KENTFIELD/NOVATO, CA – College of Marin (COM) students seeking transfer to the University of California (UC) system are achieving significant success, with acceptance rates notably exceeding statewide averages at several competitive campuses. A recent analysis by the San Francisco Chronicle, published April 8, 2025, has further distinguished COM by identifying it as the top overall California community college for African American student transfer acceptance to the UC system.
The Chronicle report, which examined UC admissions data for transfer applicants from all California Community Colleges for the fall 2023 and 2024 semesters, specifically highlighted COM for its exceptional performance across multiple metrics.
Among Bay Area community colleges, COM had the highest acceptance rate to the highly selective UC Berkeley, with 40% of its applicants (117 students) admitted during the two-year period. This significantly surpasses the overall 28% average admission rate for community college transfers to UC Berkeley reported by the Chronicle for the same timeframe.
Further underscoring its commitment to equity and student success, the Chronicle's analysis revealed that COM leads all California community colleges in the transfer acceptance rate of its African American students to the UC system. This remarkable achievement highlights the supportive environment and effective pathways COM provides for all students, particularly those from historically underrepresented groups.
COM students also demonstrated strong results for admission to UCLA, another highly competitive campus, matching the overall transfer admit rate at 29% (64 students admitted).
Across the entire UC system, COM transfer applicants showed remarkable success. An impressive 84% of COM applicants (332 out of 396 students) were admitted to at least one UC campus over the 2023 and 2024 fall admission cycles. This rate is well above the approximate 75% systemwide admission rate for California Community College transfer applicants reported for the 2024 cycle by the Chronicle.
“Leading the way for UC transfer acceptance is a testament to College of Marin's exceptional faculty, small classes, and robust student support services," says Superintendent/President Dr. Jonathan Eldridge. “As the community's college we take seriously our mission to provide equitable opportunities and excellent outcomes for all members of our diverse Marin community.”
The SF Chronicle article emphasizes the vital role California Community Colleges play as a pathway to the UC system, noting that nearly one-fifth of UC undergraduates are transfer students. The report suggests factors contributing to high transfer rates include colleges offering required transfer courses, dedicated counseling, and a "transfer-oriented culture."
COM provides robust resources for students planning to transfer, including dedicated counselors in the Transfer Center, articulation agreements with UC campuses, transfer admission guarantee (TAG) programs, workshops, and university representative visits, all designed to support a diverse student body in achieving their transfer aspirations.
Students interested in learning more about transfer opportunities at COM are encouraged to visit the Transfer Center website at https://ss.marin.edu/tcc.