California community – California’s 116 community colleges enroll more than 2.2 million students, yet only about 18% who began in 2019-20 transferred to a four-year institution within four years. Transfer counts to UC and CSU have fallen since 2021, and Latino students make up 44% o
For millions of students in California, a community college is the start line. In a system of 116 colleges, more than 2.2 million students are enrolled across the state—many of them planning to transfer to a four-year university.
But the path to the next campus is narrower than the brochures suggest.
About 18% of students who began at a California community college in 2019-20 transferred to a four-year postsecondary institution within four years. And when the conversation turns specifically to California’s public universities—University of California and California State University—the numbers tighten again. along with what those totals represent in practice.
In 2025, 68.6k community college students transferred to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campus. Of those transfer students, 28.2% went to a UC campus and 71.8% went to a CSU campus.
The trend is moving in the wrong direction. Between 2021 and 2025, transfers from community colleges to UC and CSU campuses declined by 6.9%, a drop tied to 5,057 fewer community college transfer students attending a UC or CSU.
Demographics show both the promise and the pressure on the system. In 2025, 44% of community college students who transferred to UC and CSU were Latino—the highest share among ethnic groups. White students made up 22%, Asian students were 18%, and Black students were 4.5%.
There is also a clear imbalance in where momentum concentrates. In fall 2025. Pasadena City College sent 2. 094 students who transferred to UC or CSU campuses—more than any other community college in California. De Anza Community College in Cupertino ranked second with 1,891 transfers, followed by Mount San Antonio College in Walnut with 1,889.
Taken together, the figures trace an uncomfortable contradiction for a system meant to expand opportunity. Community colleges enroll more than 2.2 million students. with a clear transfer ambition for many of them. but only about 18% reach a four-year postsecondary destination within four years. Even among those who do make it into the public university pipeline. fewer students are arriving at UC and CSU than were in 2021.
For students and families. the difference between “planning to transfer” and actually transferring within a defined window can determine whether years of effort translate into the degree they’re aiming for. In 2025. the transfer shares are steepest for CSU. smaller for UC. and the decline from 2021 to 2025 means the bottleneck doesn’t just persist—it shifts. quietly. in the student counts.
And for the community colleges already sending the most transfer students—Pasadena City College, De Anza, and Mount San Antonio—the data also points to a larger question: what happens to the students elsewhere, when the transfer funnel narrows faster than enrollment can replace the losses.
California community colleges student transfers UC CSU higher education transfer rate Pasadena City College De Anza Community College Mount San Antonio College
18% seems low… like why even have community college then?
Wait so only 18% transfer in 4 years? That’s kinda depressing. Also “UC and CSU transfers fell” since 2021 like what happened, money stuff?
My cousin went to a CC and they told him it was “automatic” to transfer but then it wasn’t, so this checks out. Latino students being 44% doesn’t surprise me either, but I’m confused—if it’s the highest share, shouldn’t that mean they’re succeeding more?
Pasadena City College sent the most transfers?? I’m not shocked, that place always seemed “better” than the other ones near me. I swear the transfer system is like, they change the rules every semester. 6.9% decline sounds small but 5,057 fewer students is still a lot. Not even gonna lie, I thought everyone just goes to UC/CSU eventually.