Best community colleges for transferring credits to universities

I'm planning to attend a community college first, but I want to make sure my credits transfer smoothly later. What are some of the best community colleges that are known for having strong credit transfer agreements with four-year universities?

A smart goal is, to start at a community college and then transfer credits to a four-year university. Certain community colleges have well-established relationships with universities which makes the credit transfer process smoother.

Santa Monica College in California is one example. It is the leading community college in transfers to the University of California system, the University of Southern California, and Loyola Marymount University. De Anza College, also in California, has a solid track record in facilitating transfers to the UC and CSU systems.

Florida's Miami Dade College is known for its strong transfer agreements with in-state universities, thanks to the Florida Statewide Articulation Agreement.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) has a guaranteed admissions program with many in-state schools (like the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech), as well as a few out-of-state schools.

While not exhaustive, these examples certainly give you a sense of what to look for: strong transfer agreements or programs, success rates, and good articulation with universities you're interested in. It's also worth reaching out to advisors at both the community college and the prospective university to navigate through the process and to make sure you're taking transfer-friendly courses from the beginning. Finally, your state's policies can play a huge role in how smoothly credits transfer, so it's good to research the statewide articulation agreements, if any.