For immediate release: June 5, 2024

Maine Transfer Guarantee Smooths Path from Community College to 4-Year Degree

Students to Save Time and Money on College Degree

Boston, MA — Six colleges and universities have committed to simplifying transfer for students who earn associate degrees at one of Maine’s community colleges and want to pursue a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year institution in Maine. College of the Atlantic, Husson University, St. Joseph’s College of Maine, Thomas College, University of New England and Unity Environmental University have joined the New England Transfer Guarantee, a program of the New England Board of Higher Education. Interested students should visit the student portal. This is the first year of Maine’s participation.

The institutions have signed a memorandum of agreement joining the Maine Transfer Guarantee and offering the following benefits to students:

  • Students equipped with an associate degree from CCV and who meet the required grade point average are guaranteed admission at the 4-year institution they choose.
  • The application fee and personal essay requirement are waived.
  • Transferring students are considered for institutional support in the form of grants and scholarships. This aid is usually available only to first-time first-year students.

Maine Transfer Guarantee

The members of the Maine steering committee, including representatives of the two-year “sending” institutions played a key role in establishing the Maine Transfer Guarantee, with community college leadership also signing the memoranda of agreement.

“The Maine Transfer Guarantee takes the guesswork out of higher ed planning for many Maine students and families,” said David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System. “This provides clear benchmarks and guideposts to students and their families mapping out what can often be a confusing higher ed journey. Now they know exactly how to get from their associate degree to a four-year degree and beyond.”
The first students transferring under this agreement will begin baccalaureate coursework at the above institutions in the Fall 2024 term, with a larger group anticipated in Spring 2025.

“These Maine colleges and universities are early adopters in a group that we will help expand. We welcome more four-year institutions to join the Transfer Guarantee and look forward to seeing students reach their goal of earning a bachelor’s degree through this initiative,” said Leanne Greeley Bond of the Maine-based Davis Educational Foundation.

Transfer Guarantee Students Making Significant Progress

The New England Transfer Guarantee was initiated in 2021 in the southern New England states, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island with support from the Teagle Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and the Davis Educational Foundation. The Balfour Foundation has come on board to support the efforts to scale to northern New England.

The second year of data from the Guarantee, which was recently published, shows transfer students making significant progress toward their goals with their grade point averages increasing post-transfer and those who have graduated are doing so in efficient timeframes — the average time to degree was four semesters.

“These transfer students also bring their diverse life experiences with them to their new campuses, advancing institutions’ diversity and student success goals. Nearly half of the students participating in the program identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” said Michael K. Thomas, President and CEO, New England Board of Higher Education.

About the Transfer Guarantee

The New England Transfer Guarantee began in the southern New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 2021. The program enables eligible community college graduates to transfer into participating four-year institutions – admission guaranteed. The implementation of pathways in the three northern New England states is underway—with first enrollments in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont expected in Fall 2024. The New England Board of Higher Education receives support from the Teagle Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the Davis Educational Foundation, and the Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation to carry out this work.

About the New England Board of Higher Education

NEBHE advances equitable postsecondary outcomes through convening, research, and programs for students, institution leaders and policymakers. Our vision is that everyone in New England will have lifelong access to affordable, high-value postsecondary education.