Transfer Students head South

University of Central Florida

According to data collected by US News and World Report, schools in Texas, Florida, and California were the most popular destinations for transfer students in 2010. 

In fact, all ten colleges enrolling the most transfers were located in warmer climates. And from a practical standpoint, these are schools that had capacity to accept and enroll astonishingly large numbers of transfers.

There are many reasons students choose to move schools. Often money issues are involved. Or sometimes it’s a question of academics or a desire to be closer to home. 

And community college students make up a huge percentage of students moving from one institution to another.

Even President Obama transferred during his college career.

Among the 1,208 “ranked” colleges and universities providing transfer student data, roughly 564,500 students were reported as transferring.

Once again, Arizona State University topped the list with 6,158 transfers. And four of the top transfer destinations were located in the Lone Star State:  University of Texas—Arlington, University of Houston, Texas A and M University—Commerce, and the University of North Texas.

A quick review of local colleges and universities suggests significant transfer movement at some larger institutions.  UMUC (4216), George Mason University (2442), Virginia Commonwealth University (2144), the University of Maryland (1926) and Towson University (1841) enrolled the most transfer students.

According to Common Data Set information, far fewer transfers were to be found at Johns Hopkins (49) and the University of Richmond (60). George Washington accepted 36 percent of its transfer applicants and enrolled 381 students, while Georgetown accepted 11 percent and enrolled 138.

The University of Virginia accepted 36 percent of those applying to transfer and enrolled 638, at the same time the College of William and Mary accepted 44 percent and enrolled 229.

Among the local colleges admitting the highest percent of transfer applicants were the University of Mary Washington and American University—both at 63 percent.

The following is the US News list of 10 schools enrolling the most transfer students:

1. Arizona State University: 6,158 enrolled/84.3% accepted
2. University of Central Florida: 5,896 enrolled/63% accepted

3.  California State University—Northridge:  4,477 enrolled/51.9% accepted
4. Florida International University: 4,327 enrolled/72.9% accepted

5.  University of Texas—Arlington: 4,315 enrolled/91.4% accepted

6.  University of Houston:  4,171 enrolled/90.6% accepted
7.  California State University—Fullerton:  4,165 enrolled/37.5% accepted

8.  Texas A and M University—Commerce:  4,165 enrolled/94.6% accepted

9.  University of North Texas:  3,891 enrolled/75.8% accepted

10. San Francisco State University:  3,760 enrolled/54.1% accepted