A new agreement will provide a seamless transition for community college students across the state to continue their education at UC Merced - with money to help pay for it.
The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, in partnership with UC Merced, announced the university is now participating in the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) program.
The ADT creates a clearer, more affordable and more predictable route from California's community colleges to UC Merced. The initiative is aimed at helping more students from diverse backgrounds, regions and communities pursue their educational goals.
"Students applying to UC Merced for fall 2027 who complete an approved ADT by summer 2027 can transfer into the corresponding major and earn their bachelor's degree with no more than 60 additional semester units at UC Merced, provided they meet all program conditions," said Vivian Chan, deputy director of admissions at UC Merced. Participants will receive guaranteed admission to UC Merced with junior standing upon transferring as well as a $4,000 annual scholarship for up to two consecutive academic years while maintaining good standing and applicable eligibility requirements. They also can get access to UC Merced's Promise housing, a new affordable all-inclusive campus housing community designed for transfer students and structured to work seamlessly with their financial aid packages.
The university is guaranteeing two years of on-campus housing for students entering next fall who submit their Statement of Intent to Register and meet the priority housing application deadline of June 3.
"Students can work with their community college advisers and UC Merced to understand the requirements, plan their coursework and map out a realistic timeline toward graduation," Chan said.
ADTs aren't new; they were originally designed to serve students heading into the California State University system. Community college students considering transferring to both CSU and UC campuses have often had to navigate different general education coursework and admission requirements.
"The value of this partnership lies in centering California's statewide Transfer Model Curriculum and making students' ADT preparation more portable," said James Todd, vice chancellor of academic affairs for California Community Colleges. "UC Merced has made a bold commitment to students' futures: students can complete an approved ADT at any California community college that offers the degree and carry that learning into a corresponding UC Merced pathway."
UC Merced's participation in the ADT is the latest in a growing number of outreach efforts to community colleges. These include the Merced Promise partnerships with individual community college districts around the state that provide support for students and their families.
Transfer enrollment has been on the rise at the university, increasing 66 percent from 2025 to reach 452 students arriving on campus this fall.
"The primary goal of this initiative is not simply to increase enrollment, but to expand access to a UC education and make the transfer process more transparent and achievable for California community college students," Chan said. "This agreement helps students plan their finances and move forward with greater confidence, knowing they have a clearly defined path to earning their degree."
The initial ADT pathways and corresponding UC Merced degree programs are:
• Anthropology AA-T to Anthropology, B.A.
• Biology AS-T to Biological Sciences, B.A., including the Education emphasis
• Biology AS-T to Biological Sciences, B.S., including the Developmental Biology, Education, General Biology, Human Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Molecular and Cell Biology emphases
• Elementary Teacher Education AA-T to Liberal Studies, B.A.
• History AA-T to History, B.A., including the Teaching Social Science emphasis
• Social Justice Studies AA-T to Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, B.A., including the Teaching Social Science emphasis
• Political Science AA-T to Political Science, B.A., including the American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Law and Policy emphases. (These mappings are currently pending final approval.)
Additional pathways are expected to be added as the partnership grows.
"This is an exciting step for California," Todd said. "This partnership will help us increase baccalaureate attainment with equity by creating clearer routes for students from every region and background to a University of California degree. It will make a life-changing difference for Californians by helping more students build on their community college success, earn a bachelor's degree, and open doors to new opportunities."
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