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You might think you’ve got your college applications on lock, only to find out you need to learn how to use an entirely new tool. If you’re staring at your applications for NYU, Penn State, or Virginia Tech, and wondering, “What the heck is a STARS/SRAR/SSAR and how do I fill it out?” you’ve come to the right place. In today’s blog, we’ll review which colleges use the STARS, how to submit the STARS to colleges, and why self-reporting your academic record can save you both time and money in the long run. 

What is the STARS?

Formerly known as the SRAR (Self-Reported Academic Record) or SSAR (Self-Reported Student Academic Record), “STARS” is an acronym that stands for “Self-Reported Transcript & Academic Record System.” And it’s exactly what it sounds like: A platform where you report all of your grades, courses, GPA, class rank, and even test scores to the universities where you’re applying. Only some universities use the STARS, but after you self-report once, you can use your STARS for any of the eligible schools. 

Does Every College Use the STARS?

No—only about thirty colleges do, almost all of which are large public universities. Most colleges still require official transcripts.

However, official transcripts come in many different forms, which means that sorting through the information can be very time-consuming for admissions officers. Your academic history is arguably the most important part of any college application, though, so schools need to be able to understand and assess it both quickly and accurately—especially at institutions that receive tens of thousands of applications. 

Here’s where the STARS comes in. Essentially, it standardizes your academic history so that schools can more easily understand and evaluate your transcript. It even calculates your GPA!

In addition, schools that use STARS receive information much more quickly than those that have to wait for an official transcript to arrive and be processed. Your STARS will show up in your applicant portal within about 48 hours, while transcripts could take a few days to a few weeks, depending on how they’re sent.

“The Self-Reported Transcript & Academic Record system, or STARS record for short, is one of the best ways for your application to move through the process more quickly,” says the University of Pittsburgh in its . 

This same reasoning is also why some colleges ask you to fill out the “” area of the Common Application, and others, like the University of California and California State University systems, require you to self-report all coursework within the actual application. 

Although self-reporting coursework might seem like a giant pain upfront, it can actually lead to reduced stress during application season. When you’re waiting for replies from a dozen schools, your STARS schools typically end up getting back to you quicker. That can grant you more time in the decision-making process, the most valuable resource when you’re choosing a college or university. So, if a college accepts the STARS, it’s a good idea to complete and submit one, even if doing so is optional. 

Finally, the STARS is completely free, making it a more equitable option than official transcripts. Depending on where you attend high school, sending official transcripts to colleges may cost money and be quite time-consuming, especially if your school’s guidance office is short-staffed or uses a third-party transcript service.

Which Colleges & Universities Use the STARS in 2025?

• Baylor University ()
• Clemson University ()
• Duquesne University ()
• Florida A & M University ()
• Florida Atlantic University ()
• Florida Polytechnic University ()
• Florida State University ()
• Kean University ()
• Louisiana State University ()
• New College of Florida ()
• New York University ()
• Pennsylvania State University ()
• Rutgers University ()
• Temple University ()
• Texas A&M University ()
• University at Buffalo (SUNY) ()
• University of Connecticut ()
• University of Delaware ()
• University of Florida ()
• University of Massachusetts Amherst ()
• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ()
• University of New Hampshire ()
• University of North Florida ()
• University of Oregon ()
• University of Pittsburgh ()
• University of Rhode Island ()
• University of South Florida ()
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville ()
• University of Texas at Arlington ()
• University of Texas at San Antonio ()
• University of West Florida ()
• Virginia Tech ()

What Documents Will I Need?

While it might seem intimidating at first, just a little bit of patience and a few easy-to-gather documents will help you navigate the STARS portal like a pro.

First, you will need to have your unofficial transcript or online grade record handy. Remember, you’ll need to enter all completed, in-progress, and planned courses & grades, so don’t try to rely on your memory! Accuracy is incredibly important; any mistakes could result in an adverse admissions decision. If your GPA and class rank appear on your transcript, you’ll be able to input those as well.

If you have taken a standardized college entrance exam such as the ACT or SAT, you can use your online reports from those exams to input your scores. The SRAR also has a place for TOEFL scores, should your university require it. 

How Long Does the Self-Reported Academic Record Take?

If you’re a senior in high school, completing the STARS will take you about an hour. You’ll only need to fill out the information once, though. Then, you can send your self-reported academic record to any of the schools that accept it. 

However, ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders, rejoice—did you know you can register for an account and start inputting coursework and grades any time you want? Take advantage of this option, and you’ll likely spend just 10-15 minutes each year updating your information.

How to Create a STARS/Self-Reported Transcript & Academic Record

The steps to create an account and start recording your scores are simple. For best results, read all of these steps first and then begin the process: 

1) Go to the official STARS website at:  

2) Look for the login box on the right-hand side of the page and click “Create STARS Account.”

3) To ensure easy matching of your record and application, be sure to use the same email that you used to create your admissions application. Do not use an email address that has been previously used by someone else (ex., an older sibling). 

4) Fill out the login information, confirm your email, and create your account. 

Once in the system:

1) First, click on the “Enter Schools” tab. This is where you’ll input information about your high school(s) and college(s) attended. If any college courses appear on your high school transcript—such as dual enrollment courses—you’ll list them under your high school (this goes for any middle school courses listed on your transcript as well).

Here, you’ll also select your school’s grading scale (letter, number, letter & number, or decimal grades) and how your final grades are reported (full year, semester, trimester, quarterly). For example, if you look at your transcript and see a sea of As, Bs, and Cs, you’d select “Letter Grades.” If you received a letter grade for each semester that you took each course, you’d also select “Semester.” This step is important — it will impact what fields are available when you enter your courses. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Once you’ve entered all schools attended, click on “Enter Coursework.” You can either upload your transcript and use (if available) or enter your courses & grades manually. If you do use STARS EasyImport, make sure to double-check all entered information very carefully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) In the “Enter or Edit Coursework” area, click on the green pencil icon next to each grade level to enter information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For each completed, in-progress, and planned course, you’ll be reporting:

• Subject Area
• Generic Course Name
• Course Name (actual course name that appears on your transcript)
• Course Level
• Course Length
• Grade(s) Received
• Credit(s) Earned

Let’s say I’m entering an AP English course. My entry would look like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you enter all information for each course, click “Save Course” and move on to the next one.

See? Not so bad—a little boring, sure, but extremely straightforward.

A PSA on Entering Courses & Grades

It’s exceptionally important to enter your courses & grades exactly as they appear on your transcript. Some best practices to keep in mind:

1) Report every course that appears on your high school transcript. Yes, this goes for withdrawn courses, Pass/Fail courses, incomplete courses, courses that you failed and retook for a higher grade, courses taken online, summer school courses, courses you did not receive credit for, courses that you were medically excused from, middle school courses, dual-enrollment courses, PE/health/driver’s ed courses, and electives.

2) Do not convert your grades to another format. If you received a 92, don’t enter “A-.” Enter “92.”

3) Do not round up. If you received a 79, that’s a C+, folks, not a B-.

4) Do not average your grades. If you received an A one semester and a C the next, record those grades exactly like that—don’t insert a “B” for both semesters.

5) Do not estimate. Even if it’s December and you’re 99.9999% positive that you have an A in English, do not report that A unless it actually appears on your transcript. Instead, simply report any in-progress grades as “In Progress.”

6) Only report grades for the semester(s) you received them. If you took a one-semester class and received an A, don’t report the “A” for two semesters. Just report it for one and then leave the other blank.

How Do I Send the STARS to Colleges?

Two things must happen before colleges can receive your STARS report: submitting and linking.

Once you’ve entered your information, you’ll head to the “Review and Submit” tab to officially submit your STARS report. Then, you’ll link your submitted STARS to each school that you’re applying to.

To start this linking process, head to the STARS Dashboard (“Home” tab) and scroll down to “My Colleges and Universities.” Select each college you will be submitting a STARS to, and click “Add College.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Different colleges have different linking protocols, which include:

• A button or checklist item in your college’s application status portal (after you submit your app)
• A personalized link emailed to you by the college
• Entering a STARS ID
• Automatic linking (if the email address on your STARS account matches the one used on your college application)

For example, here are :

“Your STARS Record has not yet been linked to your Clemson University application record. To link your STARS Record, visit the  after submitting your application and click on the ‘STARS‘ link in your Application Checklist. Following STARS login (usually automatic), your STARS Record will be linked to your Clemson application.”

After you’ve officially linked your STARS report, check your applicant portal every few days to make sure it’s been received—it should appear within 2-3 days maximum, but may take longer during high-volume processing periods.

What Happens Next?

Once you complete the STARS process and link all of your applications to your report, you can rest easy. Universities will evaluate you based on the information you’ve provided and linked to your application. In most cases, you’ll only need to provide an official transcript to the university where you decide to enroll (which, again, can save you a lot of time and money!).

Finally, always remember: if you have questions or difficulties filling out the report, you should contact the for more information. Many colleges provide tutorial videos as well. And of course, the age-old advice always applies: give yourself plenty of time to fill out the entire report, and you’ll be happier and less rushed in the end.