Assemblymember Alvarez Responds to State Audit on Community College Transfer Rates

(Sacramento) Today, the California State Auditor released an audit on Community College Transfer Rates for California’s public colleges and universities. The audit, requested by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego), reveals significant challenges in California's community college transfer process.

Key findings from the audit include:

• Only 1 in 5 community college students who began between 2017 and 2019 with the intention to transfer did so within four years.
• Transfer rates were even lower for Black and Latino students.
• Variation in transfer requirements across and within the three segments of higher education (California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California) makes the process difficult for students to navigate.
• The transfer process can benefit from improved data sharing between the three segments and increased oversight of counseling that is provided to students.

“I requested this audit to determine if and how colleges are meeting the state's transfer goals,” said Assemblymember Alvarez. “The findings reveal that we are far from achieving these goals, with only 1 in 5 students successfully transferring within four years—an alarming and abysmal statistic for California. Transfer rates are even lower for Black and Latino students. The audit highlights that colleges and universities must take significant steps to improve student success. This includes enhancing transparency in data sharing between college systems, providing better oversight of student counseling, and streamlining transfer requirements, which are all areas where government strives to improve.”

Assemblymember Alvarez is committed to working with colleagues in the Legislature and higher education leaders to address these findings and implement solutions to improve transfer rates and student success across California's public higher education systems.