What percent of community college students actually transfer?

I'm thinking about starting at a community college and want to know how common it is for students to transfer to a four-year school later. Does anyone have any stats or insights on this?

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, about 33.3% of community college students transfer to a four-year institution within six years of their community college enrollment. But keep in mind, this metric varies greatly by state, community college, and individual circumstance. Furthermore, some students complete their intended associate degree or professional certification at community colleges without aiming to transfer to a four-year school.

To maximize your chances of successfully transferring, it's important to communicate with academic counselors, plan ahead regarding course selections, and maintain strong academic performance. Many colleges and universities also have transfer agreements (sometimes called articulation agreements) with community colleges to simplify the process and provide a roadmap for students. You might consider looking into whether any of the four-year institutions you are interested in have these kinds of agreements with your community college.

To sum up, while many community college students do successfully transfer to four-year institutions, it's important to have a clear plan in place to make sure you're taking the right steps towards that goal.