Do all community college credits transfer to four-year colleges?

I'm planning on completing some credits at a community college and then transferring to a four-year university. Do all community college credits typically transfer, or are there some that might not be accepted?

Generally, whether your community college credits transfer to a four-year university will largely depend on the receiving institution's transfer policies. In some cases, agreements known as articulation agreements are put in place between the two-year and four-year institutions to ease this process. These agreements essentially list out which classes at the two-year school equate to classes at the four-year school. However, even in these cases, there can be stipulations around minimum grades required for transferring the credit.

At other times, certain courses or programs may be deemed non-transferable due to differences in curriculum, grades or the accreditation status of the community college. Some colleges restrict the number of credits you can transfer in. Also, to get a bachelor's degree, you usually need to earn 60 credits at four-year college—you can't just transfer all your community college credits.

An excellent resource in this process would be a counselor/adviser at the community college. They have experience dealing with this process and will be able to guide you through which credits are likely to be transferable. It's also crucial to work with advisors at the four-year colleges you're considering, to ensure any classes you're taking will count towards your degree there.

You may want to look into transfer programs that often exist with state school systems, ensuring that certain credits from a community college are accepted at any state university. Additionally, some private colleges and universities have programs in place for community college transfers. Understanding these elements early on can help you plan strategically and save time and resources.