Transferring success, from community college to the Augustana community
Of all the astonishing numbers in Augustana's enrolling class this fall (including numbers of applicants, international students and students of color) the number 80 stands out. That's how many students chose to transfer to Augustana from another school, whether a community college or another four-year institution.
This is the greatest number of new transfer students in 20 years. Why are they choosing Augustana?
Often it comes down to better fit and better value. While a student’s experience of "value" may start with scholarships and grants, that value expands to include the quality of the education, life in college and return on investment.
In short: transfer students recognize Augustana as a valuable experience and investment in their future.
Augustana's transfer success stands out amid a national trend of low transfer rates from community colleges to four-year colleges to complete a bachelor's degree. An Oct. 3, 2024, article in the Chronicle of Higher Education highlights a problem: the process for students transferring to universities is not straightforward. This is not the students' fault, and it’s not the fault of community colleges, either:
The flawed transfer process is not a community-college problem, it is a public higher-education problem. Rather than blame community-college students or staff, as most previous efforts have done, the actions of individual students and community-college staff are considerably driven—and constrained—by a broader social order, where the ‘rules of the game’ are often set by universities.
Transfer students, however, are not lost in a process at Augustana—a college known for strong relationships that empower students to greater confidence and success. This is a community that reaches out and welcomes in. For transfers, it often begins with Rachel Gustafson in admissions.
“Among community colleges, the word is spreading that transferring to Augustana is a smooth process, and can open doors to so many opportunities,” Gustafson said. Thirty of Augustana’s 80 new transfer students came from Black Hawk Community College in the Quad Cities’ Moline, Illinois.
“We also are seeing an increase in transfers from other four-year colleges, as priorities shift and students gain a clearer understanding of what they want, including a more supportive environment and vibrant community,” she added.
Gustafson points to Augustana’s bold new financial aid program, Augustana Possible, as eye-opening for students who realize Augustana can work for them financially. Augustana Possible meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying students, including transfer students.
This fall, all 80 of Augustana's new transfer students received scholarships and grants from the college, and one in four received grants from Augustana Possible.
If you have any questions about Augustana or transferring to the college, please contact Rachel Gustafson.