Millions attend California Community Colleges. Far fewer make it to a four-year university

As the nation’s largest system of higher education, California’s 116 community colleges have more than 2.2 million students enrolled across the state. Many plan to transfer to a four-year postsecondary institution — about 18% do so within four years.

18%

Share of students who began at a California community college in 2019-20, and transferred to a four-year postsecondary institution within four years.

68.6k

Number of California community college students who transferred to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campus in 2025. Among them, 28.2% transferred to a UC campus and 71.8% to a CSU campus.

6.9%

Percent decline in California community college students transferring to University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) campuses between 2021 and 2025, representing 5,057 fewer community college transfer students attending a UC or CSU.

44%

Share of community college students who transferred to UC and CSU who were Latino in 2025, the highest of any ethnic group, followed by white at 22%, Asian at 18% and Black at 4.5%.

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2094

Number of students from Pasadena City College who transferred to UC or CSU campuses in fall 2025, the most of any 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.

Related Reading

New UCLA program aims to help students struggling to transfer from community colleges

April 28, 2026

National University to accept all California Community College transfers

April 28, 2026

UC system aims to increase California community college transfers

March 27, 2026

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