St. John’s Again Recognized for Transfer Student Friendliness

St. John’s University is again recognized for its commitment to transfer students. The international honor society Phi Theta Kappa recently named the University to its 2025 Transfer Honor Roll, saluting St. John’s for its work in recruiting and welcoming students who have earned associate’s degrees from community colleges.

It is the second consecutive year Phi Theta Kappa has recognized St. John’s, one of only 19 schools from New York State and 251 nationally to be honored. St. John’s was cited for its recruitment of transfer students and acceptance of their credits, efforts made to welcome the transfer population, cost of attendance, and availability of need- and merit-based financial aid.

Fewer than one-quarter of all applying schools received honor roll recognition.

“The Transfer Honor Roll program identifies colleges and universities that understand the unique needs of community college transfer students,” said Lynn Tincher-Ladner, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Phi Theta Kappa. “We applaud the dynamic pathways colleges such as St. John’s have created to foster student success at the four-year level.” 

Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa encourages academic growth among students in community colleges. The Transfer Honor Roll identifies four-year colleges and universities that have created the best pathways for community college students to transfer and earn bachelor’s degrees.

More than 900 undergraduate transfer students were enrolled at St. John’s during the 2024–25 academic year, according to Melissa Mirabella ’07GEd, Associate Director, Transfer Student Services, Office of Undergraduate Admission. Many come to St. John’s from community colleges in the New York metropolitan area.

The University welcomes those students with generous financial support. Transfer students are eligible for the University’s Transfer Distinction Award of $23,000 annually; University Transfer Merit Scholarships of up to $26,000; service scholarships for children of active, retired, or deceased police officers, firefighters, and members of the military; and Phi Theta Kappa scholarships of $4,000.

The University also offers partial- and full-tuition scholarships to students from Nassau Community College and Suffolk County Community College through its Stay on Long Island Initiative (SoLII). 

The University employs five admission counselors—including Ms. Mirabella—who work exclusively with transfer students, helping to make their transition to St. John’s as efficient as possible. Their services include recruitment, application review, transfer credit review, and class registration.

The University also participates in PTK Connect, a direct admission pathway for Phi Theta Kappa members interested in continuing their education. The pathway allows member students to research four-year colleges, review their transfer policies, submit application documents, and receive a timely admissions decision.

“It is a way of streamlining for them what can be a very unsettling experience,” Ms. Mirabella said.

Ms. Mirabella said transfer students “enhance the culture of St. John’s,” adding that most are high achievers whose life experiences make them eager to embrace the University’s mission.

“Transfer students tend to be go-getters who want to initiate things,” Ms. Mirabella said. “They have researched  our programs and life at St. John’s and are very active when they come here.”   

Among those “go-getters” is rising senior Kevin Messam, who came to St. John’s after earning an associate’s degree at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY.

He will earn a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies in May 2026. A member of Phi Theta Kappa’s All-State Academic Team while at Monroe, he called his transfer to St. John’s “seamless,” and the welcome he received “profound.”

“From the start, St. John’s made the transition smooth, both academically and personally,” Kevin said. “Admission counselors and faculty members helped me maximize my transfer credits, ensuring the work I put in at Monroe was recognized and built upon. The support has been invaluable, as every credit I have earned holds deep personal meaning.”