Many community colleges have transfer agreements with local four-year schools to ensure that the community college credits you earned will count toward a degree.
Direct transfer agreements
Many community colleges have transfer agreements with at least one four-year school. These agreements allow you to transfer all your community college credits to a participating four-year school that has accepted your transfer application. Once there, you can apply your community college credits toward finishing your degree.
Contact your school's advisor to determine admission and general education requirements related to your transfer.
General education requirements
Typical general education requirements for a community college student preparing to transfer to a four-year school | |
| English composition | 2 classes |
| Speech | 1 class |
| Critical thinking | 1 class |
| Natural sciences | 1 biological, 1 physical
One class must have a lab |
| Health | 1 class |
| Physical education | 2 classes |
| Math | College algebra or higher |
| U.S. history | 1–2 classes |
| American government | 1 class |
| Foreign language | 2 classes |
| Social and behavioral science | 2–3 classes |
| Humanities | 2–3 classes |
Basic steps for transferring from a community college to a four-year school
While attending community college
- Start planning your transfer in your first semester. An early start could make your transfer smooth and easy.
- Meet with your academic advisor to define your short- and long-term goals.
- Enroll in courses that will satisfy the specific requirements for your degree — include prerequisites and recommended courses.
- Find out if your financial aid will transfer.
- Attend transfer fairs.
- Keep your grades up — admission to four-year schools can be competitive.
Selecting a four-year school
- List which academic subjects and aspects of campus life appeal to you. When investigating colleges, see how their academic programs, location, size and facilities complement your list.
- Understand the costs associated with attending a four-year school.
- Check catalogs of several colleges for their transfer and course requirements before you make a final decision.
- See whether you can afford it using Sallie Mae's Education Investment Planner
- Inquire about campus housing.
Completing the transfer
- Select your major.
- Request copies of your high school and college transcripts.
- Find the best ways to make your transfer application stand out by highlighting your academic strengths and emphasizing community involvement.
- Investigate scholarship opportunities for transfer students.
- Submit your application for admission with the fee and all required documents.
- Meet deadlines (application, financial aid, scholarship, placement and housing).
Questions to ask potential four-year schools
- How many credit hours I can transfer?
- Are SAT or ACT scores required?
- Does your school calculate GPAs the same way my community college does?
- What is the academic success record for transfer students? What is the attrition rate for transfer students?
- How far in advance should I apply for transfer?
- Are there restrictions for transfer students wishing to enroll in highly competitive academic programs?
- Will a "D" grade transfer?
- If I repeated a course in community college, which grade transfers?
How to pay for this
Find ways to pay for a community college education.
