Transfer numbers and transfer rates measure the number and percentage of community college students who transfer to four-year colleges. While our students transfer to many four-year colleges, the majority transfer to CSU and UC. Below are transfer rates to all U.S. colleges, and numbers to CSU and UC for Chabot and Las Positas Colleges and for all California Community Colleges.

Transfer Rates to Four-year Universities: 1993-2001

Transfer rates express the percentage of community college students who transfer to four-year colleges. The transfer rate depends upon how the group of potential transfer students is defined—should all students at the community college be considered potential transfer students, even if they do not intend to transfer, or should we consider only those who declare or act like they intend to transfer, such as those who take more than one course?

The state Chancellor’s Office currently defines potential transfer students as those who enrolled in a California Community College (CCC) as a first-time student in a fall term and, who, within a period of six years: 1) attempted transfer-level Math or English (regardless of the outcome) and 2) completed at least 12 units in the CCC system. To determine college and statewide transfer rates, the Chancellor’s Office then looks for these students in four-year universities nationwide.

The Chancellor’s Office cautions against comparing transfer rates between colleges due to five factors that are beyond the control of the colleges. The following five factors may positively or negatively affect transfer rate—academic preparedness index, percentage of students over the age of 25, county per-capita income, county unemployment rate, and miles to the nearest CSU. Expected transfer rates have been calculated for each college using these five variables. Therefore, a college’s transfer rate should be compared with its own expected rate, rather than with the transfer rate of other colleges. Both Chabot and Las Positas had transfer rates at or above their expected rates.