How do community college transfer units work?

I'm a bit confused about how units transfer from a community college to a four-year university. How do they decide what counts and what doesn't? Any advice on navigating this would be appreciated.

The process of transferring units from a community college to a four-year university can indeed be quite complex, but generally, each course you take at a community college is evaluated for equivalent credits at the receiving university. If the course is deemed to be similar in content and rigor to a course at the university, then the units for that course can be transferred.

For instance, if you take a general biology course at your community college, and your prospective four-year college offers a similar course, then chances are good that the credits will indeed transfer. However, if you take a class at your community college that doesn't have a direct equivalent at the four-year college, then it may not transfer, or it might transfer as elective credit.

The specifics can vary greatly by institution. Universities will have transfer credit equivalency tools or databases, which can give you an idea of how courses from your community college have historically transferred.

If the information isn't easily accessible, try reaching out to the registrar or a transfer advisor at the university, who should be able to provide more specific guidance.

Keep in mind, each university has its own credit evaluation process and some may be stricter than others in determining what they choose to accept. Also note that certain majors or programs can have unique transfer policies as well, so it's also advised to check for any major-specific transfer requirements.

Finally, working with an academic advisor at your community college can also guide you in picking the right courses for your intended major and the college you're trying to transfer into. This can help ensure maximum credit transfer and reduce the risk of having to repeat courses.