Why You Should Transfer from Community College to Regent University
Thinking about making the decision to transfer from community college to a university? Congratulations, you’re already on the road to success!
Advisors at both community colleges and four-year schools try to make the process seamless, but it’s not always simple. There are many moving parts. Efficiency and costs can get muddled if a student doesn’t properly plan and follow through. This article will share some tips for starting your journey from community college to a four-year university.
Getting ready to transfer
When asked to identify their goals for attending a two-year college, 78% of entering students responding to a SENSE (Survey of Entering Student Engagement) survey said that transferring to a four-year college or university was a goal. However, only 31% of community college students transfer to a four-year institution, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.1
What causes this discrepancy? Many factors are involved, but one of the largest is a lack of information and adequate planning. In the same SENSE survey, 88% of entering students reported that they never used their college’s transfer support services.
But here’s a more hopeful piece of data: According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, about 60% of community college students who transfer to a four-year university graduate with a bachelor’s degree or a higher degree within four years.2 The process works for a majority of students who follow through!
What are the benefits of transferring to Regent University?
An associate’s degree from a two-year college is an excellent stepping stone to an advanced degree at a four-year institution like Regent University. And it’s no wonder so many students who enter two-year colleges intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Students with a bachelor’s degree earn nearly 40% more a year than those with an associate degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.3 Here are two more benefits of transferring from community college to Regent:
Good value
Students transferring from a two-year college tend to be cost-conscious. Regent is among the top 5% of most affordable private Christian colleges and universities for bachelor’s programs, according to a CCCU Tuition Survey. Also, the annual tuition at Regent University is more than $25,000 below the cost of other private schools.
Freedom to explore
When a student’s higher education begins at a four-year college, they’ll choose a major in their second or third year. This is because the first one or two years in a bachelor’s degree program are often reserved for taking general education classes. This may include basic foundational courses in English, science, second languages, mathematics, and history. Students transferring from community college to Regent University can take advantage of its policies for maximizing credit transfers of these general education classes. Regent accepts scores of these classes for a full transfer of credits. Also, Regent will waive general education requirements for students with a qualifying regionally accredited A.A., A.S., or A.A.&S. degree, unless the courses are specified by your major or required as prerequisites in your major.
How does transferring to Regent work?
Regent University makes the transfer process from community college simple and manageable with the advising and enrollment management team that is always ready to assist.
When you begin the process of transferring, Regent will review your transcripts and may request copies of syllabi. After review, the admissions team will decide how many credits to count toward your bachelor’s degree.
Most courses are worth 3 credits. If you have 10 courses transferred, that equates to 30 credits that you would not have to take again. So, for the typical 120-credit bachelor’s degree, you would need only 90 credits to graduate from a 4-year school.
The more credits you can transfer, the better. You’re spending a lot of time and money on your education. Therefore, you want any credits possible to go toward achieving your bachelor’s degree.
With Regent’s generous transfer policy, a student can transfer up to 90 credit hours. That’s up to 75% of a bachelor’s degree and 49% of a graduate degree. About 80% of students bring transfer credits to Regent University.
Tips for a transfer from community college to Regent University
Establish your goals
Realistic goals and plans will help you make sure you’re doing the right things at the appropriate time. Keep in mind that deadlines are critical for transfer students. Write down any and all necessary dates, and do everything you can to stay ahead of them.
Define your educational goals. What kind of degree are you aiming to get? What do you want to major in? What kind of job or career do you want after graduation? The answers to these questions will help you make a degree plan and decide which courses to take.
Make a plan
Once you know your educational goals, talk to your advisor at the community college. Tell them about your plan to transfer to a university. Their advice should help to make sure you’re on track to transfer community college credits. If you suspect your advisor isn’t knowledgeable or helpful in the process, be persistent in finding someone who is.
Research university requirements
After you develop a plan, gather as much information as possible about the university’s admissions and transfer requirements. Talk to an admissions counselor. Many community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year universities to help students make a smooth transfer.
An articulation agreement identifies what is necessary to transfer from one college institution to another. These transfer agreements will let you know which courses and credits will be accepted and what the GPA requirements are. Check with your community college advisor.
If your school doesn’t have an articulation agreement in place, don’t stress. Reach out to Regent by checking their website or talking with a transfer or admissions advisor. Make sure you know the requirements, whether your credits will transfer, and what grades you will need.
Some colleges offer student success courses. They give new students information about the college they attend and help with academic and career planning. Students also will be introduced to ways of improving study habits and other personal skills. These can be helpful, especially for students looking to maximize their time spent in higher education. It’s also a great chance to meet other students and find community.
Find financial aid
Look for and apply for as much as possible. There can be financial aid options for community colleges and also programs geared toward transfer students. For students looking at Regent University, tuition grants of up to $2,000 are available to eligible transfer students from the Virginia Community College System.
Regent also offers tuition discounts to undergraduate and graduate military and veteran students.
Check with Regent and your aid provider to determine whether any financial aid you previously had will transfer. Sometimes financial aid will not automatically transfer with you. Make sure you understand what to do to get federal student aid at your new school. Look into what factors might affect your eligibility for assistance at the new school.
Finish Your Associate Degree
As we noted earlier, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that about 60% of community college students who transfer to a 4-year university graduate with a bachelor’s degree or a higher degree within four years. But if the community college student has earned their associate degree before transferring, that number increases to 71%! If you’re serious about earning a bachelor’s (or higher), it’s more likely if you’ve already earned your associate degree.
Making the decision to transfer
In your search for the right academic fit after your successful transfer from community college, consider Regent University in Virginia Beach. Regent University is in the top 5% of affordable private Christian 4-year universities. Not only that, it is ranked as the No. 1 Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia by the 2022 U.S. News & World Report. At Regent, you can find the right program to complete your four-year degree. Visit their website or campus to find out how they can help you reach your academic and professional goals.
1. Survey of Entering Student Engagement
2. National Student Clearinghouse Snapshot
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics