Starting at a Michigan community college can be a great financial and academic choice for many students. It offers a flexible way to begin your education, explore possible majors, and take advantage of programs like the Michigan Community College Guarantee and Michigan Reconnect Scholarship, which can make community college more affordable (or even tuition-free for those who qualify).
If you plan to transfer to Madonna University or another four-year institution, one of the best tools to support your path is the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA). Here's what it is, why it matters, and how to make sure you get full credit for the work you complete.
Years ago, transferring between colleges in Michigan was a bit of a headache. You could take Introduction to Algebra at your community college and still end up retaking something like College Algebra Fundamentals after you transferred—simply because the new school didn’t see your original course as an exact match.
To fix this, the Michigan Transfer Network created the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA): a statewide list (it's not a degree!) of general education courses that most Michigan colleges and universities agree to accept as “close enough.” If you complete the MTA at your community college, your lower-division gen eds are considered satisfied when you transfer—no surprise repeats required.
While there are some caveat to this, essentially, students need to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA as well as the following:
If that sounds a little confusing - don't worry. Academic advisors are very familiar with the requirements and will help make sure you're taking the right classes.
If you're planning to transfer to a four-year university, it's never too early to start planning. Talk with an admissions counselor at the school you're interested in - even before your first semester - to make sure the courses you take will put you on track for your intended major.
At the same time, meet regularly with your community college academic advisor. They can help you select courses that satisfy the MTA requirements and create a plan to complete them efficiently.
Once you've completed all the required courses, you'll need to visit your community college's registrar and request that the MTA be officially added to your transcript. This step is essential: completing the courses alone is not enough. If the MTA isn't labeled on your transcript, your courses may still transfer - but they could simply count as general education credit rather than fulfilling the MTA, which could slow your progress toward your degree.
If you're applying to transfer for next semester, you can let your future university know that you will have completed the MTA. But before you send your final transcript, make sure that your transcript reflects that you have satisfied the MTA requirements. It's your responsibility, along with your advisor, to ensure you've completed the requirements - and your responsibility, along with the registrar, to make sure it shows up correctly.
We know this can sound like a lot, but it's really not as complicated as it seems. Admissions officers, academic advisors, and registrars are all very familiar with the MTA and can guide you every step of the way to make sure the process goes smoothly.
Because not every student plans to complete the MTA - and not every associate degree automatically satisfies the requirements - we wanted to spell it out clearly so you know exactly what's involved if this is the path you choose. Many programs already satisfy the MTA, in which case your only step may be stopping by the registrar's office in your final semester to request MTA satisfaction being placed on your transcript.
While it can feel confusing if you're not familiar with how it works, completing the MTA and having it officially marked on your transcript is well worth the effort. It gives you a flexible path for the future, ensures you won't have to retake courses, and can save you both time and money if you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree down the road.
Curious about how your community college classes can transfer or how a four-year degree can fit your budget?
