Transferring community college credits

I've earned credits at a community college and am planning to transfer to a four-year university. What steps should I take to determine if these credits will be accepted? Is there a database or something I can consult?

The process of transferring credits can vary, but here's a general approach that you can employ:

First, examine the articulation agreement between your community college and the four-year institution you're looking to transfer to. These agreements essentially lay out which courses at your community college are equivalent to those at the four-year university. If an articulation agreement exists, it's most likely to be found either on your community college’s website or the prospective university’s website.

If there isn't an articulation agreement, you can also look into whether your prospective university has a course equivalency database or transfer credit guide. This could provide insight into how previously transferred courses from your community college were evaluated.

The next step after this would be to consult with academic advisors at both your current institution and the institution you're planning to transfer to. Advisors on both sides can provide guidance on transferring credits; they're typically very knowledgeable about the process and can help you navigate any complexities.

Last but not least, you would need to obtain official transcripts from your community college and submit them to the university you're transferring to, though this will likely occur as part of your application. Upon review of your transcripts, the university will then determine which credits will be accepted.

Please note that just because a course is transferable, it doesn't necessarily mean it will be applicable to your intended degree program. It's important to have these conversations with an advisor to ensure a smooth transition.