Lower-Division Transfer Pathway
The Lower-Division Transfer Pathway is a popular option for students who want to expedite their transfer journey. This pathway allows students to complete fewer than 59 semester units of college coursework at their local community college and transfer those units to a four-year university.
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The main academic goal of students pursuing the Lower-Division Transfer Pathway is to complete required coursework for transfer admissions and transfer earned units to a four-year university. Earning a degree at the community college level is not the goal of students pursuing this pathway since all Associate degrees require at least 60 transferable units; instead, students who want to earn a degree choose the Upper-Division Transfer + Degree Pathway.
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Requirements
Lower-Division Transfer typically requires students earn 59 or fewer transferable units, but the guidelines for this transfer pathway vary from university to university, with private institutions offering the most flexibility. Many colleges and universities that offer the Lower-Division Transfer Pathway require at least 30 transferable units, which is equivalent to about one full-time year of college coursework. Many California universities will also require any lower-division transfer students to meet the minimum admission requirements of a first-year freshman.
The 60 transferable units are made up of the following:​
General Education Courses
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Major Education Courses
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Other Courses Required for University Admissions (Assist)
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60 Transferable Units​​
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59
Transferable Units
Each campus will have its own required coursework for the Lower-Division Transfer Pathway. Not all universities accept lower-division transfer students. Students interested in this pathway should visit our Transfer Admissions Directory for more information on admissions requirements.
Researching Admissions Requirements
CA Public Universities & Some Private CA Universities
Assist is the place to go for researching transfer admissions requirements at all public CA universities and some select private institutions. Check out the Transfer Resources section and find Assist. Assist pulls a list of transferable courses students can take at their community college to satisfy admissions requirements for the CSUs or UCs. For help navigating Assist, check out our workshop, Beyond the Textbook: Assist.
Most Private CA Universities, Out-of-State Institutions, and Some HBCUs
Many private universities and out-of-state institutions will not upload their transfer requirements on Assist. When your university does not list transfer admissions information on Assist, the responsibility falls to you, the student, to research the most up-to-date transfer information. Here is how to start your research:
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Visit the Transfer Admissions page of your selected institution; check out our directory for easy navigation.
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Transferology has transfer coursework for hundreds of universities, and while it is not a guarantee that your university will have its transfer requirements listed on Transferology, it’s a pretty good place to start your search.
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In the event that your university does not have accessible transfer admissions requirements listed online, and nothing is available on Transferology, check out our Transferring Community College Course Credit Sample Email for a guide on how to approach a university admissions representative about the university's transfer admissions requirements.
Transfer Resources
Explore
Assist gives students easy-to-understand articulation agreements between California Community Colleges, CSUs, UCs, and some California private universities. An articulation agreement lists the transferable courses a California university wants students to take at their California Community College. For help using this tool, check out our Beyond the Textbook: Assist workshop.
Transferology provides students with information on how their coursework will transfer to hundreds of private and public colleges and universities across the country. For help using this tool, check out our Beyond the Textbook: Transferology workshop.
ADT Major & Campus Search is for students pursuing an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) and want to confirm how a major will transfer from a California Community College to the CSUs. For help using this tool, check out our Beyond the Textbook: ADT Major & Campus Search workshop.
The CSU Transfer Planner is a tool for students who are transferring from a California Community College to a CSU campus. Students can enter their community college coursework in the planner, and the planner will provide an overview of how CSU admissions requirements are being met. For help using this tool, check out our Beyond the Textbook: CSU Transfer Planner workshop.
The UC Transfer Admission Planner is a tool for students who are transferring from a California Community College to a UC campus. Students can enter their community college coursework in the planner, and the planner will provide an overview of how UC admissions requirements are being met. For help using this tool, check out our Beyond the Textbook: UC TAP workshop.
As the name suggests, the Transfer Admissions Guarantee offers a guaranteed transfer pathway for California Community College students to a UC campus. Students must complete the TAG application and TAG one participating UC campus. There are only 6 UCs that participate in the TAG program. For help using this tool, check out our Beyond the Textbook: TAG workshop.
The Center for Community College Partnerships at UCLA provides support and mentorship to California Community College students who are considering transferring to UCLA. CCCP offers a wide range of support, including workshops, events, and immersive experiences, to help students learn more about the campus. For help using this resource, check out our Beyond the Textbook: CCCP workshop.
Apply
To apply for transfer to a California State University, apply through Cal State Apply. For help navigating Cal State Apply, check out our Beyond the Textbook: Cal State Apply workshop.
To apply for transfer to a University of California, apply through the UC application. For help navigating the UC Application, check out our Beyond the Textbook: UC Apply workshop.
To apply for transfer to many private, out-of-state, and HBCUs through The Common App. The Common App is used to apply to many HBUC and private universities. For help navigating the Common App, check out our Beyond the Textbook: Common App workshop.
The Common Black College Application is your premier application site to assist you with your HBCU admissions application. With over 50 HBCUs, the Common Black College Application streamlines your application process for a smooth, easy, and successful experience at an affordable and accessible price. For help navigating the Common Black College Application, check out our Beyond the Textbook: Common Black College Application workshop.
University Exploration & Transfer Admissions
Dive deep into your university exploration and discover what higher education looks like across a wide range of universities in California and out of state. Learn about degree offerings, majors, student support programs, and more.
Explore the unique Bachelor's Degree offerings at the California Community Colleges
Transfer Pathways
Not sure if this pathway is right for you? Continue exploring other transfer pathways.