Statistics on community college transfers to four-year universities

I'm curious about how successful community college transfers usually are. Are there any statistics available that show transfer rates or success stories of students joining four-year universities from community colleges?

Indeed, there are statistics on transfer students from community colleges to four-year institutions, and generally, they tend to do quite well. According to the Community College Research Center (CCRC), about 80% of community college students intend to transfer to a four-year institution, and approximately 20% actually transfer within three years of community college entry. Once at the four-year institution, about 60% then end up earning a bachelor's degree within six years of transferring.

Moreover, the completion rate is even higher for students who achieve an associate degree or certificate before transferring—such students have a bachelor’s degree completion rate of around 72%.

Transfer students from community colleges often perform at a similar level, academically speaking, to counterparts who began their education at a four-year institution. In fact, in some cases, they outperform students who started as freshmen at four-year colleges, possibly due to the maturity and experience often gained from attending a community college first.

Bear in mind that transferring successfully from a community college to a four-year institution depends on careful planning, as certain credits may not transfer, or certain courses may be required for acceptance into a particular program. Many community colleges have relationships with local four-year institutions to streamline this process and ensure credits transfer effectively.

Keep in mind these numbers can vary by institution, state, and student characteristics, so it would be beneficial for prospective transfer students to seek information specifically related to their intended destination school for the most accurate picture of potential success.