4 Crucial Tips on Transferring Your Community College Credits

Completing your first two years of school at a community college is a sound financial decision. The College Board notes in a recent article that in-state students can expect their public two-year college to cost about $2,544 per year in tuition and fees, compared to $7,020 at a public four-year college*. That’s an impressive savings that eliminates a lot of potential debt.

However, you might worry about having to transfer your credits when you’re ready to continue working on your on-campus or online bachelor's degree at a four-year school. Thankfully, the process is now fairly straightforward. Here are some tips on how to make transferring your credits to a bachelor’s program go smoothly:

Before Starting Community College

1. Make sure the community college you attend is regionally accredited. Regional accreditation – the highest form of accreditation in the country – is vitally important. Colleges and universities that are certified by one of the six regional U.S. accrediting agencies meet rigorous Department of Education standards, and credits earned at one such school can usually be transferred to another. On the other hand, most regionally accredited on-campus and online bachelor’s programs will not accept transfer credits from a non-accredited college.

2. See if your community college cooperates with any four-year institutions. Many community colleges are closely associated with nearby public four-year colleges, and might have established articulation agreements with them. Such agreements guarantee that most or all of the credits earned at the community college will transfer to the four-year college, and also make transferring credits between the two schools much faster and easier. If at all possible, choose a community college that has an articulation agreement with a four-year school that a) offers the on-campus or online bachelor’s program you want to pursue, and b) you are actually interested in transferring to.

When You Are Ready to Transfer

3. Meet advisors and admissions officers from several colleges. Once you know which four-year schools you’re interested in attending, contact an advisor at each of them and set up a meeting (phone meetings are acceptable when necessary, but face-to-face is much better). These advisors will be able to tell you what requirements their school places on transfer students, such as a minimum GPA or standardized test score. They should also be able to tell you about their institution’s bachelor’s programs – or direct you to those who can – so that you’ll be able to choose the one that’s best for you.

4. Explore online bachelor’s degree program options. For many students – especially adults with work and/or family responsibilities – an online bachelor’s program offers the combination of affordability and flexibility they need. Such programs are usually less expensive than their on-campus counterparts and can be adapted to fit almost any schedule. To make sure you choose a legitimate online bachelor’s program that will provide you with the degree you need, learn these nine essential tips for students taking online courses.

Popular Associate Degree Programs
• Associate's in Business Management
• Management Information Systems (MIS) AA Degrees

*What It Costs to Go to College, The College Board (Accessed September 2010)