Guaranteed Transfer Admission Programs by State
The smartest way to save money on college is to start at community college and TRANSFER into a 4-year school — guaranteed. Every program below promises admission (or something close to it) as long as the student hits a GPA target and a course plan.
Data last reviewed: 2026-04-17. Always confirm current terms with your community college counselor and the receiving university — transfer admission policies change more often than freshman admissions.
CA
California
2 programs · 7 target schools
VA
Virginia
1 program · 8 target schools
WA
Washington
1 program · 4 target schools
FL
Florida
1 program · 1 target schools
TX
Texas
1 program · 1 target schools
AZ
Arizona
2 programs · 2 target schools
NC
North Carolina
1 program · 1 target schools
MD
Maryland
1 program · 1 target schools
MA
Massachusetts
1 program · 1 target schools
IL
Illinois
1 program · 4 target schools
NJ
New Jersey
1 program · 1 target schools
Sponsored · Study tools
Chegg Study
Step-by-step solutions for the transferable courses that decide your GPA.
Try free →
Two flavors of "guarantee"
When you read a transfer-guarantee page, look carefully at what is actually being promised:
- Specific school guarantees — the strongest form. Programs like UC TAG, Virginia GAAs, and MassTransfer A2B promise admission to a named university (though often not a specific major).
- System guarantees — you\'ll get a seat somewhere in the state\'s public university system, but not necessarily at the campus you wanted. Florida 2+2, CSU ADT, NC TAAP, and NJ Lampitt Law work this way.
FAQ
What is a TAG program?
A Transfer Admission Guarantee lets a community college student lock in admission to a specific 4-year university in advance — usually by maintaining a minimum GPA and completing a defined course plan. California\'s UC TAG is the best-known example.
Does every state have one?
No. California has the most structured system. Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Maryland also have strong guarantees. Many states only offer articulation agreements (course equivalency) — not actual admission guarantees.
Can out-of-state students use TAG programs?
Most programs require enrollment at an in-state community college. Arizona\'s MyPath2ASU is one of the few that extends to some out-of-state CC students.
Not sure which 4-year school is worth the transfer?
Take the 2-minute fit quiz. We match you to schools based on the factors that actually matter to your family.
Take the fit quiz →