Do community college grades transfer when moving to a university?

I'm planning on doing my first two years at a community college to save money before transferring to a university. Do the grades I earn there transfer or are only the credits considered?

When you transfer from a community college to a four-year university, your credits typically transfer, but your GPA does not. This means that the courses you have completed will count toward your undergraduate degree requirements, but your GPA will reset when you start at the new institution.

Let's say, for example, you earned a 3.5 GPA at community college. When you transfer to the university, your GPA at the university starts all over from zero or is recalculated based on the courses you take there. Your community college GPA, however, remains vital for your admission into the university and will still be counted possibly for specific departmental requirements or scholarship purposes.

Remember, each institution has its transfer policies. Some universities might factor in your community college GPA when considering you for recognition such as honor rolls or to determine your academic standing. It's advisable to check with the specific university you're planning to transfer to for their policies on transferring grades and credits. It's also important to ensure that your credits will indeed transfer to your chosen university by confirming with an admissions counselor or academic advisor, as not all credits are accepted by all institutions.

In the end, the strong GPA you earned at community college can play a critical role in your acceptance into a bachelor's degree program, even if it doesn't carry over directly to your GPA at your new university.