Transcript Services - Office of the Registrar (2025)

FAQs

What to do if your transcript is wrong? ›

Contact your college's registrar. That's the office responsible for keeping all of your academic records. If it's a grade in a specific class, you should contact the instructor first. If you still think there is a mistake, go to the department chair, then the dean.

If a student has dropped out of high school and didn't receive a diploma, they can still get a copy of their transcript. Their transcript will have the courses they completed and it will state that they did not graduate. Another option would be to purchase a fake diploma and fake high school transcript.

If your school still withholds your official transcript, submit a student loan complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You can also request an unofficial transcript; the school must provide you with one, and it might satisfy the requirements of an employer or another college you're applying to.

Parchment sends transcripts to receiving institutions when schools approve the order and upload the transcript records to Parchment. Parchment notifies the student, via email, as soon as the school has made the student's records available to Parchment. Parchment sends the electronic transcript immediately.

Parents and students tend to assume that the bad grade will be completely removed from the student's transcript, but this may not be the case. Some colleges will amend the bad grade or class with a kind of notation, while others will keep both grades on the record.

Grades reported by the professor are generally considered permanent and final. However, there are circumstances in which a change of grade may be requested. Typical reasons are: to correct clerical or procedural errors.

For some colleges, transfer students – like their freshman counterparts – must submit essays, Professor recommendations, or other information to be considered by the school. And, as a standard, they will want to know about any prior attendance of classes and want to see an official transcript.

How Long Do Colleges Keep Transcripts? College transcripts do not expire and schools are obligated to maintain transcripts for all students who have enrolled in and attended their institution — regardless of whether or not that student graduated.

While report cards often display only your final or midterm grades for one particular semester, transcripts document your final grades in every class you take throughout each year as well as your cumulative GPA. They also give details about the actual courses you take.

In October 2023, the US Education Department announced they are prohibiting withholding transcripts of students in specific situations. The rule will go into effect on July 1, 2024 and applies only to students who have used federal financial aid to pay for their education.

Why would a college not release transcripts? ›

As a result of a borrower's default in the Title IV Student Loan Programs, the Department of Education encourages the withholding of academic transcripts. The withholding of academic transcripts is solely an institutional decision, but has resulted in numerous loan repayments.

You can go back to school. Still, you should take stock of how much you owe. If you have a lot of debt, consider paying some of it down before you head back to school—too much existing debt could mean higher interest rates on a new loan. You also might not qualify for some federally subsidized loans.

If you have any questions about Parchment, select the "help" link. Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations provides that a student may receive the first two copies of their transcripts free. The cost of the transcript is $5. There is also an additional $2.35 processing charge for online orders.

Through these frameworks, members and learners can trust that working with Parchment is a reliable, consistent, and secure experience. Annually, Parchment undergoes SOC2 Type II audit by a third-party AICPA firm to ensure customers are protected across various levels.

Delivery Type

Electronic credentials are delivered as soon as the sending institution processes the request, often within one business day. Printed Transcript requests will typically be mailed within 1 business day. Processing time for printed diplomas is 7-21 business days.

Falsifying and fraudulent use of school documents

It's also unlawful for anyone to use a falsified or altered diploma/transcript/GED with the intent to defraud or mislead another person. This offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year of jail time and $1,000 in fines.

You must meet with a counselor to determine if you are eligible to pursue forgiveness for failed courses. If a grade is forgiven it is removed from the GPA, but it will still remain on your transcript.

Therefore there is no “process” for doing so. Altering your transcript is fraud. Willful deceit with intent to do so. Consequences for getting caught doing so — if you alter your transcript to get into a college, they will expel you.

Criminal Charges: Falsifying a transcript may lead to criminal charges such as forgery, fraud, or false statements. In California, these are serious offenses. Forgery (California Penal Code 470): Involves the intent to defraud by signing someone else's name, falsifying a seal or legal document, etc.