How to Transfer from Community College to a University
Many students consider attending a community college for their first two years and using it as a stepping stone towards earning a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college. There are many benefits of transferring from a community college to a four-year college. So, let’s explore them and learn how to transfer from community college to a university.
Why Transfer?
The most obvious reason for transferring from community college to a four-year school is to save money on tuition. In addition to these savings, the benefits of transferring from a community college to a university include the opportunity for students to get their grades up or take time to explore their interests and decide on their major before attending a four-year school.
Some students are interested in transferring colleges after freshman year while others go on to earn an associate degree before transferring from community college to a four-year school.
No matter what the case or what your timeline, many students are unsure of how to transfer from a community college to a university. We’re here to help you learn about community college transfer requirements and how to transfer from community college to the four-year institution of your choice.
How to Transfer
Is it easy to transfer from community college to a university? The college transfer acceptance rate really depends on the requirements of the four-year school you are looking to attend. But in many cases, the answer is yes. Most credits for community college transfer students should transfer to a four-year college—assuming you’ve taken the appropriate courses and met the academic requirements for transferring to another school.
What are Transfer Agreements?
The process of transferring from community college to a four-year school can be even easier if your community college has a transfer agreement in place. A transfer agreement is a partnership between two colleges for a more seamless transition.
Often the two schools will outline policies for specific academic programs or degrees in advance so that students will know the exact college credit transfer requirements up front. In most cases, you’ll need to have a grade of a C or higher in order for the credits for a particular course to transfer.
A number of colleges offer transfer agreements, so be sure to check the individual school websites.
The Transfer Process
Each college has its own transfer process, but you’ll start by reviewing the transfer section of your new college’s website.
Typically you’ll need to send your academic transcripts to the new college’s registrar's office. Ask the office to also evaluate your college credits and apply them to your degree program. You may need to bring a copy of your transcript to your freshman advising appointment for a full evaluation of transferable credits.
Tompkins Cortland Community College
At Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, NY, transferring college credits is easy. TC3 is an institution of the State University of New York, which means your credits will transfer to all SUNY and CUNY schools if you meet the grade requirements.
In addition, according to a CollegeNowsurvey, 90 percent of colleges and universities accept TC3 credits earned by high school students.
TC3 offers affordable tuition and opportunities for financial aid, including community college transfer scholarships.
To learn more about how to transfer from community college at TC3, contact Heather Stevens, coordinator of transfer services, at stevensh@tompkinscortland.edu or 607.844.8222, Ext. 4246.
For general information about Tompkins Cortland Community College, click here, or apply today!