How do credit transfers work from community college to university in Mass?

I'm considering attending a community college in Massachusetts before transferring to a university. How do credit transfers generally work in Massachusetts, and are there any common pitfalls I should be aware of during this process?

In Massachusetts, the credit transfer process has been greatly simplified thanks to the MassTransfer program. MassTransfer is an agreement among the community colleges and universities within the Massachusetts state system, that ensures a seamless transfer of credits.

Here’s how it works: If you earn your associate degree at a Massachusetts community college with a certain GPA, and you have taken courses that fulfill the MassTransfer Block (which are 34 credit hours of general education foundation courses), you can transfer into a Massachusetts state university or UMass campus and have your general education requirements considered as complete. You can then enter the four-year institution as a junior.

It's important to know that each four-year college or university may have 'linked programs', which means that certain majors at the community college correspond to certain majors at the four-year institution. Make sure you are enrolling in the correct program at the community college if you have a specific major in mind at a four-year college.

A common pitfall to avoid is not planning your course schedule around the requirements of the four-year institution to which you aim to transfer. Be sure to understand what courses the four-year university requires, and make sure those are included in your two-year plan at the community college. Also, remember that some programs may be competitive, and a higher GPA may be required.

Continually seek guidance from academic advisors at your community college, and confirm that your plan aligns with the policies of your prospective four-year institution.

Please note that the MassTransfer agreement doesn't apply to private universities or out-of-state schools. For these institutions, you'd have to check individually for their transfer policies.

Finally, while the process can be straightforward, it's crucial to pay attention to all details and deadlines to ensure a smooth transition. Good luck!