How does community college GPA transfer to a university?

I'm planning to start at a community college before transferring to a university. Does my GPA from community college transfer over and affect my university GPA, or do universities calculate it differently?

When you transfer from a community college to a four-year university, your grades and credits from the community college generally transfer and are accepted for specific course requirements at the university. However, the GPA you earned at the community college doesn't typically carry over to your university GPA.

At the majority of universities, your GPA essentially resets when you start there. This means that once you start at the university, you'll be building a new GPA based on the courses you take there. Therefore, your university GPA will be a reflection of your performance at that institution alone. Your community college GPA still matters, though, especially in terms of meeting admission requirements for the university and for certain degree programs within the university.

Remember, admission officers also carefully evaluate your community college grades and academic rigor when considering your application. Despite the fact your community college GPA doesn't carry over into your university GPA, maintaining a strong GPA at both institutions is crucial for many reasons, such as potential graduate school admissions or job applications.

To ensure a smooth transfer process, it's a good idea to communicate with advisors at both your community college and prospective university. They can provide specific guidance related to transfer policies and requirements, which can vary greatly by institution.