How To Choose Your Transfer College
Planning to Transfer? Start Researching Early!
If you’re a community college student with dreams of transferring to a selective four-year college, it’s never too early to begin your research. The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to find the right fit, understand your options, and prepare a strong application.
Step 1: Do Your Homework
The internet, college guidebooks, and your community college’s transfer adviser are excellent starting points for gathering information. As you explore potential schools, it’s important to go beyond surface-level stats and rankings. Make sure to evaluate how transfer-friendly each college is by asking the right questions:
- Financial Aid: Does the college reserve financial aid specifically for transfer students? Some institutions prioritize aid for first-year applicants and offer leftover funds—if any—to transfers.
- Support Programs: Are there dedicated resources, orientation programs, or advising services for transfer students?
- Credit Transfer Policies: How does the school evaluate and accept your completed coursework? Will your credits transfer smoothly? Will your credits be accepted towards your intended major?
- Application Fees: Does the college offer application fee waivers for transfer students?
Step 2: Use Transfer-Specific Resources
Several tools can help you research and compare schools based on their transfer friendliness and scholarship opportunities:
- PTK Connect – Free for Phi Theta Kappa members, this platform lists transfer-friendly colleges and scholarships just for transfer students.
- Transfer Scholars Network – Works to connect high-achieving community college students to dedicated admissions representatives from top four-year colleges with some of the nation’s most generous financial aid programs.
- Edvisors – Provides a platform for comparing student loan options and offers resources for financial aid information, including simplifying the scholarship search process for students and evaluating the student loan landscape.
- Coalition for College – Brings together more than 150 institutions of higher education that have demonstrated their commitment to college access, affordability, and student success, and are leaders in actively building supportive environments that foster a sense of belonging for all students.
These platforms are especially helpful in narrowing your search and discovering institutions that value and support transfer students.
Step 3: Categorize Your College List
Once you’ve identified schools that meet your needs, organize them into three categories based on selectivity and your academic profile:
- Reach Schools: These are highly selective institutions (acceptance rates of 30% or less) where your grades and test scores may be below the average. Apply to 3–4 of these schools—especially since selective colleges often offer strong support and generous aid for transfer students.
- Target Schools: These colleges have acceptance rates between 30% and 60%, and your academic profile closely matches their averages. Aim to apply to 2–3 of these.
- Likely Schools: These have higher acceptance rates (above 60%), and your grades and scores exceed their typical student profile. You should apply to 2–3 of these as well for balance and peace of mind.
To help you stay organized, download our Transfer College Research Worksheet—it’s a great tool for tracking key information and making confident, informed decisions about where to apply.
Transferring to a four-year college is a big step—and the right preparation makes all the difference. By starting early and using the right tools and strategies, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect transfer destination.
Community college transfer students: Eligible students should apply for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship via Common App for Transfer by January 7, 2026. Click here to learn more.