Does Florida have good community college computer science transfer options?

Considering starting with a community college in Florida before transferring to a university for computer science. Could anyone share insights on the process and any good schools to target for the transfer?

Florida indeed has a generous state-wide articulation agreement, which makes it easy for students to start out at a community college and then transfer to a four-year public university to complete their degree. Under this system, if you earn an Associate in Arts (AA) degree at a Florida community college, you are guaranteed admission into one of the state's public universities (although not necessarily your first choice).

In terms of good schools for computer science, Florida has a few commendable ones like the University of Florida, Florida State University, or University of Central Florida, among others. These universities have robust computer science programs and accepting transfers from community colleges is part of their regular intake process.

The process for transferring is usually straightforward. You would need to complete your AA degree at the community college, maintaining a strong GPA. It is recommended that you also take as many maths and computer science prerequisite courses as possible. Once these are successfully completed, you can then apply to transfer to a four-year university under the articulation agreement. When you fill out your applications for transfer, you'll want to highlight your academic achievements as well as the reasons you are interested in studying computer science and why you believe the university you're applying to aligns with your future career goals.

However, take note that the more competitive universities or programs might have additional admission criteria beyond just the attainment of an AA degree. Therefore, it's always a good idea to research your target universities’ computer science program and admissions requirements early on, in order to align your course choices accordingly.