Stop losing credits when you transfer.

A quick-reference planner that compares your planned community-college courses with common transfer-school patterns. See likely matches, partial fits, and dead ends before you register.

Open the Planner How it works

Not a replacement for your school's official equivalency database. Use this to prepare better questions for your advisor.

How this guide works

1

Pick your schools

Choose your current school type and your target transfer school. The guide uses common transfer patterns between school types across the US.

2

Add your planned courses

Enter each course you are thinking about taking this semester. Pick from common course categories or type your own.

3

Review the match report

Each course gets a color-coded rating: likely to transfer, partial match, or unlikely. Use this to reorder your schedule before registration.

4

Export and confirm

Save, print, or copy your plan. Bring it to your transfer advisor and verify each course against the official database.

Transfer Match Planner

Fill in your details below. Your plan saves automatically in your browser.

Add courses

Quick-add common courses:

No courses added yet. Use the form above or the quick-add buttons to build your plan.

Three real scenarios

These examples show how small course choices add up to big differences in time and cost.

Scenario A

The extra semester

Maria planned to take "Introduction to Business" and "Personal Finance" at her community college before transferring to a public university. The intro course transferred fine. Personal Finance counted only as a general elective and did not satisfy the university's required "Principles of Economics" for her business major.

Result: She had to take Economics at the university, adding one extra semester and about $4,200 in tuition and fees.

Lesson: Check whether a course satisfies a specific major requirement, not just general elective credit.

Scenario B

The lab that did not count

James took "Introduction to Environmental Science" (no lab) because the schedule fit better. His target university required a natural science with a lab component for general education. The course transferred, but it filled only an elective slot, not the science requirement.

Result: He had to take a lab science at the university, even though he already had a science course on his transcript.

Lesson: When a requirement says "with lab," a non-lab version usually will not satisfy it.

Scenario C

The developmental trap

Aisha placed into "Pre-Algebra" and "Basic Writing" based on her placement test. She took both courses and earned A's. Neither course transferred to her target university. They helped her prepare, but they did not count toward her degree.

Result: She spent two semesters and about $2,800 on courses that moved her forward academically but did not reduce the number of credits she needed at the university.

Lesson: Developmental courses are worth taking if you need them, but do not count on them transferring. Plan your timeline accordingly.

Course categories ranked by transfer reliability

This table shows how reliably different course types transfer from a community college to a four-year university in most cases. Your specific schools may differ.

Course Category Typical Rating Notes
English Composition I & II Likely Almost always transfers if the course is college-level and you earn a C or better.
College Algebra / Statistics Likely Check whether your major requires a specific math course beyond general education.
Natural Science with Lab Likely Lab versions transfer more reliably than non-lab for science requirements.
Social Science (History, Psychology, Sociology) Likely Commonly accepted for general education social science credits.
Humanities / Fine Arts Likely Usually transfers, but confirm if your program requires a specific course.
Foreign Language (Level 1–2) Partial Transfers well if the target school has the same language program. Less useful if they do not.
Speech / Communication Likely Often satisfies a general education communication requirement.
Intro Computer Science Partial May transfer as elective credit but not always count toward a CS major.
Intro Business / Accounting Partial Principles-level courses often transfer. Upper-level or specialized courses may not.
Health / Physical Education Partial Some schools accept PE for general ed. Others do not accept transfer PE at all.
Technical / Vocational Unlikely Rarely transfers toward a bachelor's degree. May count as elective at some schools.
Developmental / Remedial Unlikely Almost never transfers. These courses prepare you but do not count toward degree credit.

Five questions to ask your transfer advisor

Print this list or copy it to your phone. These questions save you from the most common transfer mistakes.

  1. Do we have a current articulation agreement with my target school? Articulation agreements list exactly which courses transfer and what they count for. If one exists, it is the most reliable source you have.
  2. Is there a minimum grade for transfer credit? Many schools require a C or higher. Some competitive programs require a B. A D might earn credit at your community college but not transfer.
  3. Is there a cap on total transfer credits? Some universities accept a maximum of 60 or 70 credits from a community college. If you take extra courses beyond the cap, they may not count.
  4. Will this course satisfy a specific requirement at the target school, or only count as an elective? A course that fills an elective slot is less valuable than one that satisfies a general education or major requirement. Ask for the specific equivalency.
  5. Does the transfer equivalency depend on my catalog year? Some schools lock your transfer rules to the catalog year when you started at the community college. Others use the current year. Know which one applies to you.

Common questions

Does this replace my school's transfer equivalency database?
No. Your school's official database or articulation agreement is the final word. This guide helps you ask better questions and spot red flags before you look up the official match.
What if my school is not listed?
Pick the closest match by school type (public two-year, private two-year, public four-year, private four-year). The patterns are broad enough to still be useful as a first check.
How often is this updated?
The course categories and transfer patterns reflect common US higher-education practices as of early 2026. Transfer rules change, so treat this as a planning starting point, not a permanent record.
Can I save my plan?
Your plan is saved in your browser automatically. You can also export it as a text file or print it. If you clear your browser data, the saved plan will be removed.
Will this work for international transfers?
This guide is designed for transfers within the US higher-education system. International credit evaluation is a different process and usually requires a course-by-course evaluation from a recognized agency.