10 tips for transferring from community college to university

You have goals, and one of them may well be transferring from a community college to a university. If that sounds like you, you probably have lots of questions, including:

• Is it easy to transfer from a community college to a university?
• Will an associate degree transfer to any college?
• How many credits can I transfer?
• Do I have to graduate from community college to transfer?
• What about my GPA? Does that transfer to university too?

While the transfer process isn’t exactly easy, it is established, so making the switch boils down to doing your due diligence. The more you know, the smoother transferring from a community college to a university will be. Here’s where to start.

Only you can decide if transferring to a four-year institution to earn your bachelor’s degree is worth it. So, before you dive into the mechanics of transferring credits from a community college to a university, figure out your if and why.

For many people, beginning their education at a community college and transferring to a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree makes sense because it saves them time and money. But that’s just the beginning. 

Some students choose to start their college journey at a community college, where tuition is typically known to be lower than at a four-year university. For example, as of the 2019–20 school year, fees at community colleges were on average $3,730 compared with the $10,440 average annual tuition of four-year universities.

This is especially helpful when someone hasn’t yet decided which degree to pursue. Because of the lower costs, community college can make earning those general education requirements more affordable. In this way, students can gain college credit (and experience studying at the college level) and transfer those credits to a university to save money on a bachelor’s degree, all while taking their time in choosing an area of study. 

Community college can provide students the opportunity to develop and hone skills they need to be successful at a university, all while earning credit that they can potentially apply toward their bachelor’s degree. These skills include time management, writing and reading comprehension, for example. 

Many universities hold transfer students in high regard because those students have developed the skills and discipline that prepares them to succeed in the university classroom. If they successfully earned college credits, they have also built a track record of taking and succeeding in college-level courses. All of this works to students’ advantage: They are better prepared to know what they want to study and how to earn the degree. 

In some cases, a community college can add flexibility to your schedule. Evening, weekend and online courses can provide options to suit your needs. That’s especially important if you work and attend school simultaneously or have other obligations like caring for children. 

If transferring makes sense for you, these 10 tips can help guide your process. 

One of the most important things to think about as you begin your community college journey is where you want to end up. The university where you want to earn your bachelor’s degree can tacitly guide your choice of community college, because it likely accepts transfer credits from certain schools.

So, while a university can’t explicitly tell you which community college to attend, its policies and existing agreements may help you reverse-engineer your educational journey. 

You’ll want to ask yourself:

• Will your university offer financial scholarships?
• What are your university’s admissions requirements?

Call the admissions offices of both the community college and the university. Ask whether the university has a transfer agreement with your community college (also called an articulation agreement). You might also speak with a college counselor or academic advisor about relevant transfer information.

Some policies may surprise you. University of Phoenix, for example, offers a 3+1 Transfer Pathway, which allows community college students to transfer up to 87 credits in and apply them toward a bachelor’s degree. Eligible students with qualifying credits can then complete their bachelor’s degree in up to 14 months. 

Maybe you attended community college because you wanted to lower your education costs. Keep that mindset even after you transfer! Some universities offer scholarships and tuition rates specifically designed for students making the leap.

To help with your program fees, you may want to apply for as much financial assistance as possible. Depending on your circumstances, you can significantly lower the immediate out-of-pocket cost of tuition through grants, scholarships and — if necessary — student loans.

Some universities require essays or entrance exams, while others don’t. And don’t forget about your GPA. Many universities’ acceptance of transfer credits requires a minimum GPA or certain grades. 

So much information is available online, but there’s no substitute for having real people answer your questions. If your community college has a transfer counselor, tap their expertise! If you have a university in mind, call its enrollment or admissions department to make sure you’re on the right track.

If you know your academic plans before attending community college, you can even make appointments to speak with academic advisors in the fields you want to study and ensure you meet all the right milestones along your educational journey.

A community college can be a great place to learn the skills needed to succeed at a university. Many colleges provide resources that encourage good study habits and time management skills. These are essential for future success at a four-year university, especially in higher-level courses with a more intensive focus on key topics.

This one’s tricky, especially if you started at a community college because you hadn’t settled on a career path. Your best option? Explore different areas of interest but keep in contact with your academic advisor to take prerequisites early. If you take too many general education classes, they may not all transfer.

You may also want to research whether your desired university has programs designed specifically for students with transfer credit.

Official transcripts and related documents, such as essays or letters of recommendation, may be required for university admission. As with other steps in the transfer process, be meticulous about collecting required documents and meeting deadlines.

Check university application deadlines and apply as soon as you’re eligible. Remember important financial aid deadlines, such as the one for submitting the FAFSA^® form. 

Moving from a community college to a university can feel like a big leap. Attending your new school’s orientation can help you meet other students and learn about your school’s resources. Your university may offer math tutoring, counseling services or career support at no extra cost to you in an effort to equip you with the tools you need to meet your goals.

Look for schools with a clearly defined transfer credit policy or a college transfer pathway program.

Many schools publish this information online and have online chat features or enrollment advisors available to answer your questions by phone. You may also find detailed information about an institution’s policies in its university catalog.

Researching your desired university's transfer credit policy or articulation agreement can guide your course selection. This can subsequently help save time and money. (In other words, you’ll take the classes you know will transfer.) Every university offers a slightly different approach to transferring from a community college, so do your homework early on.

No. Depending on a college or university’s credit evaluation process, you can transfer with varying levels of eligible college credit. Additionally, credits earned at an accredited institution are eligible for transfer.

As noted above, there is no minimum number of credits needed to transfer. Many colleges will accept up to 60 credits from a community college, which roughly equates to two years of schooling. Universities then require a transfer student to complete credits toward the degree within their program.

In other instances, a 3+1 transfer pathway like the one outlined earlier enables an eligible student to transfer as many as 87 credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

While getting good grades in community college can possibly help lead to scholarship eligibility, your GPA typically resets when you begin at your new institution. So, if you ask whether grades transfer from a community college to a university, the answer is almost always no. Credits transfer. Grades don’t.

That said, policies differ on the required GPA for transferring from a community college to a university. Some institutions will accept students with a GPA of 2.0 or above, while others may require a GPA of 3.5 and up. There is no one rule that governs credits and GPA. It’s best to check with the university you plan to transfer to ahead of time.

Transferring from a community college to a four-year university may have some perceived downsides. Credit transfer issues can sometimes prevent all earned credits from being accepted, which could prolong the academic journey. You can potentially avoid this by working with an academic advisor.

You will also have to adapt to a new academic environment and meet higher expectations in terms of coursework. Social integration can be challenging, especially among peers who’ve already established friendships. Finally, financial concerns can arise due to the higher tuition costs at many four-year universities. It’s important to take this into consideration when continuing your education.

Many universities partner with community colleges and offer guaranteed admission for students who meet specific criteria, like completing associate degrees or earning certain GPAs. Always research individual schools’ policies, however, as some programs may still be highly competitive — even for transfer students.

The ideal GPA for transferring from community colleges varies. Highly competitive institutions or specialized programs may require a higher GPA. Research your target universities’ requirements and aim to exceed those criteria to enhance your application.

Remember, maintaining a strong GPA demonstrates academic readiness, but as soon as you begin attending the new school, your GPA will likely reset because credits transfer, but grades do not.

Transferring from a community college to a university is an excellent way to save money on your education, and it offers flexibility in the learning process.

As you get started, consider:

• Taking a career-interest assessment to help pinpoint your goals. Knowing where you’re going helps you find the straightest path forward.
• Potential community college transfer pathway programs. At University of Phoenix, this program helps you save time and money on your bachelor’s degree by knocking out many general course requirements that could cost thousands of dollars at a traditional university.
• The availability of transfer scholarships. Scholarships are available to students from a variety of backgrounds, including those transferring from community college.
• Exploring special tuition rates available to transfer students.

To learn more about transferring to UOPX, review our transfer credits homepage.