How do community college credits transfer out of state?

If I start at a community college in one state and want to transfer to a university in a different state, how do my credits transfer? Do I need to worry about losing any credits in the process?

Generally, whether or not your community college credits will transfer out-of-state can depend on the course, the institution, and sometimes the specific program at the four-year university you're transferring to. Some universities have articulation agreements with various community colleges to ensure credits will transfer smoothly. Even if your current community college doesn't have an articulation agreement with the university you're interested in, many colleges and universities have transfer credit policies that seek to match the content and course level to similar courses they offer.

However, not all credits may transfer over. For example, developmental or remedial classes usually do not. Additionally, highly specialized or technical courses that don't have an equivalent at the university might not transfer. You'll want to get a transcript evaluation from the university you want to transfer to so that you can see which credits they are willing to accept.

Additionally, consider talking to an academic advisor both at your current college and the university you're interested in. They can provide advice on your transfer strategy to make sure you're enrolling in courses that are most likely to meet degree requirements at the university you're considering. It might also be useful to look at the degree requirements for your intended major at that university, as it can help ensure that you're taking transferable general education classes (like English or Biology, for example) that fit within those degree requirements.

In sum, transferring credits from a community college to an out-of-state four-year university is possible, but there might be a few obstacles along the way. You can equip yourself with knowledge and support from academic advisors to navigate this.