College Transfer Facts & Statistics

When you choose an unexpected path like the two-to-four year transfer plan, some people might not understand. They might say that you’ll never graduate, that you're throwing away your future, or that community colleges aren’t as valuable as four-year universities.

Good news. Those people are wrong. And how do you know they’re wrong? Because you’ve got the facts:

Transfer Statistics

• 23% of students beginning community college in 1989-90 transferred to a four-year institution.
• At least 50% (and perhaps as many as 80%) of incoming community college students seek to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree.
• Many students who intend to earn a lower degree increase their educational aspirations after starting at a two-year college.
• 59% of college graduates in 1999-2000 attended more than one institution before graduation.

College Costs

In 2010, the average cost of tuition and fees per year was…

• $2,713 at two-year colleges
• $7,605 at public four-year universities (+$11,990 surcharge for out-of-state students)
• $27,293 at private nonprofit four-year colleges

Community Colleges

• Nearly 80% of firefighters, law enforcement officers and EMTs are credentialed at community colleges.
• 20-40% of the nation’s teachers began their education at community colleges.
• 52% of new nurses and a majority of healthcare workers are educated at community colleges.
• In the 2007-2008 school year, community colleges awarded 609,016 associate’s degrees and 323,649 certificates.
• There are 1,167 community colleges in the U.S. Of these, 993 are public, 143 are private and 31 are tribal.
• More than 12 million Americans are enrolled in community colleges.

Sources:
CollegeBoard
The National Center for Education Statistics
American Association of Community Colleges