How do credits transfer from community college to university?

I'm currently attending a community college and I'm planning to transfer to a four-year university. What should I know about how credits transfer from a community college to a university to ensure that my credits will count towards my new degree?

Excellent question! Transfer processes can vary greatly among different institutions, but here are general steps that may apply:

1. Course Equivalency. Most transferable credits are from courses that are similar to, or the equivalent of, courses offered at the four-year university. There's usually an established catalog of course equivalency information available at each four-year university to verify which community college classes for specific majors have a direct match.

2. Accreditation. Making sure that your community college is regionally accredited can be an important factor, as many four-year universities only accept transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions.

3. Gen Ed Requirements & Majors. Even if your credits do technically transfer, they’re only useful for your degree completion if they count towards your general education requirements, your intended major, or elective credits. For example, if you’ve taken a Math class that satisfies your community college’s Gen Ed requirement, but it doesn’t meet the requirement at the university you’re transferring to, you might find that you’ll have to take another gen ed Math class.

4. Transfer Agreements. Look for formal transfer agreements, sometimes called "articulation agreements," between your community college and the four-year university. These agreements often specify which courses will transfer and may even include advantageous conditions, such as guaranteed admission if certain criteria are met.

5. Consult with Advisors. Meeting with both your community college advisor and an advisor at the potential four-year college early in the process can help ensure you're taking courses that will smoothly transfer and count towards your intended degree.

Remember, transferring is a multifaceted process that requires proactive research and planning. It'd serve you well to stay aware of deadlines, requirement changes, and continuously keep up with both your community college and prospective four-year university advisors.