social perspective through new-student Orientation. When I got to Olivet, the first thing I noticed is that whenever you are walking around, people always say hi. All of this support from faculty, staff and students helped me feel right at home from day one.
“One of my favorite memories at Olivet has been joining the football team. I joined at the end of my first semester, and it has been incredible. I had never played football, but the coaches saw that I had the potential to be a kicker. I’m even playing out my final year of eligibility now as I pursue my MBA at Olivet.
“My advice for students who are considering transferring is to visit schools you’re interested in. Make sure to ask the professors in your area about the program and the potential outcomes after you graduate. If you are a student-athlete, make sure you interact with the team and coaching staff. These are the people you will be spending a lot of time with. As a student-athlete, you also need to make sure that you can see yourself at the school even if you never play your sport again. Injuries happen, so it is crucial to find a place [where] you can thrive academically and socially.”
Learn more about ONU’s transfer process at Olivet.edu/admisions/transferstudents. For more information or to enroll, email onlineadmissions@olivet.edu or call 877-465-4838.
From Olivet The Magazine, The Parent Guide – Autumn 2025. Read the full issue here.
