I know that the minimum transfer units to transfer to a CSU or UC are 60 semester units and 90 quarter units. I wanted to know if going over the number of units would prevent someone from being able to transfer. After planning out some of my classes I should have 105 quarter units once I transfer. This is partly because I plan on completing my AA-T while having taken a few other classes before choosing this degree. Would this be too many to transfer?
Hello,
That is below the maximum cap. You will actually be able to transfer all of those 105 quarter units as UC’s allow for someone to transfer up to 105 quarter units.
If all the transfer credits are lower division from the community college, the UC’s and CSU’s will accept 70 semester/105 quarter units as stated above. Anything over the 70/105 will be given subject credit.
Be aware, though, that some Universities (Columbia Engineering is where we came across this) say they will not accept anyone with over X number of transfer credits. We had no idea this was a thing. My son became disqualified because he had too many units. (Needed to do them all in order to complete Honors program, IGETC, and all major prep.) Too many is not a problem with the CSUs or UCs, though.
That’s what I was worried about. Maybe since a majority of the credits are going towards an AA-T then it will be okay. I’ve taken a look at some of the colleges I am interested in to check to see if this will be a problem.
Thank you! I have been planning out my community college courses after deciding to pursue a different AA degree. This AA-T has 80 required units and after adding the classes that I have already taken/transferable courses. It was higher than I had expected but I’m happy that I have a clear plan to prepare to transfer.
Lower division non-UC units (including all community college courses) will be capped at 70 semester or 105 quarter units by UCs (but all courses get subject credit). However, if the student has taken upper division or UC courses, these are not subject to the cap and could result in having too many units to transfer to a UC.
So, I’m not talking about whether or not the units transfer, are you? I’m talking about them not even admitting you because you have too many credits. Are you saying that happens with UCs?
Yes, UCs generally do not admit senior level (>= 90 semester unit) transfers. However, this is only a concern if the applicant has upper division or UC credit that is not capped at 70 semester units. Those who only have community college courses do not have to worry, no matter how many units beyond 70 semester units they have.
See page 34 of University of California Counselors for unit limits for transfer admission to UCs.
Remember that non-UC lower division units are capped at 70 semester units (as described on page 35 of the above linked page), so any amount of non-UC lower division courses will not put a student at risk of going over the unit limits for transfer admission to UCs.