High school graduates often find themselves at a crossroads. What to do next? Some students head straight to university. For others, the road isn't as clear.
"After high school, I didn't think I was college-ready," said Thelma Martinez. "I was terrified of Arizona State University (ASU)." Like many Hispanic students, who often become the breadwinners of their families at nineteen or twenty years old, Thelma wanted to stay home and work. "It was cultural; I loved being at home." Her friends attended Glendale Community College, but Thelma enrolled at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ (Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ), where she earned her Associate's degree in two years. From Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ, she transferred to ASU and earned her Bachelor's in Human Communication with a minor in Business.
After ASU, Martinez returned to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ as an academic advisor to encourage other students transitioning from high school to community college. Now, she leads the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Transfer Center, where students can meet with Arizona State University (ASU), University of Arizona (UofA), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) representatives to discuss program requirements and next steps. "It's awesome," said Martinez. "Our transfer services provide a liaison between Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ and our partner schools."
Another benefit of attending Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ is the cost savings. According to, in-state students at public 4-year institutions in Arizona pay an average of $477 per credit hour while Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ students pay $97 per credit hour.Additional benefits of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ include small classes, accessible faculty, convenient location, and free parking. Students also appreciate the confidence boost of earning an Associate's degree before transferring to university. Every year, almost 1000 Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ students transfer to ASU, UofA, or NAU to continue their education.
Embedded in the 60-credit Associate's degree is the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC), 35 to 41 credits of college foundational courses. The three AGEC pathways – Liberal Arts/General Requirements, Business, and Science – require core classes in writing, math, social and natural sciences, and the humanities. However, is planning a redesign to merge the three pathways into one by 2026.
Sarah Nunez, a single mom with a successful career in fine jewelry, experienced several college starts and stops while raising her four kids but was determined to finish her degree. She enrolled at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ in Fall 2020 and completed her Associate of Arts degree and a certificate in Human Resources Management in May 2022. Nunez earned another Associate's in Business Management and a Marketing certificate in May 2023, then transferred to Northern Arizona University (NAU) for the Strategic Leadership Program and her Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies. "One of the reasons I chose NAU was because I could stay at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ," Nunez said. Students in the Strategic Leadership program complete 90 credits at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ and the final 30 credits with NAU professors on Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ’s campus. Nuñez is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Communication at Arizona State University with an expected graduation date of Summer 2025.
While most Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ students transfer to in-state universities, the AGEC is accepted at over 30 university transfer partners nationwide , including Columbia College in Chicago, Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.
Stop by the Transfer Center in the Lower Level of The Hannelly Center to visit with a university rep or talk with your academic advisor about your options.