The articulation agreements between schools are set up for the purpose of making the transition from one school to another as seamless as possible. Oftentimes, students will take general education courses such as English, math, science and history at a community college to prepare them for the rigors of more advanced courses within their program at a four-year university. When reviewing articulation agreements, make sure that you review what courses are transferable and to what programs. This way you can avoid taking courses at the community college level that will not transfer into your chosen program.
According to the College Board website, public, four-year in-state universities cost an average of $7,605 per year, and private universities cost an average of $27,293 per year, as of 2011. Compare that to community colleges, which cost an average of $2,713 per year, and you can begin to get an idea of the cost savings involved for students who take advantage of collaborating programs. Finding schools with these articulation agreements can help save students thousands of dollars in tuition. Attending a community college makes much more financial sense for many, especially for students who may be uncertain about their future major or career goals.
Some students enrolling in college are unprepared for the academic demands of a four-year degree. Community colleges offer smaller class sizes and faculty that are focused on teaching rather than research. In addition, community college students typically receive more one-on-one attention than their university counterparts, giving them the resources to succeed in difficult subjects. Moreover, students enrolling in community colleges with a poor GPA have the opportunity to boost their grades before moving onto a four-year university. This is especially important, since most articulation agreements have a GPA requirement.
Many states provide a database of articulation agreements that allow students to research the colleges best suited for their planned major and career goal. Specific transfer policies and articulation agreement databases can be found on the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' (AACRAO) website (see Resources). If you cannot find the school in which you are interested, you can speak with the admissions representatives or the campus registrar for more specific information on whether the school or program has a collaborative agreement.