Enrolling tens of thousands of transfer students each year, the California State University ensures it provides the services and resources they need to smoothly transfer from community colleges and transition to their new CSU community.
Before students even arrive at the CSU, the university works to help students who hope to transfer.
The
Associate Degree for Transfer, introduced in 2010, is a joint program between the CSU and California Community Colleges (CCC) to ease the transfer process. It guarantees admission to a CSU for CCC students who earn at least 60 of the 120 credits needed for a bachelor's degree in a specific major.
Launched in 2023 also in partnership with the CCCs, the
Transfer Success Pathway guarantees admission to high school graduates who are entering a California Community College and commit to transferring within three years. To take advantage of the Transfer Success Pathway, participating first-time, first-year state community college students must meet the following eligibility: were not CSU eligible at the time of high school graduation, were CSU eligible but chose not to attend due to personal or financial reasons, or were CSU eligible but the application to their campus of choice was redirected to another campus, and they did not enroll.
In addition, individual CSUs have signed
dozens of agreements with local community colleges to help those students transfer to the campus, many of which include guaranteed admission, dual enrollment and clear degree pathways.
Through such agreements, CSU staff will also work with students while they are still at the community college, offering workshops and advising to help them begin the transfer process and apply to the CSU.
At the beginning of 2024, the CSU introduced a free online
CSU Transfer Planner to further facilitate the process. The tool allows students to track their community college coursework and maximize time to degree completion. Additionally, students can enroll in the Transfer Success Pathway dual admission program through the Transfer Planner.
Once transfer students arrive at the CSU, they can access an array of
resources to help them get acquainted with the campus, including transfer-specific orientations, transfer ambassador programs, mentoring and on-campus centers dedicated to supporting transfer student success.
For National Transfer Student Week 2024, October 21-25, students from across the CSU shared their experience and advice for prospective transfer students.
Geleen Punongbayan, Sacramento State
Advice: Meet the admissions counselors or [visit] the transfer center for the specific campus you are looking to transfer to prior to applying.
Roberto Marcial, CSUN
Advice: Make sure the university aligns with your goals and interests, and make sure the program is something that you want to be involved in.
Vanya Cruz, Stanislaus State
Advice: Meet your deadlines and talk to your counselors to get any help that you need.
Albert Lopez, Cal State LA
Advice: Don't feel embarrassed about going to community college. It's affordable, [and] it's a restart button if you didn't do that well in high school.
Learn more about
applying as a transfer student to a CSU, and see more
transfer student testimonials.