How are community colleges in New York for transfer students?

I'm considering starting my college journey at a community college in New York State. What are the transfer rates like to four-year universities? Any specific colleges you recommend for someone planning to transfer?

Community colleges in New York State indeed offer strong pipelines to four-year universities and colleges, both within the state and beyond. They deliver a solid foundation which can provide students with the necessary prerequisites and general education credits that can transfer readily to these institutions.

Although the exact transfer rates can vary from year to year, overall, community colleges in New York have a healthy track record when it comes to students successfully transferring to four-year institutions. For example, SUNY community colleges are renowned for their seamless transfer programs. Many students start at these community colleges and then advance to four-year SUNY campuses. You can look into schools like SUNY Erie, Hudson Valley Community College, or Nassau Community College since they have substantial transfer partnerships and agreements with other universities.

Additionally, CUNY's community colleges, such as Borough of Manhattan Community College and Kingsborough Community College, are known for their transfer rates as well, with a variety of articulation agreements establishing transfer paths to four-year colleges.

It's also important to remember that the success of your transfer journey can also depend significantly on your academic performance and extracurricular involvement at the community college level, plus the strength of your transfer application. Many colleges look for strong grades in challenging coursework and an ability to be involved in the community, so keep that in mind when you're choosing classes and activities at your community college.

As a final bit of advice, I would recommend you to have regular check-ins with your academic advisor about your intention to transfer so you can ensure that you're taking the right courses, meeting any necessary prerequisites, and preparing effectively for the application process to four-year institutions.