Two states are testing enhanced two- to four-year upward transfer models to boost bachelor’s degree completion rates and equip students for competitive careers.
Under the temporary programs, Illinois and Connecticut will monitor student outcomes and strengthen support services for two-year cohorts.
“For many of Connecticut college and university students, the path to a four-year degree does not begin at a university—it begins at a community college,” said Terrence Cheng, chancellor of the Connecticut College and University System. “As a result, many students are not sure which academic paths are open to them, or how their credits will be applied to their degree.”
Connecticut’s Design Accelerator
The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system will revamp upward transfer pathways over the next eight months through a grant-funded leadership development program.
Experts from Arizona State University’s Design Accelerator will mentor teams from CT State Community College, Charter Oak State College, Central Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University.
Arizona State University’s Design Institute created customizable tools for the City Colleges of Chicago so students can transfer seamlessly to a four-year school after earning community college credits.
“For higher education to make a deep, sustainable impact in the U.S., it must reevaluate its current structure and implement new ideas and models to create stronger outcomes for its learners and the communities it serves,” said Minu Ipe, vice chair and managing director for the University Design Institute.
The University of Illinois System, one million degrees
Over 200 Illinois community college students will receive academic coaching, scholarships, career services and other financial support as they transfer to one of the four University of Illinois campuses.
“Fulfilling the promise of college access and degree completion requires strong, accessible transfer pathways that connect Illinois’ 48 public community colleges to our universities,” Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System, said in a press release. “This initiative will unlock opportunities that will fuel our state’s workforce and economic future.”
The state system is partnering with One Million Degrees to remove barriers for two initial cohorts, the first beginning in spring 2026 and the second in spring 2027. The University of Illinois will evaluate the pilot over the next four years and consider scaling the program based on how students fare.
Why now?
Both state systems already boast initiatives aimed at helping community college students transfer upward. The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education recently implemented a policy on general education credits across the state system that guarantees seamless transfer between its two- and four-year institutions. Illinois’ software identifies common and equivalent courses across multiple campuses.
And while upward transfers have surged since the pandemic, community college students still face a tumultuous path. Less than a third end up transferring to a four-year institution despite 81% who say a bachelor’s degree is their ultimate goal.
Moreover, Department of Education data from 2023 found that only 13% of Title IV-eligible community college students ultimately earn bachelor’s degrees within eight years.
