Transfer to a Four Year School

There are many factors to consider when choosing a four-year college. Listed below are some of the questions you may want to ask yourself when considering your options:
 

• Does the institution offer the major you are considering? 
• What is the geographic location you prefer? 
• What are the admissions requirements? 
• What is the cost of tuition and fees? 
• Are financial aid opportunities and scholarships available? 
• Do you want an urban or rural setting? 
• Do you prefer a large or small campus?
• Is the college accredited? 
• What is the reputation of the institution? 
• What is the student/faculty ratio? 
• Is special help available if needed? 
• What size student body are you looking for? 
• Do you want to live on or off campus? Do you want guaranteed housing for transfers? 
• Are you interested in fraternity/sorority life?
• Do you prefer a private, public, or religious college? 
• Are there particular sports or activities you wish to participate in? 

Articulation agreements are formal agreements between LCCC and four-year colleges and universities. These agreements ensure that, if you successfully follow a prescribed program of study at LCCC, you will generally be able to transfer to a participating college with full junior status. You can learn more about articulation agreements here. 

With good planning and information gathering, most students should be able to transfer with 60-64 credits, not including developmental, technical, or nontransferable credits. We recommend using the course comparison guides, general education check sheets, college catalogs, and consultation with an academic advisor well in advance of your transfer plans.  

Many colleges prefer that you transfer with an associate degree, with some colleges requiring it. The articulation agreements we have in place with partnering four-year schools require a degree. In addition, many schools offer generous transfer scholarships to students transferring with a degree. 

However, we recognize that you may choose to transfer early. This depends to a great extent on your major at your transfer institution. Discuss your plans with an academic advisor to build a timetable that makes sense for you. 

Most colleges require a minimum 2.0 GPA or a “C” average for transfer. Usually, a 2.5 GPA or higher is preferred. Competitive programs such as accounting, business administration, computer science, education, and engineering may require a 3.0 or higher. 

To transfer, you must be in good standing at LCCC and must have earned the minimum number of credits specified by your transfer college. To be considered a transfer student at most schools, you must have earned between 12 and 30 credits at LCCC. 

To learn more about GPA requirements with schools LCCC has articulation agreements with, you can view our transfer guides. 

If you are undecided about your major but are fairly certain that you will eventually transfer to pursue a bachelor’s degree, it’s best to take courses that will satisfy the general education requirements of your transfer institution. You can work closely with an advisor to determine which courses to take within these requirements. The Core Curriculum and General Education guides for various schools are available online. 

Yes! Many institutions offer scholarships specifically for transfer students. Most are “merit” based, meaning that they require a specific GPA along with a minimum number of credits earned to apply. Many of these scholarships are for more than one semester and will require that students maintain a certain level GPA to continue their eligibility. Some institutions have a scholarship application and deadline separate from that of financial aid, while other institutions review all transfer students for scholarship eligibility based on their admission application. Contact the school early to find out any deadlines and applications you will need to submit. Many scholarship deadlines are in the spring semester, regardless of the semester in which the student transfers. 

See scholarship opportunities for transfer students.  

For more information email adviseme@cs-grc.com. 

Here are some questions you might want to ask the counselor from the four-year school you are considering: 

• How many credits are likely to transfer? 
• How many additional credits are required to earn a four-year degree? 
• What grade point average is required? 
• Is there job placement assistance after graduation?
• What are the admissions requirements?
• Are applications accepted at any time (rolling admissions) or only by a fixed deadline? 
• Are high school grades and SAT scores required or preferred? Are they used in making the admissions decision? 
• What support services and student activities are available? 
• Is credit granted for CLEP, life experience, or cooperative education? 
• Are D grades accepted in transfer? 
• How many transfer students are accepted each year? 
• Are there special programs or registration dates for transfer students?  
• Are there any programs not open to transfer students? 
• What are the costs for tuition and room and board? 
• What are the procedures to file for financial aid? 
• Is faculty available to meet with students? 
• What tutoring assistance is available? 
• How large are classes? 
• How many students live on campus?  
• Is on-campus housing available to transfer students? What opportunities are available for off-campus housing? 
• Is parking available?