The usual path for most students graduating from high school is to commit to a four-year institution right away.
However, going to community college not only saves students a lot of money but also prepares them for those bigger institutions. When we asked most students what was their reason for attending for FCC, the most common answer was that “It was the most affordable option.”
According to Inside Higher Education, 1 out of 5 community college students transfer to a four-year college. Earning an associate degree represents a stepping stone to completing a baccalaureate program.
Every school has academic advisers in charge of assisting students in transferring credits from a community college to a four-year college. At Frederick Community College, students can contact Jane Dibble at 301-846-2471 or [email protected].
“Transferring colleges is not just a change of location; it’s a transformation of your academic journey,” she said. “You should embrace the opportunity to find the environment that aligns with your goals, and remember, the path to success is not always a straight line. It’s the detours that often lead to the most profound discoveries.”
The key to success when it comes to transfers is to plan ahead. Each baccalaureate program has its own requirements. That’s why it’s important to find schools with an articulation agreement with your community college. Articulation agreements are essentially a partnership between two institutions to recognize credits toward a degree.
Frederick Community College has created partnerships and articulation agreements with many two- and four-year colleges and universities in Maryland and surrounding areas. More information on this can be found on this website https://frederick-public.courseleaf.com/admission/transfer-agreements/ .
A list of these institutions includes:
- Frostburg State University. FCC has entered into an agreement with Frostburg State, which will allow students to complete their associate degree while maintaining dual admissions. Also, they have established an articulation agreement to streamline the transfer of information systems management, social science, and computer science students to the programs at Frostburg. Students can transfer a maximum of 70 credits and must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
- Goucher College. Transfer students from FCC’s Honors College program are guaranteed admission into Goucher College during the fall semester or spring semester after completing a degree or earning 60 credits at FCC with 3.5 cumulative grade point average. Additionally, Goucher College will also consider waiving the application fee, consideration for transfer merit scholarship, and an additional $2,000 scholarship if the student is a Phi Theta Kappa member.
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Frederick Community College maintains an articulation agreement for students who graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in biotechnology and an Associate of Science in nursing to transfer to complete their bachelor’s degree at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher and only courses with a grade of “C” or higher will transfer.
- Hood College. FCC maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with Hood College, which provides FCC students with financial incentives when transferring to Hood College. These incentives include scholarships for students who earn at least 15 credits and the possibility to earn a Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society scholarship.
- Maryland Area College Music Association. The Maryland Area College Music Association (MACM) includes representatives from two- and four-year institutions in the State of Maryland concerned with facilitating the transfer of music students between institutions. In support of that mission, MACM has developed an articulation agreement between the institutions to facilitate transfer of credit in Music Theory/Musicianship at the lower-division level to programs at the four-year institutions.
- McDaniel College Honors Program. FCC maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with McDaniel College for students enrolled In the FCC Honors Program. The purpose of this MOU is to acknowledge the scholastic accomplishments of FCC Honors students and to facilitate a seamless transition from the FCC Honors Program to the McDaniel College Honors Program.
- Mount St. Mary’s University. FCC and Mount St. Mary’s are committed to facilitating a smooth transition from FCC to the completion of a bachelor’s degree. With that goal in mind, the institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding by providing students with a 20% tuition discount.
- Salisbury University. FCC maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with Salisbury University for students enrolled In the FCC Honors Program. The purpose of this MOU is to acknowledge the scholastic accomplishments of FCC Honors students and to facilitate a seamless transition from the FCC Honors Program to the Thomas E. Bellavance Honors Program of the Honors College at Salisbury University. Interested students should contact the FCC Honors Program Coordinator for further information.
- Shenandoah University. Students who have completed their associate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5 will be given priority consideration for admission to Shenandoah University.
- Shepherd University. FCC has a dual admission agreement with Shepherd. Students enrolled in the dual admission program will be guaranteed admission to Shepherd with a cumulative FCC GPA of 2.800 or higher and at least 30 FCC college credits. Students will also receive a tuition discount when they continue their studies at Shepherd if they meet these dual admission requirements.
- Stevenson University
Frederick Community College maintains an articulation agreement with Stevenson University for graduates of biology, business administration, criminal justice, cybersecurity, English, graphic design, information systems management, legal studies, nursing and psychology program at FCC transferring to the Psychology program. Only courses with a grade of “C” or better are eligible for transfer. Students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher in all prior college coursework.
- Towson University. FCC maintains a Memorandum of Understanding with Towson University for students enrolled in the FCC Honors Program. The purpose of this MOU is to acknowledge the scholastic accomplishments of FCC Honors students and to facilitate a seamless transition from the FCC Honors Program to the Honors College at Towson University.
- Universities System of Maryland – Hagerstown. USM-H provides regional access to multiple University System of Maryland Institutions, including Frostburg State University, Towson University, Salisbury University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, and University of Maryland Global Campus to students in Western Maryland. Various degree programs are offered at a convenient location in downtown Hagerstown. For more information, visit the website at www.hagerstown.usmd.edu.
- Universities at Shady Grove The Universities at Shady Grove is a new model in education, offering a variety of degree programs in an accessible Montgomery County location. Students seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree after attending Frederick Community College will find bachelor’s degree programs offered by a number of Maryland State colleges at Universities at Shady Grove.
- University of Maryland College Park. The Maryland Transfer Advantage Program guarantees admission to the University of Maryland at College Park or a University of Maryland, College Park program at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) within one year of completion of the associate degree or, in the case of College Park, completion of 30 credits of coursework (15 credits of which must be completed at FCC) with a minimum 3.0 GPA. MTAP students may also be eligible for a 25% course tuition scholarship for one UMD course per term.
- University System of Maryland. The State of Maryland has a unique computerized articulation system, called ARTSYS, which outlines individual course equivalencies and recommended transfer programs for every two-year and four-year institution within the University System of Maryland (which includes UMBC, UMCP, Frostburg, Towson, Salisbury, and others). Articulation information for some private colleges like Hood and McDaniel is also accessible through ARTSYS. Students can access ARTSYS at http://artweb.usmd.edu. For additional transfer information, students can visit the Maryland Transfer website Transfer Course Database (umd.edu).
- West Virginia University. In an effort to enhance and maintain the relationship between Frederick Community College and West Virginia University, transfer students with a grade point average of at least 2.0 from FCC are guaranteed admission to West Virginia University.
- Wilson College. In an attempt to create more diverse opportunities for our transfer students, Frederick Community College has entered into an agreement with Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. This agreement supports an effort to provide equal access to admission, registration, and financial aid at Wilson College for FCC graduates. This agreement also proposes the development of articulated programs of study for ease of transfer, which will recognize the general education requirements completed at FCC.
Gioviania Louis, who was a student at FCC and is now a junior at Townson University, said, “deciding to transfer colleges felt like a leap into the unknown, but it became my chance for a fresh start. Embracing change opened doors to new friendships, diverse perspectives, and academic experiences I never imagined. The transfer journey wasn’t just about changing schools; it was about transforming myself and finding the right place to thrive.”
